The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-03
-FOUR OF THEM INSANE
A Complaint Filed Against Elk
Constable Coombs.
HE HAS GIVEN UP EATING
Amos Schriber Examined by Commits
sion-He Had Decisions of Persecu-
ton cNelis Was Suffering
From Melancholia.

There are. at present four insane per
sons in the county jail. but three of
them will be taken to the asylum to-day.
The fourth. Thomas Coombs the one
armed, We'll known eX-constable, was
brought TO the Jail yesterday and County
Physician Sheeran filed complaint
against him. He will he examined as
soon as Judge Lindsay can make an in
vestgation of the case for himself.
Coombs has been sick for "A long time
and it is said that in the last six weeks
he has practically eaten nothing. Lately
he has been acting very irrationally and
1t was considered unsafe to allow him
To remain at large any longer.
Judge Lindsay and commission of doc
tors examined two cases of insanity yes
terday afternoon. The first was that of
Amos Schriber, who was first arrested
early in January but was discharged
without hearing. He was again ar
rested by Officer Murphy and Deputy
Sheriff O'Nell about IL days ago, owing
to his peculiar conduct. he having fol-
lowed theatrical parade on that occa-
sion and was bedecked with ribbons of
many colors and the horse which he rode
was ornamented with crepe. In explain
ing his actions to the jury, which con-
sisted Of Drs Hammond and Shultz.
Schriber stated he was just having Il
good time and he supposed the police
did not like the red white and blue and
that was why they arrested him, and ali
he needed to make him all right was
good, warm clothing and plenty of work.
He always got along with everybody, had
lots of friends and every time he met
them they set them up. Schriber COM
planned about not having been able to
get work and INDUCED I'm the delusion
that there was conspiracy against him
and that several mine bosses were de-
termined to keep him in Jail so that he
could not rob people or commit other
al.tin 10 coil
his heart. for that was all he had.
DIR. Sheeran stated that Schriber seemed
to hear a playing of bands of music fire.
quently and claimed to see vivid flashes
of lightning i'll the day time, and aftlrmed
he was wearing his fathers heart and
liver The doctor said that he consid-
cred Sehriber a typical ease of a con-
fusional insanity, and that he suffered
from decisions of persecution. JulluS
Steunberg. an old acquaintance of Schrl-
bers, said that until within the last few
months he had been almost continuously
employed and that on pay days he
squandered all his money on intoXicants;
that about two months ago he first OBJ
served Schribers peculiar actions ana
called his own wife's attention to the
fact that he believed Schriber was losing
his mind The witness also stated that
Schriber informed him a short time ago
that all his brothers and sisters were
coming to Butte and he was going to see
them off.
!. The jury found Schribar u2snfe to he
at large and that the syn ptomS OF m
sanity were sextrayHEant action. lncohCr
ent talk and decisions of persecution.
Drs Hammond and s;nuItz also Irves-
tigated the mental condition of John Nc
Nelis, who had been complained OIL by
| the county physician. McNelis, it seems,
! had been arrested by the police short
| time ago and il was testified at the eX-
/ iIsre a "
| an attempt was made to remove Nc
! Neis to the county jail he fell on his
knees in an attitude of prayer, and that
| when the officers approached him ne
| strenuously resisted their efforts, ana
| finally, in order to control him, hand-
! cuffs were put on him. 1t was Impossible
! to get him to talk or TO answer any
| questions McNels has been confined III
| the county Jail since the middle of Jan
uary and since that time DR.. Sheeran
! has repeatedly endeavored TO converse
/ with him but McNelis has not uttered
more than Il half dozen words in that
! length of time. The doctor testified thal
! he believed him TO be suffering from q
profound case of melancholia. During
! the first three days of his confinement
he refused to eat anything. ana thre"
away the dishes containing his food
Various attempts were made by the phy-
| sicians examining McNelis to get him to
! talk. but he resisted all their endeaVors
and during the examination remained
! absolutely mute. The jury found tho
man insane and that his insanity was
shown by acts of violence in the JAN ps
n condition of profound silence and mel
! anchoIia refusing absolutely to talk.
Schriher and McNelis and the young
man. Reginald Rivenook, who was fount
insane a few days ago, will be removed
to Warm Springs to-day.