The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-01
ANACONDA NEWS.
P. c. PATTERSON INSANE
An Old Resident of Deer Lodge
Committed to the Asylum.
OVER FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
A Well-Known and Respected Citizen
of the Valley City-Much sympathy
for the Grief-Stricken Wife
and Five Children.

Peter G.. Patterson, for Is years
resident of Deer Lodge, was last even
ing before a commission on insanity
composed of Drs. j. Nj. Sigh and q.
c. Evans and Judge Brantly. His case
is a particularly sad one, when 1t is
considered that he has a wife and five
small children, the Oldest of whom is
0 years of age. He was ordered COM
mitted to the Warm Springs asylum.
Last Wednesday he returned from
the mining camp of Garnet, where he
had been working at his trade, that of
contract carpentering. At the depot in
Deer Lodge he met Q. b. OBannon, an
old acquaintance, and began to talk
In a rambling way about financial mat
ters 1t was Mr.. OBannOn's first i'm
preston that the man was drunk,
which idea rather upset him. as Pat
terson has not been drinking for some
time. 1t soon occurred to Mr.. OBan-
non, however. that he was talking to
q man whose condition was bordering
on insanity Pattersons many friends
in Deer Lodge soon became aware of
his terrible affection and constant
watch was kept on him. He continued
to grow worse, and yesterday Consta-
BILE H. W. Evans brought him to this
city, with the results stated.
At the inquiry last evening o. b.
O'Bannon was the first witness. He
said: Mr.. Patterson has been one OF
our best citizens. A few days ago he
returned from Garnet and when | met
him | noticed that he was unusually
nervous and eXcitable. l at nrst
thought that he had been drinking,
but that idea was soon replaced with
another more startling. His pertinent
conversation related to financial affairs
in n Dd
he was all right mentally when he left
Garnet He was a remarkably pleasant
and sociable man." Mr.. OBannon told
the commission about Patterson's bust
ness dealings and family affairs so far
as they concerned the public, and his
statements tended to create profound
sympathy for the afflicted man and his
family.
Constable Evans statements We're
similar to those of Mr.. O'Bannon. Mr..
Evans was a friend of the family and
was deeply impressed throughout the
examination.
Patterson said that he was As years
old on the 18th of last December; that
he was born in Huntington county
East Canada, just across the St Law
renee from New York that his mother
Sc years of age, lived there and thai
he had brothers there and in this coun'
try; that he has a nephew, III. w. Pat
terson. in Butte. In his constant flow
of talk it was apparent that he heic
no particular animosity towards any
body, but it was his wish that before
he died he could see his mother HI
also frequently spoke of the noble
qualities of his wife. and seemed tt
want to make his proposed trip to New
York to get money with which to pur
chase clothes and presents for his VIII
and children He said that his life wa
insured for $4,000. He also said tina
he was troubled with heart affection.
Until the financial depression of 1873
Patterson was we'll to do and was pros
perous Since then he has combatte'
reverses on almost every turn. He ha
not drank to excess for some time ant
has endeavored to meet current eX
penses and pay debts. His friend
were numerous and will be grieved t
hear of his unfortunate condition.
Constable Evans had hoped to reacl
Anaconda in time to have the eXaml
nation held before night, so that h
would not have to lock his patient i
Jail, fearing that such an ordeal woul
operate against him. But the patien
took the whole proceeding good-na
turedly and often interrupted the wit
nesses in court with the remark: TT
under two doctors care. Well, l CUES
I'm a crazy man."