The herald., 1897-02-28
THE FASTER COMMITTED
Robert Gardner Sent to
Highland Asylum
He IS RATIONAL IN CONVERSATION
Repudiates Having a Wife in
Chicago
THE BIG ROCK CREEK CASE
Expert Medical Testimony Offered 10
the Green Case
The Claim on an Insurance Policy for
$4,000
Competing Electric Companies In Conflict.
The HeiIbron Divorce Case Sub
mitted-Broad way Resort
Case Court Notes
Expert Medical Testimony Offered 10
the Green Case
The Claim on an Insurance Policy fer
$4,000

Robert Gardner has, by his prolonged
fast, covered himself with notoriety, at
least if not with glory.
There is difference of some days as TO
the length of time during which he has
mortified the flesh by abstaining from
food, he himself stating that latterly he
failed to keep very accurate account OF
the days as they passed. He claims,
however, that for forty-seven days, at
least, food did not pass his lips, while c.
H. Smith. the proprietor of Hotel Vogel,
maintains that it is fifty three days
since his uncanny lodger toyed like an
ordinary citizen, with knife and fork
The peculiar idiosyncracy of Gardner
was inquired into yesterday in depart
nfent five before Judge Shaw and Drs
Ainsworth and Wills sitting as COM
mission in lunacy. The plea of insanity
has been so frequently raised in the
courts lately. and juries have so
repeatedly been Instructed as to what
legally constitutes insanity, that almost
every one has a fair knowledge Of the
matter. I'm brief, the law regards man
as mentally unsound when he can no
longer distinguish between right and
wrong; when his mind is so clouded by
hallucinations as to render him ire
sponsible for his actions toward other
people or himself.
Gardner's mode and matter of speech,
as well as his actions, have never
threatened any one else's peace Of mind,
and so only the injury assumedly being
done to himself prompted the inquiry
into his mental condition.
He appeared in court with Rufus G.
White, the ex-attorney and street
preacher, his attenuated form clad in
quite a fashionable suit. In answer to
the interrogatores of DR.. Wills, as we'll
as of Judge Shaw, he answered unhes-
tatingly and with apparent straight
forwardness.
C. Fl. Smith, of the Hotel Vogel,
stated that Gardner arrived at his hotel
on November 7th, and for two months
paid his way with promptness. He no.
ticed he was very retiring in manner.
On January 7th Gardners room rent
was due, and he then informed Mr..
Smith that he could not pay him then,
but if he wished he would vacate his
room. He was told, however, that there
was no necessity to leave, and he made
the reply: my money will be good
when the time comes" Mr.. Smith
stated that Gardner was not the kina of
man he could think of turning out, and
actually at that time he was not in his
debt. One day the keeper at Weetlake
park rang him up on the telephone and
told him that Gardner had been lying on
the grass and on the sidewalk in the
rain. 1t was then getting dark and
half an hour later Gardner arrived home.
He said he was not feeling we'll. and Ii
thov, ho+ Nv. C,,.;th 49,,
he had not been eating anything. He,
thinking 1t was owing to pecuniary diff
fculty, offered to assist Gardner, but
the latter thanked him and rejected the
proffered kindness. Then some of the
other boarders at the Hotel Vogel prof
fered their assistance, but all were
courteously repealed. Being interrogat-
ed by Mr.. Smith regarding the reason
for his fast, Gardner stated to him that
he was doing SO in order to get in condi
tion for a certain purpose. What that
purpose was he studiously refused to
discuss, merely remarking that my
works will show"
Practically that was all the light Mr..
Smith could throw upon Gardner's ac-
tions.
In response to the questioning of Dr.
Wills the patient gave particulars re-
garding his family at Listowel. Canada.
He smilingly repudiated there being any
such thing as insanity in his family.
maintaining that all were hale and
hearty, and that he himself had enjoyed
the best of health save for some slight
rheumatic tWinges.
In answer to Judge Shaw he stated
that he came to California in order to
be among strangers, so that he might
fast undisturbed. He declines to dis
cuss the purpose of his abstention from
food, stating that his object was not
pertinent to their investigation. Later,
however, he did concede that upon the
conclusion of his fast he would be able
to perform miracles. Being asked if he
was a married man he answered in the
negative, and being pressed by DR..
Wills smiled at the persistence shown,
and said he could only say no" but
would take his oath If it was required,
and that ought to be satisfactory. In
this connection, however, there was a
circumstance tending to show that
Gardner was a married man. a lady,
who had been stopping at the Hotel
Nosel took occasion while in Chicago
to follow clew which Smith, the pro-
prietor, had gained by noticing the re-
turn address on one Of Gardner's let
ters. She discovered Gardner's wife
or woman who posed as such-whom
he had left penniless when he came west.
This lady's letter was produced, and also
SNORT HOle AOm lhe wife herself.
Several times during the Investigation
Mr.. White had irterjected objections,
and had with great regularity been over
ruled by Judge Shaw. Upon the close
OF the examination he made an address
to the court wherein he pointed out that
fasting was in no sense an evidence of
insanity; that Christ had tasted: that
David could not give his great book to
the world until he had tasted; that
Esdras had engaged in long fast, and
that Gardner was doing only what the
early Christians had done.
Being warned by Judge Shaw that he
himself stood reasonably good chance
of filling the Some position as Gardner.
Mr.. White cited the case of Christ, who,
when disputing, was challenged on the
ground that much learning hath made
him mad" He begged the commission
that Gardner be not pulled about as
he had on the night previous, or sent to
Highland. He urged that if anything
be done Gardner be sent to the county
hospital where he could recurArate.
Notwithstanding this appeal the or