The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-01-28
INSANITY PRISONER
QUICkAT REPARTEE
George Schultz Is BrImmina
With Mendacity and
Wit

When a man giving the name Of
George Schultz was arrested by the
police early Thursday morning just as
he was attempting to throw himself in
front of moving street car, at Sew
enth and Minnesota streets, it was
hrmly believed that he was insane.
When he attempted time and again to
end his life while he was. confined in
the central police station the belief
that the man was crazy grew even
stronger. When he jerked one Of the
crazy straps loose from his arms and
tried to string himself up in his cell
at the county jail the opinion that the
man was raving maniac seemed to be
confirmed.
But yesterday Judge Bazille conduct
ed a hearing at the county jail to de-
term1ne the exact state of the mans
mind and the result of that hearing left
him so in doubt that he ordered Schultz
confined in the detention hospital for a
few days that a closer investigation
into the mans actual condition might
be made.
veritable Ananias
The hearing was one replete with
surprises, pleasant and otherwise. One
of the surprises was in that the ap-
parently innocent looking man was
mendacious in the extreme; another
was in that he has a remarkable. gift
at repartee.
When he was taken to the county Jail
Schultz was wearing nothing except a
blanket, from his waist up-he had
torn up his clothing trying to hang
himself, and he was sadly in need Of a
bath. He was given the bath and all
of his amiability came off with the
dirt. He became fnmanageable and
was finally placed in a strait jacket.
Yesterday afternoon he had so far
Quoted down that an examination was
possible and Judge Bazille went to the
Jail to make the examination.
He asked Schultz how old he was
and Schultz said that he was forty
eight and further volunteered the in
formation that he was born in West
phalia, Germany, in 1858.
A question as to his residence evoked
the information that he lived at 871
Hope street; had wife and six chill
dren and had been working at4the st.
Paul foundry. He went into details in
describing the route which he took in
riding on the street cars from his home
to the place where he worked; and he
grew enthusiastic in telling about his
work at the foundry and how the peo-
pie he worked under looked.
The clearness of his story might
have cleared all doubts as to his san
ity had not the police tried to find 871
Hope street and discovered that no
such number existed and that no
Schultz had ever lived in that neigh
borhood.
AS 1T was evident that Schultz was
deliberately lying, the judge continued
his questions. 1t was considered prob
able that Schultz was affected with a
suicidal mania, and so the judge ask
ed:
Would you hang yourself if I gave
you piece of roper"
Nope" responded the prisoner
doubtfully.
well, what would you do If gave
you a razor? Cut your throat, sup
poser" persisted the judge
"No-o-o, I'd shave myself" re-
sponded Schultz, rubbing the ten days
beard that covered his doleful coun-
tenance.
Continuous Repartee
The prisoner must have thought that
the laugh which greeted this sally was
| intended as an encore, because of his
answer to the next question.
How did you lose that thumb?"
| Quick as a fash the answer came
back: I'm war with Germany, fif-
| teen years ago."
| But there hasn't been any war in
| Germany for over fifteen years" eau
! toned Judge BaZille.
| This was local war" responded
| the prisoner. "a Dutchman bit it off
| in a scrap"
| Il see,' acknowledged the Judge.
| A long string of questions brought
| forth similar unsatisfactory answers,
one of them being to the effect that he
| had drank sixteen gallons of beer and
| whisky during his last jamboree. The
| general trend of his remarks convinced
the judge that the man was rather in
| the course of recovering from long
| spree than really insane, and he there
! fore advised that Schultz be sent to
the detention hospital to grieve over
his separation from his mythical wife
| and six children.