The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-01-14
IAN OLD MANS
QUEER PLIGHT
is FARMER ROOT INSANE
Two Attempts to Have Him Com
mitted Which fail-Stranqe StOrys
ia Which Hints Of Attempt
cd Fraud Are Made.

George Rcct. a decpplt old German
OF some 90 odd winters, was examined
before County Judge Gray yesterday
by a lunacy commission composed OF
Doctors Alfred Kinney and j, A. Fpl.
ton. 1t developed at the examination
that the old man was victim OF u
peculiar kind Of mania OF the inter-
mittent order According 70 the state
ment OF one Harry Cochran. the pTin-
cipal witness against the accused. it
has been Roots chief delight To keep
up an incessant and hldeous bowling
during the small dead hours of the
night. frequently throwing in little
extra effort in the daytime for good
measure. At times. II was stated. the
old man completely loses control OF
himself. roaming about the premises
aimlessly tor hours at time. Upon
Occasions. however. he would appear
perfectly rational and talk and act as
inteuigenuy as anyone, But of late,
SO Cochran says, the rational periods
have grown to be few and far between
until At last he felt obliged to report
his case to the authorities.
But there is story behind these
proceedings which makes Roots case
Of more than ordinary interest
Il appears that Root was. in 1896.
possessed Of a large tract OF land in
Clackamas county. about twenty miles
from Oregon City. upon which he had
been residing for several years. ekins
out an existence as best he could.
But years spent in subduing the
rugged lands Of an Oregon forest be-
gan to tell on the old man and he
was obliged to lay aside the imple-
ments Of daily toll and abandon the
cares and vicssitudes which had
characterized a life OF industry and
frugality.
About this time young Cochran APP
4 peared on the horizon. Old man Root
took a decided fancy to the young
fellow and before many more days
had passed an agreement was made
between the twain under the condi-
tlons Of which Root was TO deed all
Of his property TO his new found
friend, the young man, in turn, TO
care and provide for the old rancher
during the remaining years of his
natural life. Matters moved along
smoothly for a couple Of years or so,
the affair coming first to public at
J tention through proceedings brought
by Young Cochran in the courts Of
Clackamas county to have Root COM
mitted to the insane asylum. This
attempt resulted in failure and Coch-
ran, accompanied by his eccentric pro-
tege, returned to his lonely abode In
the hills No'hing further was heard
Of the case until Friday evening when
the old man. bowling and raving with
his greatest might, was turned into
the county jail charged, for the
second time, with insanity.
When Root was brought into court
for examination yesterday forenoon
he was hlmself-or, at any rate
Irational-once more. The physicians,
after considerable deliberation, deter
mined upon the following order,
which was approved by Judge Gray.
1--WE find that he is not insane, but
is a paralytic, unable to care for him.
self. He is not mentally Aound, but
cannot be classed as insane. He
should be cared for, but not in an
asylum; preferably in hospital for
paralytics.' As there is no hospital