Beadle's Dime Library, No. 240 — page 9: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘citement tbat more than likely [| would have A Cool Flead. 9 Se ee a eee ree -—----— —"— —— “* My suspicions were confirmed.” outside nor inside the institution to interfere in | hotel and see him as early as possible next “ How? his or her bebalf.” morning.” ‘‘ Brandon said that be and his brother no- ‘‘ Therein lies Ethel’s advantage.” ‘** And you?” ticed the two horses were covered with foam, ‘‘1t does; she must be brought forth by a ‘‘T have not settled what I will do.” although the night was quite dark,” | writ of habeas corpus which can be issued by aj ‘I may find it necessary to communicate with “Tat was proof they had come a good dis- | Judge of the Supreme Court. you.” tance and had traveled at « bigh rate of | ‘Such is the groundwork on which we must | ‘‘ That isscarcely possible, for a day or two at speed.” proceed to work.” rE | | least; but, in case you wish to do so send a Cis- ‘So it would seem. How far did you say + | patch as before.” Brandon is from here?’ CHAPTER XVIII. | Orson Oxx did not intend to leave Ardville “Ten miles, and this was a mile or two the ORSON OXX AND BRAYTON RUSSELL AGREBP, for some time to come. ; other side.” UPON A LINE OF ACTION. | He bad another matter which he wished to ‘“ Were they making for a railroad station?” Tus laws for the insane, in most of the! look after, while waiting the result of the mis- “The asylum for the insane is Jess than a | States of the Union, are a blot upon civiliza- | sion of the engineer. mile beyond where the collision of the car-’| tion. He would have been glad to take Brayton riages took place.” Recent developments have shown that, as | Russell into his confidence, but, after what bad At that moment a great light broke in upon | Orson Oxx remarked, that which was intended | taken place a short time Lefore, nothing in the the detective. for one of the most beneficent institutions of | world would have induced bim to co so, ‘It is not always the lack of confidence which brings disaster in this world,” was his belief, ‘but rather because there is too much of it.” CHAPTER XIX. THE WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS. Tnis was the first time in his experience he | the world, is often turned into an engine of had been called upon’ to investigate such a | persecution, wrong, cruelty, and revenge. cage. Insanity is one of the penalties of a high But he knew something of the laws for the | order of civilization. insane in the State of New York, The highest order of civilization is charac- ‘‘Tney have taken her to the lunaticasylum,” | terizel by the highest development of crime. remorked the detective the next moment. Men and women, with nota taint of lunacy, JopGE DURHAM is one of the most upright “That is my belief.” have been imprisoned for years, simply because | and respected cflicials who have houored the “There is where your afflanced wife has been | it was necessary that they should be declared Supreme Bencb of the Eapire State. | } placed.” of unsound mind, in order to secure pacpertes He is about tbhree-score years of age, and ip ‘| sent the dispatch to you as soon as satis- persons | the prime of bis mental strength. fied of the facts and took the train for Bran- He was sitting in bis Juxurous library, read- don.” ing the morning peper, by the aid of his golden ‘* What dil you do?” ' spectacles, when two visi! ors were ushered in, “ T got out of the carsas soon as I arrived His urbavity and kind disposition rendered and took the next train back bome.” bim a favorite with the members of the Lar, ‘“ What did you mean by tbat?” asked Orson and when he found that one of bis callers was Oxx with a laug». Lawyer Maggiore, he laid aside his paper and ‘* Because | wasin such a state of mental ex- greeted bim with great cordiality. bring Miss Langdon before him, for an exami-| He did not recognize Brayton Russell until nation that will satisfy him as to her mental | bis name was pronounced, when he looked at condition,” him keenly. ‘‘ Tam the proper party?” ‘Woy, Breyton, my dear boy, isihat you?” ‘‘By al) means. You are a widely known be asked with much waermtb, rising to his feet and respected citizen; you demonstrated that and shsking him heartily by the band. or that the sinister designs of wicke might be carried out. It did not require Orson Oxx and Brayton Russell many minutes to decide their course of action, ‘*I am a stranger in this section,” said the Man of Iron, ‘‘and could not present any (en- able grounds on which to ask a Judge of the Supreme Court to issue the writ that would been taken for a lunatic myself. I was so en- raged and felt such a power/ul yearniog to as- sault every one who bad had a hand ia this in- fernal bu<iness that, to confess the trath, I dis trusted my own judgment.” ‘‘It was well you did so; more than likely | the otherevening, when you made your snccess- | The engineer thanked tbe judge, and compli- you would have committed some blunder which | ful appeal to the mob. No one else could bave mented kim on bis appearance. would have made matters worse.” done as you did.” | ‘* He's one of my boys,” said the judge, turn- ‘*] bavse endeavored to make my life such. ing to Mr. Maggiore; * bis father wes my old that all wi'l respect me.” and valued friend, and it was my pleasure to ** Do you know any of the judges!” help Braytou to West Point.” The engineer refivc'ed a moment. “I sball never forget your many kindnesses * Judge Durham was an old friend of my , to my parcuts as weil as to myself,” said Rus- father; was our representative in Congress. and | gel). secured my appointment as cadet to West Then followed several minutes’ exchange of ‘‘ | hardly see how that can be, for what can be worse than having Ethel locked up ina place where she is forced into the companionship of the vile, the wicked and the violently insane?” “That is a distressing probability and ove that I am bound to say bas taken place again and again in this State.” ** You believe there are many sane persons in | Point.” pleasant words and mutual inquiries, during cur asylums?” ; ‘* Brandon lies in his district, does it?” which the lawyer was a listener, ‘‘ Unfortunately there isno room for doubt, ‘| judge so, because his home is in that When a lull came, the judge asked whether town,” he could render them any service. ‘*‘ He is the official you must see; go to him at Then it was that Lawyer Maggiore stated the ones, and make a frank statement of the case.” business which had brought him and bis client “There ought to be nothing to prevent suc- | there, cess.” Judge Durbam listened attentively, and “It would seem not, and yet I can only , showed great interest in what was told him, repeat what I said a moment ago, that itis! ‘It is strange,” said be, “how it is that the much easier to get in an insane asylum than it best and most Cbristianlike charity may be is to get out, and you must not be too hopeful.” turned into an instrument of wrong. Yours is “Tf he should decline, I believe I would not the first case of the kind in which I have choke him,” said the impetuous lover. felt it my duty to interfere.” ‘You must learn to control yourself,” replied | ‘‘ Have you found many really sane persons Orson Oxx, with a warning shake of the head, shut up in the asylums?” inquired Mr. Mag- ‘‘or you will be put into the asylum yourself,” giore. ‘‘T think they would have a happy time in ‘*More than there ought to be found: with taking me there,” said Russell, with a flash of the safeguards thrown around the commitments the eye, which boded ill for the parties whom of such unfortunates, there never should bea he had in mind. misteke made.” “They would find means of doing so, should | ‘*May I ask what proportion of those whcse some of your particular friends deem it neces- circumstances have been investigated by your- sary.” self are discovered to be wrongly committed?” “ Possibly, but it’s my opinion there would be | The question was asked by the counselor. difficulty in delivering the goods.” j ‘* Probably a fourch,” wes the astonishing an- As defiant spirits as you have been subdued, swer,” and [am grieved to confess it. It shows but there is littl use to speculate upon that a most lamentable carelessness on the part of matter. Tbe simple fact is, a person whois as the physicians making the exan ination, That which was intended as a beneficent insti- tution is too frequently used as an engine of fraud, oppression, injustice and revenge,’ ** How?” ‘The declaration of two reputable physicians is all that is required to consign any man to a living tomb.” ‘* No other proceedings are required?” ‘“None at all; after such certiticate is signed, then the unsuspecting victim can be forcibly carried off to the asylum.” ‘‘Is the intervention of no judge or officer necessary?’ ‘None at all.” ‘‘What a burning shame!” exclaimed the in- dignant engineer; “it is a blot on the legislation of this century. Are there afiy other States in the Union who place the liberty of their citizens in such peril?” ‘‘Ta New Jersey the written declaration of a single pbysician is sufficient tosend any one toa lunatic asylum.” ** Incredible!” ‘In that State a little more formality is re- quired; the intervention of a Judge of the Com- mon Pleas is necessary, but you can understand bow natural it is for such an official to accept | sane as you or I has been hurried off toaluna-, ‘* And sometimes a worse motive.” the certificate of a physician as all-sufficient | tic asylum, and, its our, or rather your business, ** Let us hope not,” the judge hastened to say; without bothering himself to inqnire further. | to get her out, for I do not see what further part | “who were the m:dical gentlemen employed th In Pennsylvania they are more guarded, and in | I can play in the business,” this cose of yours?” many of the S:ates, the laws are just, benefi- cent and safe,” ‘*But how easy to distort the intention of the Jaw!” ‘*Ay, the medical profession contains its roper percentage of villains, who can be ught for a fee to serve the purposes of parties “Your services may be needed.” ‘Of that we have no knowledge.” **l havea feeling that there is something in ‘‘That is unfortunate; when was she com- this sad case, beyond what we suspect, and my mitted to the Brandon asylum?” services, whatever they may be worth, will be ‘*Nizht before last.” called into requisition very soon.” The judge asked several other questions, so as the force of the strange utterances which es- tate. who wish to place relatives out of the way by | caped him, He had an acquaintance with Algol Langdon sending them to a lunatic asylum.” ** Shall I go to Brandon to-night?” ' and was loth to believe he would lend himsel?'to ‘Such has been the course with Algol Lang- ‘‘ What time can you reach there?” ' anything wrong. don.” ‘*Certainly; he has bribed two physicians to declare Etbel insane; thereupon most likely these same physicians have forced her into a carriage and she was lodged in an asylum hours railroad and found that there would be no train was the afflanced of his young friend possibly until elaven o'elock. might sbut bis eyes toa painful truth. ‘By the time you can reach the bouse of , But Mr. Maggiore insisted, Brayton Russell Judge Durham, he will be in bed. More than | adding some vigorous and earnest words, ago.” 4 likely is will prejuitice the case to disturb his Finally the judge yielded, and wheeling aronnd ‘And we must get her out; bow shall it be | slumbers.” to bis desk spent several minutes in Seaatine done?” ‘“T will wait then until to-morrow.” | the important paper. “That is not so easy as you would suppose,” “You need the assistance of acompetent law- | ‘‘I bave made it returnable next Monday,” ‘What are the difficulties in the way?” yer.” | explained the official as he passed it over to the “Unfortunately it is far easier to get into, “The counsel of the company which is build- | lawyer. “‘Itis directed to Dr. Cahn Auffmorat, than out of an asylum. There are sane persons ing the bridge I am superintending, lives Superintendent of Brandon Lunatic Asylum, who have been kept there for years before they | there.” | and requires him to appear before me in Cham- could establish their sanity and secure their re- “What is bis name?” _ bers next Monday morning at ten o'clock, with lease.” “Mr, Maggiore; he’s an excellent lawyer the person of Miss Ethel Langdon. that the Biayton Russell started as well he might. —_—| too.” | question of her sanity may be fully inquired But the detective lifted a great load from his ‘* And 9 good friend of yours?” into.” pay the next woke by oie! on a Pi ak er , i n such cases it bas generally happened that | in every respect. | the callers thanking the judge, bade him yood the alleged luvatic has bad no active friends “Take the night train to Brandon; goto the morning. ahs : ee EE EOOOOOOOoEEEEEEOEEEEEeEeEeEeEeEE eee OOO EL EEE EE —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— — The detective spoke thoughtfully, for he felt | to inform himself fully and then seemed to hest- The engineer consulted a time-table of the He thought the fact that the lady in the case; ‘* We are not intimate, but he is trustworthy | This was the utmost that could be asked and ~ Cc “~=J < —- os oe ‘ a ee comicbooks “is Sas ra = 24 ve