September 14, 1911:--Says he knows that red-haired Smith is trying to steal his wife, and that he is following him all over the country; that he was about to kill him in Jacksonville, Florida, but that he jumped out of a window. His violent attacks are becoming more severe and pronounced, and he requires constant watching to prevent him from doing himself bodily harm. He was also noted to have occasional mild attacks of _petit mal_.
On his way to Washington from the penitentiary at Leavenworth, upon his second transfer to this institution, the patient had been shackled to another prisoner who was supposed to be suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. M. kept on begging the guards to be separated from this prisoner, and this request was finally granted. While going through the State of Iowa he jumped out through the window of the moving train. He was handcuffed at the time. After having gone about thirty miles he was recaptured. He had removed handcuffs soon after his escape from the train.
September 27:--On admission the patient limped and complained of great pain in both knees. Knees were swollen, bruised and discolored, and there was marked tenderness on touching. Patient entered the ward quietly, recognized those about him, and answered questions rationally. Said that aside from having been hurt in the knees, his left shoulder pained him a great deal. Upon being placed in bed he was asked by the examiner why he was sent here, to which he replied: "To get killed, I suppose." Further questions failed to elicit any answers, and the interview had to be discontinued.
September 28:--Patient answered the following questions to the attendant on the ward:--
Q. "What is your name (full Christian name and surname)?"
A. "August, 1911. Don't know date of month."
A. "Bunch of cut-throats, Sons of ---- tried to starve me to death all the way down."
A. "On an island, I guess, some damn thing across the river."
Q. "Why do you suppose I am asking you all these questions?"
A. "Pretty bad this morning, my head hurts me."
Q. "Did anything strange happen to you for which you can't give yourself an account?"
Q. "Do you ever have fits or convulsions?"
Q. "Is there anybody trying to harm you in any way?"