Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-05
DEMANDS TO Be
LOCKED IN JAIL
Man of Mystery Tells Pasadena Police
Weird Story of Uncomfortable
Desire for Self-De-
struction

Claiming that he was possessed or
an insane desire to throw himself In
front of moving street car or locomo-
tive. or from the highest building in
the city, to meet a death of violence,
Brother John, whose real name Is sup
posed to be John A. McKinnon, startled
the Pasadena police with strange re-
cital of his hallucinations and asked
to be locked up to keep himself from
self destruction.
81 am perfectly sane" he said when
he appeared before the desk sergeant
at the Pasadena station this morning
and told his story. But have an un-
comfortable desire to end my life IN
the most horrible manner my brain can
conceive. l find myself conjuring up
the most inhuman tortures TO myself.
desert my books to think OF all the
ways whereby human form could be
chopped up and mangled beyond all
semblance Of the shape given 1T by its
creator. 1 am periodically seized will
this strange desire. l cannot account
for 1t. do not believe it is the call OF
God. 1t must be the call of satan.
IF you do not have me sent to the
hospital whero 1 may be treated for
my malady you will be responsible fol
my death. l will kill myself unless you
take care of me till my mind is freed
from this awful influence.
"I want you to send me to the asy-
lum where 1 may receive medical treat
ment and clear my brain of this heavy
appalling fog"
Brother John came to Pasadena al
most a year ago., From whittier he
came no one ever knew. Whittier he
will go should he be freed from the
baneful influence that holds his brain
helpless in it's grasp will never be
known, though it is supposed he will
return to his laborS in Pasadena.
When he came to the Crown City he
stated that here among the homes of
wealth and refinement he expected to
start colony of the Association of
Practical Altruists. 1t would be con-
Quoted on the plan of a cooperative
colony in which every one would be
practically his own master, earn his
own bread and spend the surplus funds
representing the profits on his labor in
aiding his fellow man by taking in and
supporting some poorer fellow.
Two months ago he came near to the
realization of all his scheming. He
evolved tn idea of utilizing the vacant
lots about town and instead of grow
ing a crop of weeds on them, to plant
vegetable and flowers from which to
realize profit His plan evolved the
establishing of central colony from
which all the outside ground would be
worked. He at one time had a fund
available for the purchase of the land
for the central colony and also had op-
tions on many town lots which he in
tended to till and make productive.
The scheme failed through hitch in
the proceedings of purchase after an
option had been secured on two loca-
tions for his central colony.
Brother John had the intention of
harboring only those persons whose
health would not permit them to strug-
gle with the adversities of the world
and wrest a living from commercial
battlefields, but whose labor was
enough and more than competent to
provide sustenance.
Following the request of the strange
fanatic, warrant was issued in the
court of Judge Mcdonald and he was
placed under arrest on an insanity
charge. He was brought to the county
hospital by Constable Harley Newell
and unless he shows signs of recover
ing. will be held to an insanity COM
mission for examination for commit
ment to the state hospital for the in
sane at Patton.