The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-18
EPIDEMIC or INSANITY
Too Liberal Indulgence in Home
Made Whiskey.
THEY PROVED TOO MUCH
In the Case Against Bunch Sherrell-At-
torneys We're Surprised When
the Trap Was Discovered.
A Good Story.

Missoula, Sept. 17.-There seems to be
an epidemic of insanity in the Bitter
Root valley at present. The cause of it
cannot be assigned, unless 1t is the re-
suit of too liberal indulgence in some
of the homemade whiskey for which
the valley, in some Of its sections, is
celebrated. The result of the proceed
ings against Bunch" Sheriff. this
week seems to meet with general ap-
prevail, as there is little doubt in the
minds Of his acquaintance that his
habits during the past five or six years
had led to brain trouble The insanity
plea that was advanced by his attor-
neys was well made, but it was some
what overdone. and the attorneys were
surprised, indeed, when they discovered
the trap into which they had been led
by their zeal to establish the fact that
their client was mentally unsound
Just as they had succeeded with their
plan to prove that Mr. Sheriff. was in
sane, they found that they had proved
too much and that they had demon
strated that his insanity was not tenn
porary. The criminal proceedings were
at once closed and a formal insanity
examination was begun. The result of
this investigation was that Mr.. Sheriff.
he regains his mental balance. This is
believed by those who are familiar with
the case to be the most humane and
reasonable solution Of the case, and it
is certain that Mr. Sheriff. will recover
his mental strength after a course of
treatment at the state insane asylum.
A Ravalli county attorney tells a good
story In connection with this insanity
plea that is becoming so epidemic in the
valley. There were during the first of
the week. among the prisoners in the
county Jail at Hamilton, no less than
three prisoners whose minds are said
to be off their trollies. One of these
was Sheriff., the second was the Swede
who is accused of numbering his part
ner, and the third was a man whose
mind has become unbalanced through
religious excitement. He is of the opin-
ion that he is especially endowed as the
representative of God in this part of
the country, and he becomes indignant
if there is any question raised as to the
regularity of his commission. These
three men were in the jeil when the
attorney called to see one of his clients,
who is at present detained there. No
sooner had he entered the Jail than he
was accosted by the religiously insane
man, who began to argue with him
upon topics in which he is interested as
the envoy extraordinary of the Deity.
The Swede who is also alleged to be in
sane, was an interested listener and,
not far away, Sheriff. sat morosely
watching what went on around him.
Among the short term prisoners in
the Jail is an Irishman with one arm
and a thorough experience in jail mat
tiers. He has evidently seen the inside
of enough jails to know how to get out
If it is possible to get out at all. This
fellow listened to the harangue of the
preacher for while and then he step
ped up quickly and pushed him away.
You have had time enough" he said,
lit is my turn now" With that he led
the attorney to one side and asked him
seriously if that was Jail or a lunatic
asylum. The attorney, with equal gray
ity, replied that it was a Jail beyond
any doubt. We'll" said the Irishmap.
maybe it is, but l doubt it. / was
sent to Jail for so days, but I think that
they made mistake and sent me to an
insane asylum. If this is the case, I
want you to get me out of here at once
on a writ of habeas corpus" He re-
fused positively to believe that he was
not in an asylum and he is daily ex-
pecting his release.