Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-04-13
TILLMAN AND A CRANK.
Senator Receives Visit From Gentle
man Just From Asylum.

Senator Receives Visit From Gentle
man Just From Asylum.
Senator Tillman's reputation as the
champion Of the down. -trodden and af-
ficted and the foe of strength and
wealth improperly and illegally con-
Quoted, says a Washington correspond
ent, has become so general that he
is constantly in receipt of letters i'm
ploring his aid, besides visitors who
wish to see him with long stories as
to wrongs they have suffered. In these
days Of rebate warfare the South Car
olina senator has little time for such
things, but he gives It as freely as his
duties permit.
A few nights ago he was sitting in
his unpretentious hotel apartments
with his daughter and a newspaper
friend. A bellboy brought card to
the door and 1t showed the name Of
man from North Dakota The senator
directed that the visitor be shown up.
He was a fine-looking. splendidly
dressed fellow, with a fur collar on
his overcoat He sat down in the
chair offered to him and began his
story:
Senator, I have just gotten out OF
an insane asylum up In Canada
come to you to help me get justice.
First they put me into private sani-
tarium against my will and kept me
there three weeks. sent to the Amer
lean consul at - and asked him to
come to my aid. He wouldn't do 1t.
When did get out went to the Can
adian authorities and tried to get
justice for detention in the sanitarium.
Instead of getting justice they put me
into an insane asylum at - and kept
me there forty-five days. I, at last, got
word to my brother, who took me out"
BY this time there was queer feel
ing chasing around the spinal cords OF
some of those present, although Sena-
tor Tillman appeared as nonchalant
as usual.
my friend he said, this Ii mat
ter for the senator's from your state to
look after"
"That may be true" went on the
visitor, but they say that you are not
frightened by anybody or any power IL
you think a wrong has been done, and
want your help. You see there are
many other Americans imprisoned
there, and what is happening to them
is enough to set the country on fire.
tell you 1t is horrible. The United
States consuls failed to do their duty"
THAT fact, with the names, ought to
be reported to the state department for
investigation stated Senator Tillman.
81 do not see where / could be OF much
benefit to you under the circumstances.
Here's my newspaper friend. Write
the whole story up and give 1t to him.
He will spread 1t over the country for
you"
The newspaper man promised to do
this and gave his address.
But the visitor was not so easily got
ten rid Of 1t. "And do you know" he
went on in quiet manner, using good
language, there Is cure for most
of those poor people in that asylum
and others. II they could be pardoned
by the government-R you could use
your influence to have them pardoned
they would regain their normal
senses and be all right. You see," and
the voice of the man dropped low.
"these people have committed secret
murder. Nobody knows 1t but them
selves. They are afraid to come out
for fear of being prosecuted and hang
ed. They stay on and suffer the tor
lures they are forced to undergo, but II
they were pardoned they could come
out and be free"
Senator Tillman looked queeriy at the
visitor as he went on, and the newspa-
per man saw that there ought to be
quick thought put in.
Now" said the correspondent that
Is a very important matter, great
story, but Senator Tillman has nothing
I'm the world to do with 1t. You write
the whole thing up tonight and send 1t
to me at my office as quick as you can
get 1t. The sooner you get to work the
better" and he arose and opened the
door for the stranger to hurry out and
get to work on the story, which he
agreed to do.
"If that chap sends his card up here
again, don't receive him." the senator
gave instructions, and there was a
feeling Of relief when the visitor had
gone.