Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-26
STRANGE CASE
Of ALT HARRIS
ADOPTED SON OF STEPHEN
THOMAS IS COMMITTED
TO ASYLUM.
TAKEN FROM HIS MOTHER
WHEN TWO WEEKS OLD.
She Lives in England and Is Said to
Be Well OH-Insane From
Drinking.

"Oh, II he a only died instead of
mine moaned Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas of
~ West Center street, Centerville, in
Judge Lindsay's court. this morning as
her adopted son, Alfred Harris, was led
from the room to await transportation
to the asylum at Warm Springs.
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Harris have had
their full measure of trouble in this world
and the sympathy of all will be extended
to them. In 1898 three of their own boys
died of typhoid pneumonia, leaving them
only the adopted son, now 26 years old.
They had taken care of him since he was
two weeks old and thought as much Of
MIN as foster parents could of a child.
Two or three months ago Alfred began
to show signs of a disordered mind as a
result of the use of too much liquor. He
grew worse and on several occasions
threatened Mrs. Thomas with bodily
harm during the absence of Mr.. Thomas.
Last Sunday his condition was so pro-
n that Mr.. Thomas had him taken
into custody. This morning he was taken
before Judge Lindsay and a commission
comprising Drs. Thompson and Renick.
DR.. Sheeran appeared as q witness and
testified as to the condition in which he
had found the young man. He said
Thomas or Harris was full Of magma
ton of h most vivid character.
With tears in her eyes,, Mrs. Thomas re-
cited the story of the career of her adopt
ed boy. She said he had been born in
England and she had taken care of him
since he was two weeks old; that his
mother was still living in England and
was well able to take care of him. Just
how or under what circumstances he
came to be placed in her keeping she did
not fully explain. She had never seen
his father, but had seen his grand
father, who was then an old man, and it
was through him that Alfred had been
placed in her keeping. About ten years
ago, she said, Alfred had taken to drink
q md o1th0r1rh c1N hol Fvorn,or<1xy Lo--ol
him to let the monster alone, he had not
needed her. HE never threatened to do
himself HARM" said she, between sobs,
"but seemed to be down on me. One one
occasion he drove me from the house
when my husband was away, but of
course he a been drinking. He said
he was afraid to woSk in a mine because
an electric meter had fallen on his
head. He had worked in the St. Law
renee. Not long ago he came home with
a black w and blood on his face, and I
told him it was the result of drink, sir.
said to him: Atty. why dom you stay
away from Saloons"
Stephen Thomas, the boys adopted
father, said he was not afraid of Alfred,
but was apprehensive of his conduct to-
wards Mrs. Thomas.
Alfred, the picture of health and to
utWar appearances. the pOssessor of
good sense, but as crazy as the proven
bial loon testified in his own behalf. He
answered all questions promptly, but it
was soon apparent, to the Judge and
physicians that they We're dealing with a
truly insane man. II said a meter was
going at my head and I can prove it, by
my partner" said he, when asked about
the meter episode. "If you want to fire
a cannon you pull the string. I am a
smart young man,
Did the meter hurt your was asked.
mo, it did not"
He was then asked to give the history
of himself.
IT al born in either Redruth or Lon
don, England" said he. land can
swear I am the lost child and have prop
erty. My name is Alfred Harris instead
of Alfred Thomas and nave been mixed
in a murder case. I can remember when
in C~amden-that was just before the
Camden riotS-that a man called at the
house where I was and told these people
to take care of me. I was brought to this
country"
"How old were you hemp" 4.
"a year or two-a year."
"And you can remember the man call
ing?"
Eyes, SIR"
Thomas hen spoke in a rambling way
about someone having dug holes in the
mining regions of this or some other
country n discovered mineral which
partly belonged to him..
According to what Mrs. Thomas said
the boy is certainly an heir to something,
as she told the commission and court
that his mother was well able to lake
him to England and keep him there.