The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-03
A BLEST CAPTIVITY
Wrong-Doers Who've Re-
gained Lost Health.
The Cases OF PulIiam and Bowman
Who We're Nervous Wrecks, Now
Restored to Their Normal
Health.
BY ANDREW JOINER.

insanity plea in many criminal cases
than the public recognizes, and being
sent to the Federal prison at Atlanta
is sometimes a blessing in disguise
An officer returning from the Atlanta
penitentiary recently, said that he met
there Lawrence Pulliam, the Ashevile
bank cashier who so mysteriousy dis
appeared from Asheville about ten
years ago with $1,000 of the bank s
funds, and was never heard of until
five years thereafter when he present.
ed himself to a United States Commits
sioner in San Francisco, saying that
he was wanted in North Carolina for
embezzling the funds of a bank and
was ready to be taken back.
Pulliam's trial, conviction and sem
tence at Charlotte will be remember
ed He was sent to the penitentiary
for five years. He had during the
whole period been in wretched health,
broken with nervous Affections, and
addicted to the use of narcotics caused
by using them to alleviate pain.
The officer said that he would never
have known the man. He had been
in prison a year from last May. and
was an entirely different being. He
was healthy, fleShy, in excellent spirits
and entirely free from the careless
listless expression of the eyes and face
which formerly characterized him.
After Pulliam reached the prison
he was closely examined by the medi-
cal experts and consigned to the SAM
tarium ward for treatment for nervous
diseases. In six months his health was
restored mentally and physically and
he has gradually undergone a building
up process which it is said is fast
making him the splendid man he was
esteemed to - before he left Ashe-
VILE ostensibly to seek a specialist in
Philadelphia with $1,000 of its money
and was never heard of again until
he turned up five years later in San
Francisco, partially demented and ca
tiTely without money
Soon after Pulliam went to Atlanta.
there was so much doubt of his sanity
at the time he committed the crime
efforts were made to get the President
to pardon him. The President was
willing. but Attorney General Knox
would not listent to any dimnutio7
of the sentence. When Attorney Gen
eral Moody succeeded to the office sew
eral months later, it was suggested
that Pulliam might secure a pardon.
BY that time, however, his improve
ment at Atlanta had become so mark
ed, both mentally and physically, his
friends and relatives concluded it best
to wait and let time and science work
q complete cure
1t is thought that when he is a little
further on the road to complete and
permanent restoration to health and
strength. there will be no difficulty i'm
securing a pardon for him.
A Similar Case.
case almost similar to Pulliam
was brought to light yesterday by the
reception by Federal officer here
of splendid letter from a law
yer by the name of Bowman, written
from the Government Insane Asylum
at Washington city. Bowman was
sentenced to the penitentiary at At
lanta from the Salisbury Fedora!
Court several months ago upon the
plea of guilty of certifying falsely 10
a pension claim. He could not deny
his signature, seemed totally indiffer-
ent to the situation. at the same time
declaring that he was not guilty. He
had certificates from residents of his
adopted county stating that he was
cratic. addicted to morphine and Ii
quor at times.
He came to North Carolina from
Georgia. and was said to be a man of
brilliant talent and otherwise of good
conduct Bowman went to the At
lanta penitentiary. From the Wash
1ngton asylum he writes a most CRATE
full letter for having been given the
opportunity of being restored to mental
and physical health. He says that
upon being examined in the Atlanta
prison he was pronounced insane. and
transferred to the hospital at Wash
ington where he now is He discuss
eS his North Carolina experience from
the standpoint of a scientist and his
analysis of the mental condition
which caused him to commit the crime
for which he was imprisoned is a
good study in psychology. The legal
aspects of the case he treats with great
skill, showing how had he not been
demented he could have easily obtain
ed an acquittal of the charge on tech
nical objections to the bill of indict-
ment. Mr.. Bowman says that he ia
permanently and completely restored
to health, and his letter certainly in
dicates it,
For Days of Aud Lang Sync.
The large two story brick building
on West Market street known as the
Caldwell home, is being demolished TO
make room for modern city flats. It's
destruction marks the passing of an
other ancient landmark as well as
historic building here. For many years
it has been used for hotel boarding
house. The property belongs to Misses
Betty and Annie Caldwell, who in
herited it from their uncle the late
Frank Caldwell. The house was built
as residence in 1885. by Thomas
II SUI Oh the great DdNIu
Caldwell and father of Frank Caldwell.
who afterwards became one of the
wealthiest citizens of Greensboro 1t
is said that Thomas Caldwell not only
superintendent the making of the
brlck now in the building. but that
with his own hands he helped in
moulding the brick. burned them and
cemented them in the walls Thu
bt Il,!'ng is I,,w ~, repair. and
must in its day have been one of til
pest ana largest private residences in
the State. 1t is sad to we old people
to think that the almost sacred relics
OF glorious past should be put up
at auction and sold as old rubbish
but such is life in this rushing age of
progress. and those of us who cannot
become reconciled to it had better quit
repining or seek that perfection which
exists only in the Elysian fields across
the river.
''Grace Before Meat