South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-01-19
BERGER RELATES
P4THETIC STORY
OF CONFINEMENT
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attempts TO escape. He was heater
with a club on one occasion, and on
another he succeeded in getting o.
Dowag.ec through the agency of
friends
He was apprehended by the Dow
agiac marshall and returned to
South Bend and confined in the
county Jail here for eight weeks.
During that time Orland GerOuX q
friend visited him and made ar
rangements TO have food other than
the fare served 10 prisoners given 10
him.
At the end of ten weeks. Berger
said. ne was taken back 70 the farm
by his children. There he was inn
prisOned i'm "a room. which had been
barred, heavy screens placed on the
windows and a paddock placed on
the only door. He made one at
tempt 10 escape but was captured,
thrown on the bed. his hands chain
ed with a paddock and legs tied with
a rope and kept in that position
from 1 o'clock in the afternoon until
dark.
He was kept on the farm, he tesd-
fled, until the coming summer. when
he again escaped, walked 10 the
home of MS friend, Geroux. told him
his story and asked his aid. GerOuX
spirited him away 90 the home Of
an uncle. George Gallinger of Cialicn,
Mich. Here he remained in hiding
until two weeks ago.
Berger Holds to Story.
GerOux, Mr.. Berger declared. in
troduced him to his uncle as a Mr..
Brown" and asked GaEnger to
n ain a strict surveillance over him
to determine his sanity.
Counsel for the defense late Tues
day afternoon. on cross eSapliRatIon,
made many attempts to befuddle
Berger in his testimony.
The rich Madison county farmer
ted how he had come 70 South Bend
TO make a few purchases, and to or
der some peaches from a wholesale
mouse. From there. the witness said,
he went 70 the offices Of Miller Guy,
his attorney. to confer with him re-
lative to a damage suit 'tO be started
against an Elkhart man as the re
suit Of an automobile collision. While
there Guy. Berger testified told him
that there was a man over at the
county TAIL that wanted 10 see him
(Berger) and that three men inClud-
ing a deputy sheriff, turnkey, and
himself walked over to the Jail.
There he was locked up and was
told that Guy would explain to him
the reason.
Berger told of being taken to a IT.
Wayne sanitarium for treatment
saying the superintendent after he
Lad been there four weeks. informed
him that a trial on his alleged in
sanity was To be held the following
saturday. Berger testified further
that on Saturday the superintendent
told him that the hearing would take
place NtOrd2y but THAI on Monday he
was informed that the Farmers Trust
Co. of South Bend, had been APP
pointed guardian.
Leading up to his visit in South
Bend. the witness explained he had
taken an option on an S0-acre farm
in Michigan for $4,000 and tried TO
sell il 10 his sOn-in-law for $4,000
That deal failing, Berger further de
clared ne negotiated with q ncighbor
IN Bremen 10 purchase the farm for
$4,000 Berger to supply tile neces-
sary for draining the fields.
The purchase had been agreed
upon when Berger made his trip
South Bend. After he had been
locked up, he said, Guy came TO him
and told him his children believed
his mind was failing. and gave Ber-
gers purchase OF a farm in Michi-
gen at an "exorbitant" figure, as the
reason for his detention. That same
afternoon, the witness declared, his
children visited him, and he asked
TO be released that they have an
opportunity 10 talk matters over.
that Judge Chester r. Montgomery
cauuored him 10 speak louder. The
court room was crowded
Test His Memory.
After being summoned 10 the
stand, counsel for the alleged insane
man brought 10 light Bergers fam
lily The witness without the least
hesitancy tolled of the list Of nine
brothers and children. classifying
each as TO age and name, likewise
the names Of his children. From
that point the evidence was directed
TO BergerS marriage, the farms he
owned and sold in Madison and
Marshall counties. his business deal
irgs. his attorneys seeking to show
TIE clarity in which his mind re-
corded past events.
After the death OF his wife. Ber-
ger related. ne disposed OF his per
sonal and household effects, went 10
Kansas. was there impOrtuned for
loans and advances from his chill
dren and finally returned 10 assume
charge Of his own affairs. Upon
his return ne decided 10 engage in
business in Bremen, rented "a store
secured several automobiles bug
gies and other equipment 20 start
retail operations. IL was while en-
gagged in this business and involved
i'm putting through the farm deal.
. that nc made the eventful trip which
resulted in his ultimate removal 20
TT. Wayne sanitarium.
At one stage Of his testimony
when Berger was telling how ne had
been denied a chance 70 defend HIM
self in the insanity proceedings. Tn,
. court Intercepted him relative 70
summons 10 appear in local courts.
The witness. however. had no direc-
3 knowledge Of that, ne said. having
been told Of the proceedings by the
sanlta-iunn superinter dent