The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-10
He FISHES NO MORE
John Shinn, Inmate of State
Hospital. Is Angry.
State Game Warden Object Of
His DispIeasure.
THREE HOOKS ON LINE
Officer Told Him This Was
Against the Law.
Then He Smashed Watch and
Surrendered Liberty.

Even a crazy man has become dis
gusted with the new fish laws of Kan
sas and has expressed his disapproval
of Professor Dyche's rigid regulations
Down among the clOuded receSSes of
this insane mans brain there settled
the conviction that the world Is ION
the hummer" nowadays and he con-
Guided he was better off in the asylum
than running at large among men. So
he threw away his hat, smashed his
watch and entered the asylum with
the air of a man who has hidden
goodby to time, space and all limita-
lions.
1t happened this way: John Shinn.
formerly a wealthy Nemaha county
farmer, who is confined to the Topeka
asylum on account of a mild mental
arrangement for several years, has
been in the habit of fishing in the Kaw
river that flows by the hospital. He is
allowed the liberty of the grounds dur
ing the day and never gives any trou-
/ BILE to his keeper. He stays at night
in the cottage of the pines instead of
| the asylum proper, and delighted to
spend many hours with hook and line
| fish warden came along and found old
man Shinn fishing with three hooks
on his line when the law prohibits
more than one. The warden laid the
majestic paw of the law on Shinn and
was going to take him to Jail, when he
| found that a heavier hand had already
| been placed on his prisoners head, so
he let him go with a severe reprimand
| about Obeying the law in the future.
The old man sadly made his way
! back to the asylum and applied for
| admittance into the main building. He
was ready, he said, to voluntarily give
| up his small liberty of the pines and
| the river bank. He had just come in
contact with the world and found 1t
crazier than the asylum. He swore he
| could find men in the wards by the
| dozen that had saner ideas than
/ Dyche's fish warden His heart was
troubled and he ate no supper that
/ evening.
Late at night the keeper of the ward
| heard a voice on the doorstep outside
| and looking out of the window he saw
old man Shinn sitting on the doorstep
| holding communion with himself. The
matter of the fish laws he had broken
| still weighed on his mind and he was
talking out loud as was his custom.
This country is in bad shape" he
said. THE idea that a man can use
| only one hook on his line is an out
rage. Any man that will fish with one
hook is crazier than I am, and that's Il
fact Why a man would get so lone
some with one hook on his line that ne
would die.
WHO is this fellow Dyche. anyway?
Why isn't he in here where he belongs?
And so the Legislature has cut it
down to one hook? Well. they can cut
that hook out. too. if they want to: IT.
al the same with me. 1 am through
fishing"
The old man swore softly by all his
gods and then arose with an air Of
finality. He threw his hat in the
bushes. He took out mis- watch. looked
at 1t sadly a moment and then smashed
1t against the cement walk in front of
him. whats the use of time, any
way?" he murmured, IT will put it out
of business along with fishing in Karl-
sas." And then Mr.. Shinn walked in
through the door with dropping Shout
ders. shaking his head sadly over thu
state of the world and all time he was
leaving behind him.