Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-15
Dr.. DrtTry Does No. Want Him
Major Helms AlraidOf Him.
THE GOVERNOR IN A oUANDARY.
The Man is Serving Term for MUIR
dering womnn-Has Been Twice
in the Insane HospitaI-said To lie
Cured.
Cured.


penltentiary, and Of the Central state
| Hospital for the Insane at Petersburg,
are Just now wrestling with the case Of a
convict that is interesting and is believed
TO be unique.
There seems no place on earth for
crazy convict.
In 1897 Hy steel, a negro Of Tazewel
county. was put on trial for killing a wo-
man Of his own race. He had previously
served term OF one year in the peniten-
tiary for malicious shooting and had also
( spent a period in an asylum for the in
sane. The jury evidently wished TO express
lis dsapproval Of the very common Gus
tom Of pleading insanity when murder is
committed for IT gave Hy eighteen years.
But on the way to prison the man became
violently insane and gave the guard much
trouble He was kept at the penitentiary
a short while, and was then taken into
! court and ordered sent 10 the insane hos
/ pital He was kept i'm the Central Asy-
| lum for several months, and upon being
| pronounced cured was sent back 10 the
| prison Or. Benjamin Harrison, the peni-
] tentiary physician says Steel was any
| thing but sane when he was brought back
to prison. When taken into the Doctors
office the negro saw a handsome dog lying
! on the carpet. and at once threw himself
on the floor beside the animal. and began
playing with it in the most extravagant
/ fashion.
1t was not long until Steel manifested
| symptoms Of violent insanity, and the
| Court again ordered him committed TO
! the insane hospital. His condition was
much worse than ever before. and during
one Of his violent fits OF Insanity about
three months ago he killed one Of the at
.endants.
~. DYeUrr, Gle SOP Tilt-udeui Of the
hospital this week notified the peniten-
| tiary officials that Steel was cured ana
that he must be taken back 10 prison. -
there was danger of his escaping. Be
sides there was no law by which he could
be kept in the hospital. If cured.
CAUSED CONSIDERATION THERE.
The request OF DR.. Drewry caused con-
sternatiOn in the prison. The guards have
wholesome fear Of a maniac, who has
already killed two human beings while in
a paroXysm Of madness There is no way
Of taking care Of a lunatic i'm the prison
He would have 10 be placed I'm cell %
himself, and kept under close guard all
the time. The danger Of his running
amuck and killing guards or fellow prison
eIs, or causing a serious panic i'm the
prison was recognized
DR. Harrison yesterday asked Governor
Tyler TO endeavor. n possible 10 have
something done with steel. The Governor
was i'm o quandary, and as he was on the
point Of starting TO Albemarle county.
had DR. Harrison request Dr. DreWrv 20
hold the matter in abeyance until Friday.
Dr. Harrison says he thinks Steel is not
a fit subject for q conditional pardon.
Otherwise he would recommend that such
De issued. He cannot be brought 20 the |
prison and kept there. owing TO the dan |
ger 10 the inmates: ne cannot be kept I'm |
the asylum. as ne could escape with com |
parative ease. The only thing to do seems |
10 he 10 pardon him and have him COM |
mitted 10 the hospital.
Governor Tyler went up 10 Albemarle |
county yesterday 20 attend a meeting OF |
the Board Of Trustees Of the Miller Man |
ual Labor School. He was acc0mpanied |
by Dr. Southal. Superintendent Of Public |
instruction; also, an ex-oflicio member OF 4
the board, and Mr Josiah Ryland. Second |
Auditor, who Is the secretary of the /
board The party will return this after
noon.
GOVERNOR NEEDS MONEY.
Owing TO the Federal Government bav-
ing refused to pay Virginia's claim OF
$500 for supplies furnished the troops
from this State at the beginning Of the
war. Governor Tyler is greatly embarrass-
el for lack of funds. as the amount was
taken from his contingent fund. The
Governor has no fund available for use
I'm paying rewards for the capture OF
criminals. and i'm bringing back 10 Vir-
gnia fugitives from justice.
At the request Of Governor Tyler. Con-
gresham Lamb Will in few days intro
duce bin to have the money paid. He
thinks it will promptly pass.
Superintendent Helms has notified the
Governor that thirty-one c0nvicts will be
discharged from the pententiary this
month. Four Of the number are white.
Two II. Darlington and Charles Nor
colored, will be released Christ
mas-Ddy.
THE GOVERNOR on FARMING
Governor Tyler has sent the following |
letter 10 the Industrial agent of the Sea-
board Airline railway, relative TO grass
growing and grazing in Virginia:
Richmond. Va, December II. 1S9S.
Mr.. John T. Patrick, Chief Industrial
Agent. Seaboard Airline, Pineblun. |
y. c.:
Dear Sir.-Yours Of a recent date, en-
closing copy Of letter addressed 10 diff
ferent industrial agents in regard to
planting grass on the line OF your road.
and asking my views on the subject has
been received. / do most heartily COM
mend the thought. and believe IL much
more important step in the right direction
han the casual observer might consider
L. Not only will it beautify and render
attractive the country through which the
road passes, thus enhancing the value OF
ands by attracting settlers, but will |
timulate interest in stOck-raising I'm those
ections of Virginia where heretofore lit
le attention has been given.
1t must be admitted that there is littl, |
'front.' I'm any branch OF agriculture. and
hat the hopeful indications Of improve
nent are faint. except I'm stock raising
nd dairy products. In the Southwest. |
he section OF the State In which l live.
ne grazers have been encouraged In the
ast few years b. q steady Improvement
n the export cattle trade and prices fer
hat grade OF cattle have been advancing. |
4 this interest can be continued II will /
rove Of inestimable advantage 10 those {
ections Of our State that can produce |
ood exporters" and OF course, theF, '
gill be a reflex hcIeht TO ,he smaller