The Washington herald., 1908-04-24
Demented Man Interrupts
Senate Proceedings.
SAYS HE'S GEN. WASHINGTON
Owns the United States, Lives in
White House, and Has Uneomfort-
able Habit OF Dying and Being
Born RepeatedIy-Identia ns an
ex-Gunner's Mate--sent 20 Asylum.

privilege OF addressing the United atatei
Senate while that body was IN fun ant
/ open session.
But George, alias Daniel, had not dslly
cred himself Of more thad two sentence,
when he was rudely ana psfsmptouly lu
terrupted and conducted to the Office oI
the captain Of the watch. whence. after
he had regaled the assembled multitude
including a dozen scribee. several sena.
tors secretaries. and half a platoon Of
Capitol Dollce--he was hailed 20 A police
station, en- route 70 the Government Hos
pital for the Insane
For long before ne reached the police
station II had been demonstrated that
George. or Danl. as you viii, was plair
bug IN several different directions And
after the unromantic metropolitan police
department got him In its clutches IL was
discovered that the prisoner was just
| William O'Leary, one-time gunner's mate
in the mueh-maligned navy Of the United
States. II may have been the question
whether the armor belt is too low, or the
other question. whether direct hoists are
better than interrupted ones, that fricas-
seed George-Daniel-W Williams thinkine
apparatus.
Speaks Ont in Senate.
Senator Hale. OF Maine. who can say
al least three words An hour when he
| wants 10. was explaining in great detail
/ the meaning Of a committee amendment
10 the naval appropriation bin about I
o'clock when an interruption came from
an unexpected quarter.
Mr.. Fairbanks, began a high-strung,
strident voice from the mems public gal
lery, Il an here"
Everybody looked UP. Senators and
! spectators alike. man in the garb Of a
workingman Stood erect in the gallery. IN
/ the fourth row Of seats, something in his
hand. He had q wild look
| Anarchist. sure-look out" remarked
somebody softly Slowly the stranger
/ lifted his hand Il held only his hat.
Mr.. Fairbanks" continued the voice.
'and gentlemen OF this House. I am here
to tell you that I an the head Of this
/ House. / am here"
Get the hook" said another voice. The
hook was got, A d0oTkeeper who has
/ substituted an iron hook for hand lost
! In the war rushed in and grabbed the
man. He did not resist, and the man with
the hook began TO haul him out. Soon
two more doorkeepers and a Capitol
policeman Joined in. and the would-be
Vice President was hustled out and down
TO the Office OF the captain of the watch.
Didn't Look the Part.
What is your name?" demanded the
captain, as the populace above enumer-
4ted gathered about.
George Washington" replied the pris-
oner. promptly.
He had curly red hair. and his deep
eyes were Irish blue. and his face burned
by the bite OF sun and wind and sea. He
didn't look the part. The pOpulace and
the captain of the watch lost their
breaths simultaneously.
'Where-where do you live, Georges"
persisted the dazed captain
The White House Is my home" re-
piled the prisoner with dignity.
The pOpulace had another convuIsion.
Yes" repeated the stranger. 4 am
George Washington. and the White
House is my home I own the CAPITOL
and the United States, and I came up
here 30 demand my rights. If Mr.. Fair
banks don't give them TO me I shall get
out Of the country"
You own the country, do you?" asked
the captain, for lack Of something better
to say.
Yes. sir. do-all Of it"
Wonder what Theodore would saw
to that?' remarked a Senator's secre-
taTy. soto voce.
Has the Dying Habit.
I die every once IN awhile" went on
George Washington, but I can't rest
Whenever I'm buried the animals dig
me up, and then I'm born again"
Where were you born last time?'
queried the captain of the watch, hoping
10 learn something about him.
In the State of Washington" was the
reply. And the time before that was
born in the Atlantic Ocean and cast
upon the Irish coast When I woke nm
found JEFF Davis and the southern
army standing around me. thick as
bees"
Are you the real George washinr.
toni"
What's your name when you're not
George Washington" probed the cap
tain, perseveringly.
When I'm not George Washington
I'm Dan1 o'COnneH," was the staid re-
ply. ireland forever
why did you try TO speak in the
Senates was asked.
Il tried to see Mr.. Fairbanks. IN Get
him TO turn over my country to me" was
the reply, but he wouldn't see me. so |
went up into my Senate to tell him that |
I owned 1t all. I'm the head of Congress |
and / own the country. I'm head OF the |
Treasury, too, and I'm willing to nav
them well to give me my rights. I've got /
The animals and the birds and the fishes |
with me. But the humans are against me.
built the first railroad in this country. /
and l discovered the first electric light /
with Ben Franklin. If Fairbanks don't do /
for me, I'll walk right out of I
ne country. l won't go to Ireland, either.
I'll go"
Taken to Insane Hospital.
But then the ambulance arrived. and
wo policemen conducted the poor fellow
% it. He was taken to the Sixth precinct
station, and thence transferred to the
First precinct, where he was kept until
AIKEN TO the Government Hospital for the
insane on commitment from the NAVY
Department. In his pockets were found
papers showing that he was William
)'Leary
Earlier in the day oLeary appeared at
he Navy Department, desiring to get his
discharge papers renewed so that he could
lpply FOR pension. He told Admiral
'ilsbury and other officers there that he
lad come TO Washington to run the coun-
~. He was told to go to the navy yard
nd get his papers renewed, and instrlIo-
ions were teiephoned there TO arrest him
n arrival and send him to ST. Eliza