The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-07

John g. Sims. general manager Of the
Washington branch Of the Life Insurance
Company Of Virginia. who went suddenly
insane on Friday night last while In the
Offices OF DR.. William C. Young. 1915
street northwest. attempted TO kill the
physician with a revolver and shoot him
self. was arrested last night. as he lay
on a cot in Emergency Hospital, by De-
tectyes Pratt and Hewlett who held q
warrant charging him with embezzIement.
A policeman was placed on guard be-
side the patients cot at once and kept
a surveillance over Sims throughout the
night Sims is charged with taking
about $500 from the firm by which ne
was employed. and according 10 the po-
lice he is suspected of defalcations far
in excess Of that amount He probably
viii be submitted 10 an examination 10
determine his mental condition. and the
result Of the inquiry VIII decide whether
he is to be brought 10 trial or removed
TO the Government Hospital for the IN
sane.
SkeDtfcaI of Insanity.
The police are skeptieal concerning
Sims insanity. but if the life insurance
manager was feigning madness when he
drew a revolver in Or. Young's office. his
acting was OF the most genuine variety.
Even after Sims had been oveTpowered
by the physician and an attendant. it
required the combined efforts OF three
policemen Ia lace him in a strait-jaeket
and remove him 10 the Washington
Asylum Hospital for observation.
Sims left the hospital before physicians
announced whether he was sane. he
was allowed 10 be removed 10 Emergency
Hospital. where relatives engaged a pri-
yate room for him and ordered taat lsa
ae given ths best attention and medical
aid regardless OF expense. When che
home Office ef the insurance company.
which has headquarters in Richmond.
Va, was notified OF the sudden insanity
OF its Washington manager. examiners
were sent 10 this city 10 go over the
books and see that Sims accounts were
in proper order. As a result OF the ex-
animation. Examiner Benjamin L. Bur
well procured a warrant charging Sims
with embezzIing $50 from the life insur-
ance company.
Strange Report of Robbery.
a mysterious phase Of the case, which
will probably be explained in a few days,
was the rumor that Sims had been
robbed OF s. l.0o0 the night he supposedly
went crazy in the physicians Office. The
police were informed by a man OF I'M
known identity that the money had been
lost by the manager, but were unable TO
learn anything OF the disappearance Of
the money. Mrs Sims said she did not
know her husband possessed that
amount Employees Of the company who
worked under Sims also said they did
not believe the story OF the theft. II
was supposed he obtained the money. by
eashing a check ar a Washington bank.
but the police We're unable 10 learn
where he had cashed a check for that
amount
When Sims left his home. al 7F
Gresham place. on Friday morning he
told his wife TO meet him at Union sta
tion al o'clock in the afternoon. II was
the Intention Of the couple TO leave
Washington for Richmond on the train
out Of this city at O'Clock. Whether
Sims intended TO go TO the headquarters
OF the company In Richmond or in
tended TO leave town quietly and keep
his whereabouts secret. IS a question the
police have been unable 70 answer.