Bisbee daily review., 1907-11-30
STRONG DENIAL
OF INSANITY
REPORT
People in Phoenix Close to Fer
guSon Denounce the Story
That He Was Made Crazy
By Blow On Head,

Starting at Nogales and from taat
point spreading to all parts OF Arf-
zona, stories to the effect that DR.. Ray
Ferguson, superintendent of the in
sane asylum, recently became sudden
ly insane and attacked his wife, says
a Phoenix paper.
To make the story sound good, it
is being said that DR.. Ferguson lost
his mental balance as the result OF in
juries received when attacked by jeff
GODS, an inmate. recently, and almost
killed
Ferguson is charged with having
suddenly been seized with a desire to
break the furniture in the room and
that When Mrs. Ferguson demonstrate
ed with him he made an attack upon
her, from which she escaped by flee
ing from the room.
Assistance is claimed to have been
called by Mrs. Ferguson, and the SUI
perintendent, oyerpowered while in a
paroxysm of violence and placed in
irons, until taken that night to an
eastern asylum to receive the atten-
ton OF specialists.
Nothing was learned of this sensa-
tional episode until outsiders brought
the reports TO Phoenix, and this after
noon +. G. Roberts, steward of the
asylum, was asked about the truth of
the reports.
Where this story started 1 can not
imagine" said Steward Roberts, ''un-
less it originated in the fertile brain
of some Of his friends, who became
over anxious regarding his condition,
and feared that such a thing might
happen.
"The fact that DR. Ferguson was
himself superintendent of the asylum
and that he was recently injured by
one Of the inmates seems to have Civ
en- color 10 this most improbable
story.
"Dr. Ferguson was making good
Roadway toward recovery when he left
here several days ago for Kansas, and
is now recuperating at the home If
his parents in Burlington.
only yesterday / had a letter from
Burlington in which it is said that DR.
Ferguson is making good progress
and that before long he will be able
| to return to Phoenix and resume his
duties as superintendent of the asy.
| hum.
Il want to emphatically deny that
DIR. Ferguson's mind was in the least
| affected by the blows ne received. The
only mental annoyance caused him
was through his regret that one of the
patients, supposedly TO be perfectly
trustworthy, had become violent and
| was able to get a weapon.
Il cannot understand why people
will circulate stories OF this kind with
out first making an investigation be
fore giving the supposed violence o.
! DR.. Ferguson as q. fact, the author o.
the story should have come here and
made an investigation.
Il want those who have any doubt
/ about DR.. Ferguson's being perfectly
sound mentally to ask DR.. Wylie, the
physician who attended him while he
was here. DR.. Ferguson was not sen
( TO a private asylum or to receive tbs
| attention OF specialists. He went tC
| visit with his parents until he regain!
his health and strength"
| Stewerd Roberts denounces in
strong terms those who are response
Bile Tor the perpettration of the sensa
tional story that the superintendent o
| the insane asylum had gone insane
and attacked his wife.
Just when DIR. Ferguson will return
to Phoenix Roberts could not say thii
afternoon, but in his opinion it is
matter of only a few weeks at tbs
/ most.