The sun., 1897-10-24
JUST A KINK IN HIS BRAIN.
MYSTERY OF A SUPPOSED MAGICIAN
IN AN INSANE ASYLUM.
He Docs Not Know Who He Ia nnd Can't
Tell Anything About Hlmseir-un Constant
nnmnnd. NeNerthelcas. NJ nm Rntnrtninnr

ue Docs Not Know Who ue \, ma Can't
Tell Anything About Himseir-In Constant
Demand. Nevertheless. as mn Entertainer.
Three years ago a little. wiry man. with jet
black hair and flashing black eyes, was COM
nitted to one OF the New York State insane
asylums. Ho had been picked up by the con-
stable of a village not dozen miles from Bing-
hamton and, because he couldn't tell his name
or anything else about himself was pronounced
insane by the local Medical BOnrd, After a week
in tho village lookup he was transferred to the
big State asylum, where he has been ever SINCE
Among all the $500 inmates of tho institu.
tion. there was not one who appeared to be as
rational as the peculiar little stranger Accord
ing to custom. he was put in ward on his ar
rival, where he could be watched closely and
every phase of his malady studied. For days
he remained in the ward, busyng himself in
various ways, but showing signs of demcn-
tia. The little duties he was called upon to do
he performed checrfully and well. His compan-
ions in the ward we're better for his presence,
for he could sing well and talk Interestingly on
almost all subjects, from politics to literature,
and was altogether the brightest, brecZicst pa
ticnt that had como into the institution in years.
Two weeks passed without any signs of in.
sanity on the part of the strange patient. Then
he called into the superintendcnts Office
| and examined with view to releasing him If he
| seemed to be perfectly sane. The man answered
all questions satisfactorily until he was asked to
| tell his name. Then strange light camo into
| his eyes no his hands through his hair
and appeared to be in deep thought.
| That's the strangest part of it." he said
| finally. :" I really don't know"
| Don't you know where you came from !"
asked one of the doctors.
mo. don't" answered the man; my mind
| Is n complete blank
well, do you regard yourself as insanei"
| "Somcthing must be wrong with me-" said
the man. ~ do not recall any accident which
could make me forget things. l guess l must
be wrong in the head. l have visions some
times, but they're disconnected, and l forget
them once they're over
! Would you like to stay hero p
II have no other place to go to-
] So the man was allowed to stay, and he has
| been an inmate of the asylum ever since. He
was classified harmless, and was allowed to
| have the freedom of the buildings and the
grounds. There has been more into esting
| patient in the asylum. Ho read the papers,
keeping abreast OF the times. and could discuss
| intclligently any of the questions of the day.
Visitors have always refused to believe that he
was insane until they asked him his name. Then
that strange light in his eyes. the trick of run.
ming his hands through his hair. and finally his
invariable I'm sure / don't know" would con-
| vince them.
Long ago the asylum authorities gave up all
| idea Of finding the mans friends or relatives.
They were more than paid for the mans keep
| by the little duties he performed. He had n
good influence on tho violent patients. and was
an alaround valuable assistant to the keepers
and physicians. The mystery surrounding him
| was never entirely cleared up but several weeks
| ago an incident occurred which brought back 10
| the man memory little of his past life and
was directly responsible for making him quite
social favorite among the people in the near
| by villages and towns.
1t has been a. custom at the asylum to give an
entcrtalnmcnt ABOUT once month for the
dance, sometimes performance. usually consist
ing OF recitations, reauings and music. About
a month ago magician who was performing
with a variety company at Binghamton volun-
tecred TO go up to the asylu and amnsc the
inmates with few simple tricks. His offer
was accepted and on the night OF the entertain
ment the big dining room was crowded with
patients and keepers.
The magician was talkative young man,
but did his tricks well and was appauded. En-
couraged by his success, he vcnturcd out into
the audience and proceeded to extract various
articles from the pockets. noses and mouths of
An this time the nameless patient had been
sitting in a corner by himself. He watched
every move the magician made and seemed to
culver with suppressed excitement. Finally the
the performer spieo him and walking over, said:
stand up my friend and hold this Slo bill
The little man stood up and took the protfcred
Now" began the magician, - will show you
how easy it is to Hold on there! Where's
the bill T.
The note which the patient had been holding
in plain sight in his extended hand had sud.
denly disappeared. The tt man hadn't made
move but when the magician demanded his
apparently pulled ro! OF bills from the man 8
pocket. The HEN magician az almost fe oyer with
resolving not to be outdone by any lunatc.
Sooly counted pun, the bills which the little man had
,,o There's only SO here" he said. Where's
ri
the maglclans coat collar, extracted dollar
Nv eli done" said the magician Then. turn
ing to one OF the doctors, he remarked: This
closes my part OF the show. | didnt expect you
or,nG IN IL man on me like this.
But assure you, SIR" said the doctor. eve
are amazed ourselves; The man is a patient
Ecre ana never showed any ability in your line
While the two, were talking tho little man
was going around among the nticntS. changing
the scarf pins OF hose who had such trnkcts
and keeping them in shrieks of Laughter by his
knots ana then threw them into tho air SO that
when they fell they were united again. Getting
handful Of Of quarters from keeper he pro.
finally SAT down, and the magician. who had
been been convinced that no trlck nd been played
halt hearted way.
Since that day the little man has been anus
ing the patients keepers. doctors, and every
body else with his selght of h ana perform Il, os.
He is really u wonderful magician, but The
strange thing about it is his claim that he had
iorEottch he col!lG do such things until the en-
tertaineTrs work brought ii al back 10 him
again. He says that he thinks he must have
been magician IN I" the time his brain went
l%ck M % on him Al efforts TO get The man to Ten
his trick ON the other lnagi giti"n, have been in
Nrin: liC viii not tell, either what he did with
the $40 iii. So far aS the asylum authorities
know, the man never had any money.
The fame of the asylum magician has travelled
All through the SURROUNDING country ana hr IS
in constant Gcmand at parties. The asylum
| pcopIr nrc greatly interested i'll him and have
| provided Him with II DR. SS suit. They h0p' to
10 get some track Of his friends through this
latest development, but 50 far have heard
nothing.
BOYS PLAYING WITH HYPNOTISM.