The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-28

is 40 doubt as TO the true explanation
and the cause of the tragedy. He was con-
WINGED that his wife and her relatives
and his own were in a conspiracy. the
purpose Of which was to effect his force
full Incarceration in an asylum for the
insane. Aware of the fact that there
was a trace of insanity in his family, that
he himself had once suffered a temporary
collapse of his mental faculties. worn out,
in broken bodily health from confinement
and overwork, perhaps conscious that he
was not at all times thoroughly himself,
his brain had given away in this one re-
spect.
To him il was a real and ever-present
danger-this imagined fear of forci5le in
generation. Letters he has written to
various OF his friends reveal it. circum-
stances confirm it. his own actions for the
past year make it douo.y plain.
Last summer DR.. Charlton received a
letter from Mrs. Aikens brother asking
the state of DR.. Aiken's health. Mrs.
Aiken and the children were then at the
North. Dr. Charlton, CHANGING to meet
DIR. Aiken, with whom he had always
been on the most friendly terms. in front
Of his Office asked him how he was. Dr.
Charlton was amazed at the reply that
he received.
Il haven't got time to answer that
question said DR.. Aiken. I'm in a hur-
ry." He passed on down the street.
DR.. Charlton says he didn't know what
TO make Of this eccentric behavior. The
- ba
Aiken's office and repeated his question
of the morning.
We'll, for an answer to that question"
was the answer he received, Il shall have
to refer you to my lawyer"
DR.. Charlton was too startled To say
anything for a moment. Then he told
DR.. Aiken that he was acting in a man
ner perfectly absurd and at last had
poured into his ears the story of his
friends lginagy trouble
DR.. Aiken said his wife had been per-
scouting him. That she had entered into
q conspiracy with her relatives and ply
stcans in the North to have him placed
in an asylum and that he was permitted
to have no peace of m nd whatever.
See, here, Aiken DR.. Charlton told
him, you are acting like a fool. If you
keep on talking in this fashion, people will
begin to believe you are crazy. Now, let
sense. You are worn out and off your
OATS. Go North and spend the summer
with your family and you will rid yourself
of all of these absurd IDEAS"
This advice DR.. Aiken accepted. He
spent several months North, and when
he returned to the city in October he was
very much improved in health and
strength, and apparently his normal self.
This he appeared TO be to those who saw
him, but letters written by him at this
time. which he never mailed, are proof
conclusive that the old dementia had
never left him. Otherwise he was per-
fectly sane, and not in appearance nor
conversation nor manner did he betray
any indication that his mind was not al
together normal and performing in every
way its proper function.
Some time after his return to Savannah
he told DR.. Charlton that while he was
North he had learned that his wife had
had everything cut and dried to have him
placed in an asylum. Again he was ex-
horted not to permit himself to entertain
any such ideas, and still he held them
In his mind with the mauiac's triple
grasp.
ION this subject" said DR.. Charlton,
the man has been for some time per
fectiy insane. On every other subject he
was perfectly rational"