The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-12-26
gokE WAS ON TIE FARMER
His Alleged Insane Patient Proved
70 Ponssss q Perfectly
Sound Mind

A johns Hopkins mfdtcnf GtNdFuL
Who sought the rural soiltudes near
Maftawoman swamp. in Charles coun
q. Nd, as q place 70 spend a little va
cation. enforced upon him b. severe
study. win do0btieEs long remember
his brief stay IN that section. Hls
conception of the "bimpie life" az
portrayed IN the rustic environment
Of that community. reiates the Wash
ington Star. was just beginning 70 be
realized. and In HIS daily meanderings
about the woods and farm houses be
found much Of Interest 70 the student.
when an unexpected climax shortened
his stay IN that locality and ended il
his appearance. accompanied b. q 70
bust son Of the soil. At the Government
Hospital for the Insane.
Il am en- search Of the Identification
bureau was the way the young farm.
er announced his business when be en-
tered the big building devoted to the
transaction Of business ar the institu-
ton I mean. he added. in an eK-
planatory sort Of a manner. the place
where the patients pictures are kept
It took but a few moments for the
young man who waited upon him TO
learn that be had ia custody pre-
sumed 10 be an escaped patient The
( proper officials were ~thereupon called
on TO take charge Of the matter. II
took but an instant 20 determine that
there was no inmate IN the institution
Of the name given by the m~eeklooking
young mar who stood BY the side Of
the farmer visitor. Further inquiry
brought out the fact that the afore-
said young man was IN full possession
OF his mental faculties, and that he
had given evidence Of a healthy state
Of mind from the very moment that
he had been detained al the farmers
house, miles down in Maryland: for.
as he said, he took the matter OF his
detention quietly. knowing when he
reached the hospital he would be re-
leased.
1T was no use 10 object down there,
he said 10 one Of the ofciais before
leaving the asylum These people
saw me going about each day, inter
ested IN the birds and flowers. sleep
ing az farm houses BY night as best
I could. and noughing Il after a fashion,
and they supposed there vas some
thing queer about me. and It ended IN
my detention at the last farm house
where Iapplied TO take a nights rest
Turning TO the man who had brought
him all the way from Mattawomzn
swamp IN a vehicle. the young student,
laughing heartily, said:
Il haven't q thing in the world
against you. I had a good nights rest
al your house. a fine dip in a cold
spring this morning. followed by a
splendid country breakfast and now
you furnish me with transportation to
this place. where I obtain my liberty,
just as I knew I would"
The young tiller Of the soil was non.
piussed BY II al for a while. but finally
remarked to one OF the officials pres.
ent;
Mister. I did this just for human.
ity's sake. I wanted nc reward and
such a thought never entered my
mind. believed this young man acted
as II he had come from here, and
considered Il my duty 10 take him and
hnd out"
Such incidents. while not common IN
hospital life. are by no means unusual
as may be Cleaned from the police
books Of the city. where are recorded
eases OF persons being fined OF other
wise punished for assault on persons
on the street whom they forced 70 &C
company them 20 the government asy
lum, on the presumption that the pc
destrians. who may have been dressed
strangely. or in some other way be
come conspicuous. were escaped luna
ties from the Institution