The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1904-10-18
THIS Man AN
INSANE FREAK
ESCAPED !, ASYLUM
An. cTIcrD Law
Lamb, Who Escape0 Asy-
Ium at Jamestown, Talks His
Abode ct Aberdeen and Issues .
Checks. 8

Aberdeen, s. D., Oct. IA few days
ago a man calling himself Albert Law
appeared III Aberdeen and announced
his intention Of engaging IN the prac-,
tice of law, He rented desk room in
the office of a local attorney and ex-s
pressed himself as we'll pleased with the
prospects for building up an extensive
practice. It a day or two numerous
idiosyncrasies Of the newcomer became
apparent He professed to be an expert
in the game of golf, and appeared part
.ly attired in golf suit at all hours Of
the day. Shortly after his arrival he
called upon a local bank and desired to
open an account, offering for collections
ia draft for 500 on the Bankers National
Bank of Chicago, and another for
smaller amount on a bank at Berwick,
y M. ID. The bank accepted the drafts for.
collection, and in a few. DAYS they were
both returned, marked IN. G.
In the meantime Law had distributed
checks on the local bank for small
about $45. On Saturday morning he
disappeared, and at about tfle same time
the persons with whom he had had deal.
ings became suspicious.
No trace was found Of the missing
man until Sunday evening, when he
again appeared in town and was arrest
ed in Guhin Bros, book store. He
stated that he had walked to North
vile and thence to Mellette, and at the
latter place had hired a rig to bring
him back to Aberdeen He had smear
ed grass upon his face and made other
II
easily recognized. His many peculiar
actions since coming to Aberdeen led
the authorities to believe he was de-
mented rather than criminal, and this
] suspicion was confirmed when he corr
fessed that he at one time had been
confined i'll the insane asylum at James
town. The insanity board was convened
and upon communication with James
town asylum authorities discovered that
Law, whose real name is Burton Lamb,
escaped from that Institution about ten
days ago. He will be held until the
North Dakota authorities arrive. y
Shortly after Laws arrest here a mes
sage came from Worthwhile that he was
wanted there for the theft of an over
coat. Law acknowledged that his real
name is Lamb, and stated that he had
assumed the name of Law to prevent
his wife from discovering his where
ahotits. He protested violently against
his illegal arrest and sent many r1les-
sages to members of the Masonic and
i knights of Pythias orders in various
parts Of the country, asking the IrieIll-
bers Of those orders, to which he claims
to belong, to come to- his rescue.
Lamb claims to be highly educated,
having graduated from the high school
at Englewood, Ill, studying three years
at Michigan University and completing
/ his education at Lake Forest Universi-
ty, afterWard taking a law course and
being admitted to the bar. He also
protested to be an all round athlete. and
a local hotel to which he was indebted
for board took advantage Of this belief
] to inveigle him into boxing match
Il with an Aberdeen man. When Law
removed his overcoat to engage in the
contest Of skill and strength an officer
1 in waiting levied on the coat for the
4 board bill.