The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-03-11
INSANE MAN
FOUND IN WOODS
REFUSED TO CONVERSE WITH
ANYONE-CASE is A
MYSTERY.
Wrote Name as Sven Emanuel
Nelson-Is a Swede-Can Speak
Some English.

After living in the woods for three
days, drinking out OF the creek and
eating only what was given him by
neighbors who happened to see him,
middle aged man, evidently a
Swede, was found north of Lapaz by
Sheriff Voreis Tuesday afternoon
and brought to this city and lodged in
the county jail. He refuses TO talk,
or answer any questions. When
asked his name, he only shakes his
head and says NO understand" He
stands by the window of his cell all
day long, looking out, and refuses
to converse with anyone The man ;
case is mysterious one Evidently
he is insane. Since his arrival at the
Jail, he has spoken a few English
words. which indicates that he under
stands. At times he mumbles what
seems TO be Swedish. Yesterday al
ternoon, Peter Lindquist OF this cGsy,
who understands Swedish well. and
can converse TN that tongue, was
brought TO the jail to see III he could
solve the mysery. Mr. Lindquist de
clared that the man was a Swede,
and understood few words that ne
spoke. AS for determining his name.
or where he came from. whittier he
was bound, or what had happened to
him, nothing was learned.
Wrote Out Name.
When he was first brought to the
jail, the deputy sheriff, Fred Schroed-
er brought him paper and pencil
asking him to write his name In q
perfectly legible hand tr man wrote
Sven Emanuel Nelson" Asked
where his home was, or where he was
going, brought no response but, mo
understand. "Wednesday when called
by the name Nelson, the man betray,
ed no recognition. or familiarity with
the name. The few words in Eng
lish that he has spoken were at diff
ferent times When Deputy Schroe,
der brought him his dinner on tin
pie pan, this room, the man said
Decent plate" two or three times,
and refused TO eat his dinner fol-
some time Then he asked for sec
ond cup OF coffee, which he seemed
TO relish, and murmured some words
| which were taken TO mean thanks.
Was Found in Woods.
A telephone call from Lapaz was
received by Sheriff Voreis at abou;
1900 o'clock Tuesday morning n
which he was informed that man
had been living in the woods north
of that place for two or three days
who refused to have anything TO dc
with anyone who approached him
The sheriff drove TO Laraz after din
ner, and was conducted to the place
where the man was lying. He was
soon found, and when the sheriff ap.
p-oached him, he started to run away
When finally caught, the man strenu-
ously objected to being taken dr
charge, and accordingly was placed il
irons by the sheriff In order to keet
the man in the buggy. the sheriff was
forced to tie him in Yesterday ar.
ternoon and this morning every effor,
! was made TO get the man TO talk, &c
no avail. The only clew that has
been obtained, is the name which ht
wrote on :he paper for the deputy
Is Probably Insane.
The man is probably insane. Blu;
from what cause can not be learned
| The Jail officials are at loss to know
what to do with him. Mr.. Lindquist
! has not ven up hope OF conversing
with him. and will make another at
tempt tomorrow
The man is about 40 years OF age
and is about feet inches tall II.
hair and beard is light sandy color
His eyes are blue, and his we:g.r'
about $50 pounds. When found he
wore an old brown felt hat, brown
overcoat, felt boots, faded blue Goa
and striped trousers. The officials a
the jail gathered that he might have
been a section hand on the railroad
somewhere. When names Of sir
rounding towns were mentioned tC
him. The showed no signs Of recogni
lion, at the mention OF any of them
He seems to be a stranger in :
strange land