The Saint Paul globe., 1899-08-03
SLIPKA AS AN ACTOR
AUTHORITIES THINK HE rs FEIGN-
ING INSANITY AT THE
COUNTY JAIL
so DOES DIR. LEAvITT AS WELL


Henry Slfpka, the alleged "St. ANTHONY
1Iill Terror is believed to be feiening
insanity in order to escape the penaItv
OF the crimo with which he is charged
FOR two days Slipka has been acting
strangely at the county Jail, seemingly
In constant meditation but frequently
muttering to himself. Several times he
has acted wildly, knocking his head
against the iron grating of his cell and
mas threatened to hang himself. He is
connned In padded cell, where he can
not harm himself, but this is only a
precautionary measure, as those who
nave watched Slipka say they believe him
out a clumsy actor, feigning insanity
with subtle purpose in view.
For several days after his removal to
the county Jail Slipka was confined to
the cot upon which he was carried into
the municipal court to be arraignod ,,non
the charge of assaulting Miss Jessie
Aeefe' of S61 Oakland avenue. He was
taken to court and transferred to the
JsilE because it was believed he was plan
ming an escape from the city hosnita1
After the first day at the tail he wac
constantly demanding to see a physician
ne CANNED to be still suffering from the
Two pullet wounds received the night of
MS arrest, when he made such a desper-
ate attempt to escape as the patrol wagon
dreW up at the Central station.
Assistant City Physician Ieavitt fro
Quently called upon Siipka, but at no tins
round any indication that Sltpka had suf
tered by the early removaf from the
hospital In fact, the prisoners wounds
healed readily and cleanly so that ha
underwent no inconvenience On one oc-
caslon DR.. Levitt spoke plainly to Slipka
ana told him he was simply shamming.
The next day Slipka left his cot and has
since been walking about the corridor
with the other prisoners
To anyone that would talk to him Sin
ka conVersed freely, up to Tuesday morn
ing. He discussed his case with the
deputy sheriffs and his fellow prisoners.
but no one could draw from him a con-
1esslon Of his alleged assaults. He al
ways told the same story, claiming that
the night of his arrest he was so drunk
that he could not remember anything that
happened. He maintained that he did
not recollect having attacked Miss Keefe,
nor his daring plunge over the Third
street bluff, with a hail of bullets rat
Ting after him. On all subjects discussed
he talked nationally.
One thing that seemed to concern Slip
ka was the condition of his family,
though why this should be, when Mrs.
Slipka says he was not over considerate
of her and the children when he was at
liberty, is not quite clear He often re-
marked that his arrest brought hardship
to his family, but little stock was taken
in what was believed to have been a
studied mawkish sentiment, expressed for
the purpose of eliciting sympathy. At the
conclusion of every discussion of his
family Slipka always asked to see his
wife, but only once has the wife been to
the Jail. In fact not one of the prisoners
family, except Mrs. Slipka, has been to
see him. He has sent for his father-in-
law, his brother and his mother many
times, bus the entire family seem to have
determined to let him suffer alone for
his alleged laWlessness. This neglect, as
Slipka is pleased to call 1t, has worried
the prisoner considerably and he fire.
quently bewails his utter lack of friends
He has no means with which to secure
an attorney and this causes him much
regret.
Throughout all of the confinement at
the Jail, however, Slipka never impressed
anyone with the idea that he was crazy.
He ate his meals regularly and with ap-
parent relish. He slept soundly, and
l.
Tuesday morning there was a change in
his behavior. When let out of his cell
into the corridor he wandered up and
down aimlessly for a while, and then
planted himself on a STOOL where he
began mumbling. Occasionally he would
gesticulate eXcitedly, and butt his head
against the bars. 1t was noticeable it is
said at the Jail, however, that Slipka
only carried on wildly when he was sure
some one was watching him. Tuesday
he would not eat either breakfast or din
ner, but at night he seemed to enjoy the
plain meal of bread and milk.
The actions of Slipka were called to
the attention of DR.. Leavitt. The physi-
clan suspected that Slipka was shamming.
and so decided upon an experiment often
resorted to in such cases. The expert
ment consists in pouring water upon the
subject. In almost every case of genuine
insanity the afflicted person will make an
effort to escape from the water or at
tempt to brush the liquid from the face
eyes or hair. wherever it may strike. A
person feigning insanity will, it is said,
remain perfectly quiet under such cir
cumstances, imagining that the apparent
distraction makes the pretending all the
stronger. Slipka was given a good drench-
ing, but obstinately refused to move He
allowed water to be poured down his
back, into his face and on his head,
d
knew what was going on.
The experiment took place Yesterday.
Slipka sat on the stool in a corner of the
corridor muttering to himself.
1t might be. It might have been"
was the burden of his jumbling talk,
punctuated here and there with a thump
of his head against the bars.
One OF the Jail prisoners was sent up
Oh top of the corridor cage with bucket
of water. Under DR.. Leavitt's instruc-
tiCns he allowed a cup full of water to
fall upon Slipka, drop at a time The
prisoner never moved. : hen the man came
down and threw a cupful of water full in
the prisoners face. This did not please
him. After DR.. Leavitt and his aides had
gone Slipka is said to have glanced eau
tiCusly about, as though aware the entire
time what was going on. The test resort
ed to is not infallible, however, and it
may be that SLpka will be subjected to
an examination of several physicians To
be on the safe side with the prisoner
Deputy Sheriff Frank Kreha last evening
locked him up in the padded cell Slipka
stretched himself out on the softest part
of the floor, and at 10 o'clock was sleep
ing peacefully.
DR.. Leavitt says he does not believe
Slipka is insane, and the same opinion is
announced by all who come in contract
with the man. Deputy Sheriff Kreha SAYS
he has known Slipka for years, and that
since the man has been in the jaiI he has
talked much with him in the Bohemian
language. According to the deputy
sheriff Slipka is a shrewd cunning fell
low, and showed no sings of insanity un-
til he began his queer act on Tuesday
THE insanity dodge is being played
pretty strong here lately" said Chief of
Detectives SchWeitzei, speaking of