The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-09
BACK TO WOODS.
On Return to Green Fields
Hockety Goes Insane.
In Padded Cell, Pictures Beau
ties of Simple Life.
is AWAY FROM BOOZE.
Loves to Dwell in ''Dry" and
Arid" Regions.
Wrecks Farm House Before Be-
ing Landed in Jail.

His desire to return to the country
gratified. H. A. Hockety, aged 50 years,
found the shock too great and became
suddenly insane Tuesday. At that time
he was on the Lynch farm, a mile west
and two miles north of the boys indus
trial school, north of North Topeka.
With him was 15-year-old Johnny
Lynch. After much difficulty Hockety
was finally arrested and lodged in the
county Jail last night, where he spent
the night in the padded cell, talking of
Gods out-of-doors,'' and how nice it
was to be where he couldn't buy
drink but would be able to save his
money
Hockety has worked in a restaurant
in Kansas City for years. Recently
his employer, Fred Lynch, decided to
put Hockety on his Elmont farm for
the summer as the latter formerly
lived in the country and seemed anx-
iouS to return to country life.
With Johnny Lynch, Hockety Tues
dav went to the farm with the house
hold goods. He was in good spirits
and seemed happy in the thought that
he was away from the city Later the
boy noticed that he acted strangely.
Hockety began to talk about borrow
ing a team from some of the neigh
bors and in reply to the questions of
young Lynch as to why he wanted the
team made reply that caused the
youngster to think something was go
ing wrong. The boy was uneasy from
that time on and the developments of
the next few minutes proved that there
was a cause for anxiety.
Smashes Windows.
Uttering a shout Hockety seized a
chair and made at a window. He
shouted again, whirled the chair above
his head, swung at the window and
the window became only a hole in the
wall. Johnny expostulated but the
rest of the windows met the same
fate. Then the furniture was broken
up. Lynch called to him and managed
to quiet the insane man enough to get
him started toward farm house
nearby.
On the wav boy belonging to one
of the families of the neighborhood
was met, and Hockety started for him.
seized by the wild man and roughly
used" He was shaken and slapped
but showed his pluck by remaining
with Hockety and landing him, some
time later. at the farm house.
Officers were notified and Deputy
Sheriffs Sauls and Judkins went after
Hockety. They had to fight with him
all of the way to Topeka and arrived
efforts. Hockety was placed in the
padded cell where he alternately
served customers at a restaurant and
worked with horses ali night.
Country Life Great.
"Oh, I'll tell you it's great he said
to a reporter this morning, expanding
his chest and drinking in what he
seemed to think was pure ozone, but
which was the stuffy air of the pad
ded cell. "a man feels altogether diff
ferent. And know working out here
I'll have money when pay day comes.
1t won't all go for drinks
Fred Lynch is a brother of Mrs
James Durkin of this city. Hockety
has worked for him in Kansas City for
five years and was always regarded as
a reliable man. His one failing in the
city was his desire to get back into the
country and it is believed his joy when
this desire was gratified proved too
much for his mind.