At present there is a life prisoner confined in the Minnesota State Prison
who constantly imagines himself the President of the United States. He is
a Russian, was considered quite harmless until a few years ago, when he
threatened to kill the deputy warden, and was removed to the crank
department. His conversations were very ludicrous, continually promising
the boys who talked with him that “as soon as he was pardoned (which was
always soon) he would appoint them” to the various positions at the
disposal of the chief executive. As a humorist he was on a par with the
inmate who imagines that his cell is full of ghosts. Every now and then
this man proceeds to drive out these unwelcome intruders, and swears at
them roundly. He becomes very noisy during this driving out process and
the night guards frequently command him to desist. When assured that the
ghosts are all out of his cell he remains quiet the rest of the evening.
These spells occur frequently, and there is little question but that the
man really believes that ghosts are in his cell.