The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-08-11
CHARACTER
COST COUNTY
THOUSANDS
ISAAC MORICLE WHO DIED
AT COUNTY FARM
NEVER EARNED DOL
LAR IN LIFE
Man Known as "Old Jack" Has
Been Charge of Marshall
County for Fifty
Years.

Isaac Moricle-"Old Jack, y
died at the county farm, at five
o'clock Tuesday from injuries
caused by being kicked by a
horse the evening before. Death
suddenly closed the story of a
strange, unnatural being in Nor
icle. He has been charge OF
the county for fifty years or ever
since he was twenty years OF age.
1t is conservatively estimated by
p. ]. Kruger superintendent OF
the asylum that Moricle has cost
Marshall county at least $4,000,
for his support. During the
long time winch he has been a
charge OF the county he has not
earned a dollar. OF exception
ally strong physique hardened
to the weather and of powerful
build he always lacked sufficient
mentality to- understand single
word spoken ito him nor did he
ever speak word in his life.
The only manner in which
thought could be conveyed to
him was by motioning and in
this way he could sometimes
grasp the meaning of a person,
showing slightly better under
standing than that displayed by
an intelligent animal. Like an
animal, he knew his wants, and
attended to them, otherwise
could be of no assistance to his
keepers. When injured, he
would never permit a bandage on
wounded part, but would tear
it off, with the disappearance on
those taking care OF him, and be-
ing of such hardened nature his
injuries no matter how severe
would quickly heal. Excepting
in very severe weather lie would
never wear a hat. shoes or under
wear. In the coolest weather,
the man would only clad himself
would consent to being clad only
thinly, and would quickly discard
apparel which he deemed super
flous. Supt. Kruger relates
one time, Moricle almost sever
ed the heel from his lett foot,
with an AK. The wound was a
deep and serious one and bled
profusely. A physician was
hastily summoned to save his
life. After dressing the wound
it was carefully bandaged and
Jack placed on a cot. Shortly at
ter he disappeared, and men on
ibis trail, soon came upon fifteen
or twenty feet of bandaIge, which
had been discarded. Jack was
overtaken after he had waded
through dirt and mud up to his
ankles. A second bandage was
also thrown away and IN a few
DAYS Jack was as healthy as be-
fore. Often he would wander
away from the county farm and
return with some prize, which he
had picked up. One time it
would be a wheelbarrow and
again a rake, etc. The man
seemed to be an extreme case OF
mental deficiency and no doubt
his presence on earth was for a
lesson to the humanity which
came in contact with him. Ap-
probation of good hearth. and
possession of normal faculties
are seldom realized except by
contact with those who are de-
ficient.
Moricle became charge OF
Marshall county in 1860 when
Dairpers. were boarded by.
Baker, father of E,nocf Baker,
who kept THE inmates on his farm
in North township. In 1868 the
county bought what is known
as the Tvner Poor Farm, and
continued there in frame build
ings until the present fine struc-
ture, two miles east OF Plymouth
was erected in 1891. Old Jack,
was moved from one of these To-
cations to the other. On Nov.
Z. 1907. he was sent to the Long
cliff Asylum. but two months
later was returned. OF course pro-
nOunced uncurable He was
very powerful. and in his young
er days was of a quarrelsome and
destructive nature. At the Tyner
farm they were obliged to confine
him apart from the other in
mates.
He will be buried at the coun-
ty farm cemetery Thursday al
ternOOn.
RAID AT TIDDEC NOE