The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1899-10-18
A. STR E,Rs
Iof d Lunatic NoWsin ;thesIs Zoo i,s
at Atlanta. s)@Ss 81
CASE PUZZLES 8 THE ! h oLlIlc.,:E
Tho Prisoner, Who is Confined
in Padded Cell, Tells ~
"a Wierd Story Of Ad sa5

i ~ ouusu Soiiy SsS&@ elt3 49, III
Wierd Story Of Al. n
venture. B
For ono week there has been confined
in o padded cell at police station
badly the most peculiar and at tie same
timo best educated lunatic over dealt
with by the local polioo, and il has do
yolopod since his arrest that he ID want
ed by no loss than five different insane
asylums. The chief Of police is now
vainly trying to get the case thoroughly
Strengthened out Y sT 3.s3 s.,
/ Last Tuesday night telephone nlea-E
sago to headquarters stated that crazy
man had effooted his escape 4 from tho
Grady hospital and was terrorizing the
ontire F0GSth ward, having torn OFF
nearly all Nof his clothing and was
acting &c moro me 9 .'l monkey than IS q
Call officers Chosowood RRa Cornett,
answered tho message and after nm -ax- ~,
citing chase arrested the orazy man,
who, ut tho police station, gave his name
as John Williams. He was looked I in
the padded cell and before morning ne
had torn off what remained Of his cloth,
ing and also all of tho padding Of the!
iron ,cagc. He was the Widest man
ever confined in the local police sta
tion. s.s2 l
Next day Olficcrs Cornett and Chose
wood ascertained that w illiams had
been employed at the race track ats
tending many Of the fast nags that are
to enter tho races at tho State fair. 4 S S. h
Gradually Williams has improved in
mental condition, and now to talkwith
him no one would ever suspect thai he
was ever bothered with mental trouble.
| He's perfectly rational about everything
| and is too wise to impart to the off GERS
his real Identity. 3s5S 35,s iE}5
Last Saturday tho two arresting off,
GERS put Williams through d very
thorough questioning, and before they
were through they had learned from
him many things, obtaining probably
the most peculiar story ever unfolded
| to an officer Of the law in the city Of
| Atlanta. III 8 5lt'
| Williams, as he now calls himself, is
tho son Of q wealthy saloon and hotel
man in the city Of New Y York, but for
many years he has had a montal afflic-aS
ton, which has caused him to depart
from the quiet pathin which u he was
raised and take:lp the life #of d tramp
during which time he has beenS djudgsG
ed insane no loss than five times. 3iE f$Ssi
Upon each occasion w Williams was;
sent to an asylum and he has always
been cunning enough to effect an es-39
cape. t.., +, ,5.8{ N 3 M
He is we'll educated and talks auently5
and with much case, and while telling
his story the only trace of insanity that
could be observed was his seeming fan-
oy for boasting of the shocking OK peril
ences he has undergone. III 4. 3S5
"Since / was three years of age,,'''h}
said Williams to q Journal reporter, 8 ssII
have been affected with mental trouble
and at tiraos | got wild and do things
that know nothing whatever q about,
while at othors have the cunning and
the sense Of the slickest criminal that
ever lived.
These spells come upon me whom Il
am least expecting them, and theysstay,
with me from one week to three years
[ was confined in an insane; asylum in
Philadelphia for three years, escaping
some two years ago. Since that timeEI
have been following the horses a. Ss9
| My father lives in New York city,
Ho is hotel and saloon man, and q
Federal veteran, having had ono Of his
legs shot off during the civil war. ~
left home when only 10 years old and
have mover been back since.
In Harrisburg, Pa, about six years
ago was detected bya policeman While
trying to do some dirty work. IL ran
and tho oficor shot mo three times, the l;
last bullet entering my back and oaus-
ing me to fall Iwas captured and sent,
to tho ponitentiary, but was afterward,
transferred to tho State insane ayslumB
from which / escaped. n vi 4 q
And just hero this peculiar lunatioa
exhibited three pistol wounds. He
continued: Sa ya sls3 n 4. 4. n K l}
Long before that was sent to- an
asylum in New York State, but they
wore no. slick enough to keep mo, and
got away, after remaining there not
groat time. Tho prison for orazy5 peo IS
ple in Wilmington, Del, was not strong
enough to hold me, and / wallsed away
without any great trouble. s 5i u, .is
while working with horses in KEN
tuoky, | had one Of those funny SPELLS
and was sent to the asylum at Frank
fort, from which T escaped and wontSto
Philadelphia, whore [ was adjudged in-,
sano and put in another asylum. I re.
mainod in this place for three years,
and two years ago, whom an opportuni-#
ty presented itself / left them.
would not toll you who I am for the
Philadelphia people still want me, 4, d