During the past week an incident has come to light in this city which is attracting considerable attention, especially among our older people, most of whom will recognize one of the persons connected therewith as formerly a well known citizen here. For some weeks past it seems the rumor has been in circulation that an old German named Berghard(Burkhart) was confined in a room of his residence, just beyond the Morgan railroad and that he had been forcibly detained for four years past. As soon as the report reached one or two old acquaintances, they at once took steps to investigate it. Berghard, it appears had dropped so completely out of sight that the impression that he was dead had become general, and it was quite a surprise to many of his former acquaintances when it was learned that he was still alive, although he had not been seen for a long time, even by near neighbors. A party consisting of Sheriff Fenner, Marshal Sitterle with Messrs Louis Jecker and John Wilden went to the house on Tuesday afternoon and asked to see him. No objection was made by the family, and the visitors were shown into the room where Berghard was seated. He immediately recognized Jecker, Wilden and Sitterle. The latter he had not met for ten years, but found no difficulty in recalling him.
During the conversation which followed, he stated that if was four years since he had been out of the room, but refused to say whether or not his confinement was voluntary. He expressly stated that it was not on account of sickness, leaving the impression that it was a matter of choice. He could be induced to talk but very little and appeared to be studiously reticent when questioned. The room which he occupies is comfortably furnished and appeared to be kept in good order. His own personal appearance is described as singular in the extreme. His hair extends to his shoulders, while his beard seems to have been entirely neglected for years. During the progress of the interview a son of Berghard came into the room and upbraided his father for refusing to talk, alleging that when no one was present but members of his family he was usually quite willing to express himself. From what could be gathered from the young man's remarks, he was of the opinion that his father's singular conduct in withdrawing himself from public sight was simply excentricity, and that his confinement was from choice. The incident, as soon as it became known, attracted general attention. Those who know Berghard best are inclined to the belief that he has not been subjected to personal restraint to the extent of being deprived of his liberty and think his conduct is but the out-cropping of a mild species of mental weakness-possibly intensified by the fact that for four years he has been subjected to the upbraidings of his family for his singular conduct. Up to the time of his disappearance he worked on the Morgan road as a section hand, and years ago followed the avocation of a frieghter. He is about 50 year of age, and has grown childrn, one of whom is a well known carpenter here.
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During the conversation which followed, he stated that if was four years since he had been out of the room, but refused to say whether or not his confinement was voluntary. He expressly stated that it was not on account of sickness, leaving the impression that it was a matter of choice. He could be induced to talk but very little and appeared to be studiously reticent when questioned. The room which he occupies is comfortably furnished and appeared to be kept in good order. His own personal appearance is described as singular in the extreme. His hair extends to his shoulders, while his beard seems to have been entirely neglected for years. During the progress of the interview a son of Berghard came into the room and upbraided his father for refusing to talk, alleging that when no one was present but members of his family he was usually quite willing to express himself. From what could be gathered from the young man's remarks, he was of the opinion that his father's singular conduct in withdrawing himself from public sight was simply excentricity, and that his confinement was from choice. The incident, as soon as it became known, attracted general attention. Those who know Berghard best are inclined to the belief that he has not been subjected to personal restraint to the extent of being deprived of his liberty and think his conduct is but the out-cropping of a mild species of mental weakness-possibly intensified by the fact that for four years he has been subjected to the upbraidings of his family for his singular conduct. Up to the time of his disappearance he worked on the Morgan road as a section hand, and years ago followed the avocation of a frieghter. He is about 50 year of age, and has grown childrn, one of whom is a well known carpenter here.
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During the past week an incident has come to light in this city which is attracting considerable attention, especially among our older people, most of whom will recognize one of the persons connected therewith as formerly a well known citizen here. For some weeks past it seems the rumor has been in circulation that an old German named Berghard(Burkhart) was confined in a room of his residence, just beyond the Morgan railroad and that he had been forcibly detained for four years past. As soon as the report reached one or two old acquaintances, they at once took steps to investigate it. Berghard, it appears had dropped so completely out of sight that the impression that he was dead had become general, and it was quite a surprise to many of his former acquaintances when it was learned that he was still alive, although he had not been seen for a long time, even by near neighbors. A party consisting of Sheriff Fenner, Marshal Sitterle with Messrs Louis Jecker and John Wilden went to the house on Tuesday afternoon and asked to see him. No objection was made by the family, and the visitors were shown into the room where Berghard was seated. He immediately recognized Jecker, Wilden and Sitterle. The latter he had not met for ten years, but found no difficulty in recalling him.
During the conversation which followed, he stated that if was four years since he had been out of the room, but refused to say whether or not his confinement was voluntary. He expressly stated that it was not on account of sickness, leaving the impression that it was a matter of choice. He could be induced to talk but very little and appeared to be studiously reticent when questioned. The room which he occupies is comfortably furnished and appeared to be kept in good order. His own personal appearance is described as singular in the extreme. His hair extends to his shoulders, while his beard seems to have been entirely neglected for years. During the progress of the interview a son of Berghard came into the room and upbraided his father for refusing to talk, alleging that when no one was present but members of his family he was usually quite willing to express himself. From what could be gathered from the young man's remarks, he was of the opinion that his father's singular conduct in withdrawing himself from public sight was simply excentricity, and that his confinement was from choice. The incident, as soon as it became known, attracted general attention. Those who know Berghard best are inclined to the belief that he has not been subjected to personal restraint to the extent of being deprived of his liberty and think his conduct is but the out-cropping of a mild species of mental weakness-possibly intensified by the fact that for four years he has been subjected to the upbraidings of his family for his singular conduct. Up to the time of his disappearance he worked on the Morgan road as a section hand, and years ago followed the avocation of a frieghter. He is about 50 year of age, and has grown childrn, one of whom is a well known carpenter here.
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During the conversation which followed, he stated that if was four years since he had been out of the room, but refused to say whether or not his confinement was voluntary. He expressly stated that it was not on account of sickness, leaving the impression that it was a matter of choice. He could be induced to talk but very little and appeared to be studiously reticent when questioned. The room which he occupies is comfortably furnished and appeared to be kept in good order. His own personal appearance is described as singular in the extreme. His hair extends to his shoulders, while his beard seems to have been entirely neglected for years. During the progress of the interview a son of Berghard came into the room and upbraided his father for refusing to talk, alleging that when no one was present but members of his family he was usually quite willing to express himself. From what could be gathered from the young man's remarks, he was of the opinion that his father's singular conduct in withdrawing himself from public sight was simply excentricity, and that his confinement was from choice. The incident, as soon as it became known, attracted general attention. Those who know Berghard best are inclined to the belief that he has not been subjected to personal restraint to the extent of being deprived of his liberty and think his conduct is but the out-cropping of a mild species of mental weakness-possibly intensified by the fact that for four years he has been subjected to the upbraidings of his family for his singular conduct. Up to the time of his disappearance he worked on the Morgan road as a section hand, and years ago followed the avocation of a frieghter. He is about 50 year of age, and has grown childrn, one of whom is a well known carpenter here.
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