The Detroit times., 1912-03-01
JOHN EARLY, LEPER, BUILDS
PRISON IN WHICH TO DIE
NEAR HIS HIS LOVED ONES
= Doomed Man Is Barred From
Companionship of His Wife
and Children
LIVES ON LITTLE RANCH
Passes Fateful Moments in Vol
Suntary Exile in Shadow of
Those He Holds Dear

TACOMA, Wash. March He II
married, but he must not live>in tn,
same house with his wife: he Mas
a1hree children five years, three
years and 10 months are their re
spective ages), but he must never
touch them: he must live until his
death In a one-acre stockade on his
little farm, which he built with his
own hands, never getting closer than
six feet to human being.
This Is the voluntary living death
OF John Early, the leper. For years
he has been driven from state tC
state, with his family of four, be
cause every mans hand was turned
against him
John Early served his flag in the
philippines Returning he wooed and
won Salvation Army lassie In
Plattsburg, n. Y, who has been his
PARTNER In few joys and many sor'
rows. It's an old story-how learn
ed doctors said he had Il, they were
sure he had IL, they weren't sure he
Mad II. It's an old story-how he was
bounded from place TO place, the cry
inging In his ears Beware! Be
ware. Uncleani Unclean."
Five years ago an almost imper-
ceptible rash on Early's body led the
federal authorities to suspect that
the ex-soldier had leprosy. A learn
I'D physician said the rash might be
le2rcsy. He was isolated in a place
provided for him on the Potomac
river
Then another and equally learned
man OF medicine declared that the
rash was not leprosy. Early was
liberated But by then the suspicion
Of faint was on him. He was shun-
red. reviled, driven from town to
loan from state to state.
They came from Los Angeles. Cal,
10 Tacoma like thieves in the
right. Posing as John Westall
Early bought a five-acre tract at
Summit View, near Tacoma. He built
coy cottage. As John Westall he
laade himself place in that rural
community. II was matter of COM
nent among his neighbors that
l6estall' always wore gloves. Now
Submit View knows why.
Immediately on his arrival in
Tacoma, Early took the Pierce coun-
- commissioners in his confidence.
10 them he submitted his plans for
the future, which they approved. An
acre of his Ave acres was
set apart for John Early. the
lcper On il was built two-room
,l'ouse. Around II is baricade OF two
@ire fences, each six feet high, which
lie may never pass; nor may any
one enter TO him There 10 remain
iITtil death. The plan would enable
him TO be near his wife and babies,
TO even sec them through the wire
stockade. That was all he asked
When you interview John Early.
SOU stand at a distance. He does not
seem to resent the aloofness. Near
YOU now. since the secret came out.
is guard who sees 10 1t that the
leper-if he really is leper-does
rot touch you with his hands.
They threatened TO blow up my
house" he said
. "They blame me for coming here
ftncer a false name. II | had come as
John Early. what then? Would they
lave let me stay? Must | be like the
flying Dutchman? And why should
my wife be punished-and the
bnbies?"
In his dealings with the authorities
end his neighbors he has been scru-
nulously fair He touches nothing
that is handled by any other person.
Mrs. Early is equally careful.
The two older boys have been told
they must not go near their father.
They obey
Formerly Early got $72 month
Eeusion. but it was cut to $50 when a
doctor said he was not suffering from
leprosy He is still getting $50
He has learned TO write without
touching his hand to the paper so
here Is no danger of contagion when |
lie receipts for his pension and his
Wife receives the money.
in their family life. the Earlys
keep up a pretence of jollity. II is
not easy. Sometimes their laughter !,
ls very close TO tears. Sometimes
INTO the mans laughter there creeps !
I cynical. bitter note.
And now lie is going voluntarily |
into exile. He may see his loved
orAas, but he must never touch them. |
Though his soul cries out for their |
,ompanionship, II must be denied. |
And so IL must be until the end.
.rs.a