Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-06-15
QUEER HAV[RA|L[G CASE
Deputy Sheriff Hutson Called to
Take Possession Of Supposed
Insanity Case.
Mrs E v. Houseman Wanted Hus.
band Taken Before Commits.
sioners "A Queer Story.
Sad Case Of a Young Woman in This
City. Whom it is Feared Is
Going Insane.

For a time Thursday afternoon the
members Of the force in the sheriff's Of
flee were considerably excited over q
telegram received from Mrs.
r. w. Houseman. of Haverhill. which
read: Come to Haverhill at once
Sheriff could not surmiss what could be
the matter, and a message sent at once
by the Times Republican failed to Sc
cure the information in time for publ
cation that it was not a murder that
was troubling the peaceable neighbour
hood, but suspected case of insanity,
instead.
Deputy Sheriff Hutson was dispatched.
post-haste to the scene and arrived at
the Houseman home. located siX miles
south Of Haverhill, about 4 o'clock. He.
was met by Mrs. Houseman, who was
very much excited, and informed the
deputy that her husband was insane and
had made threats to do violence. Depu-
Ity Hutson thought he could discern the
flavor OF the old story. family troubles,
and in response to Mrs Houseman's re-
quest that her. husband be brought to
this city at once and be taken before
the commissioners Of insanity. the depu-
ty instead took the old gentleman to the
home of his son-in- law. Lou Wilkey, five
miles southwest of Marshalltown. This
morning a second telegram was received
at the steriff's Office from Mrs. House
man, saying that she had changed her
mind concerning the commissioners in
l5vfstigation, and that everything had
been settled up and was again serene.
The story of Houseman's life as un-
Travelled by himself to- a T.-R. represen-
lStative, is as wonderful as the adventures
| of Robinson Crusoe, and about as easy
| of credence. An infant without any
knowledge of his parents, he vas found
apparently dead in a deserted field,
where an unnatural mother had desert
| ed him. Frozen and without conscious
ness restorative measures recalled him
to life and he has kept right on living
flor eighty-four years. With the excep-
lstion Of IL couple of days WHEN he was
supposedly dead from Asiatic cholera
l.during the great epidemic more than
fifty years ago. He recovered from his
stupor barely in time to save himself
4 from burial and took up the burden of
life again as on the previous occasion.
He has been several times married and
has had a large family His youngest
child is IA years old and his eldest be-
Tween 65 ands10.
Years since Houseman had neigh
lborhood difficulty of the ordinary type
with DR.. Maytag, lately deceased. 1t
.resultedin church trial apd Houseman
was 'churched." as the term goes. May
4 stag' : recent death and the obituary
1 which appeared on the occasion seems
to have stirred old Mr.. Housenlan up.
/ He realized that he himself is nearing
1.-THE end OF his long and varied career,
land wrote Communication to the
isTimes- Republican some time since noti-
flying all who bore him any i'll will tG
call on him before specified date. be
forgiven and grant forgiveness in re-
turn. While the T.-R. realized the adj
i vantage and utility OF this clearing
.Ilhouse plan of mutual forgiveness the
communication failed of publication be-
cause of its extremely peculiar charac-
ter
1t is supposed that all his different
A TROUBLES and his advanced age have had
4 their effect on the old mans mind ant
! THAT he Is not entirely responsible men
4 tally. Mrs. Houseman gives as the
a cause of her husbands present menta
\ Encouragement Christian science. and hi.
4 Threatened, violence Of Thursday wai
Iducsto the fact that she refused L
adopt the belief