The San Francisco call., 1906-10-07


OF observing the srece their acting
produces on the bystandsrs. but Clsgg
exhibited only stupidness and con
fusion when he opened his eyes be-
tween spasns- The whole series OF
seizures lasted about an hour Then he
fell asleep Or rather. pretended 20
sleep. and when he awakened he ap-
peared TO be mentally confused for q
day or two and complained or . head
ache and physical weakness
While Clegg was IN the midst of his
commissions said in his hearing that
regarded him as an inpostor, although
I viii confess that was by no means
positive OF this st the time as
surled that Il might be 50 on account
OF what / knew OF his history. J IN
structed the attsndants TO insist that
he was not an epilepttc and to taks
pains to Impress upon him daily that
the medical ofirsrs regarded him a. a
fraud Every time I saw him 7 ac-
cused him of feigning and he stoutfy
denied it. He would point 70 the bad
sears on his head and face. scars a.
plenty. and would ask ne IL T thought
he would hurt himself like that on
purpose He told me then that he had
been subject TO hts sfncs he was ,
years old
Despite all this 7 reiterated that
considered him an impostOr and told
him that I would soon send him bacs>
TO prison A few days after my critical
examination CT his attack hs had =
series OF fits which began soon after
entered the ward. This was even more
prolonged than the first and is
seemed TO me a trifie overactsd- again
remarked while ths convulsions wera
going on that I thought him shannins
and that while his acting resemoled
epilepsy somewhat. ir was lacking IN
certain characteristic features. the ao-
scnce OF which stamped the ht as q
counterfeit Subsequently, Clegg told
me that this remark staggered him. for
he said how he had studied the subject
in books. how he had studied cases
and had pracriced dummy chucking for
fifteen years, until he thought he knew
every symptom perfectly
After he recovered from this attack
observed him carefully without let.
ting him know he was being watched.
and I was az once struck by the cheer
fuI and vtVactoUs aspect OF his coun-
tenance a. compared with his facial
expression assumed when visited his
ward Apparently he had not tns
slightest difficulty IN assuming and
throwing OF that peculiar and tnce-
scrfbabIs cast OF C0uute1auce when
many epiIeptics hsbituzlly wear This
look. together with the cicatriceS on
his face and head. were calculated ID
deceive even a skilled observer
When I was thoroughly convinced
that my suspicious were correct had
Clegg brought 70 my Office. where
saw him alone. and there ! told him
that I had sufficient evidences 70 con
Wet him OF shamming- He reiterated
his assertions that the fits were real.
but this time he was less enpharic
and after pressing NY point be at last
laughfngly admitted that the hcs had
seen him IN were simulated. but per
sisted IN assuring me that he was a
victim OF epilepsy ! would not al
nit this and told him that I should
return him to prison as a fsigner. and
added that with such Information 70
warrant them the prison officials would
punish him unsparinEly - he continued
70 have sham fits Clegg hesttaced a
moment then said. Well guess tcS
no USE: but YOU are the first doctor
that ever tumbIed TO me- No sooner
had he made the confession than his
face underwent rsmarkabls change
The epiIeptfc look vanished Ike dew
IN the sunshine: in fact. he became
natural and normal
He was released from prison and
heard OF him later in Boston where
he was practiclng dummy chuckinS
with a gang OF notorious pickpocksts-
When the Marquis OF Lorue toured
through Canada Clegg followed n the
wake or the crowd WHICH Always slE-
rounded the peer. chucking dummies
with great financial success He was
once more arrested IN New York and
sent to Sing sing. where. IN order 70
escape punishment. he felgned ne
and the officials there sent him TO ths
Auburn Asylum. a thing he had not
counted on. for he knew he would be
recognized immediately When he saw
me he threw or the epiIsptic mask he
had worn and asked 70 be kept awhile
in order 70 recruit up While he was
there I requested him 70 fsign a 1t
for me- He assentsd and borrowed my
penknife with which he deliberately
cut the side OF his tongue: them hs
uttered the epileptic cry and fell vio-
fe1tIy 70 the hoor IN a convulsi0n-
Later. at NY request, he repeated the
imitation in a private room IN the
presence OF several medical men. who
were astounded at the remarkzbls art
OF the dummy chucker when I told
them that it was all feigned-
When he was released from prison
the last time he secured employment
in a dairy. married and reared fam
fIy but he confessed that often he
was tempted TO go back 70 the old art
Of dummy chucxing. IN which he could
make several hundred dollars N one
quarter OF the time Il took him 20
earn ten By the sweat OF his brow.
But so far as I know he continued TO
be honest