The same morning Mr. Gibson went up to the Union Street Station House and
reported what he had seen and heard. But instead of investigating the
affair, the lieutenant told Mr. Gibson to go up to the Central Station
House at Fifth and Chestnut and report the matter to lieutenant Charles
Thomas in charge there.
Mr. Gibson did so and Lieutenant Thomas replied:
"Excuse me, but you tell the Lieutenant down at the Station House, that I
cannot open an insane asylum."
At this moment the Mayor chanced to pass down through the basement, and
the matter being called to his attention, he said to Lieutenant Thomas:
"Send Reeder down to investigate it."
Lieutenant Thomas replied:
"Had I not better attend to it myself?"
Mr. Gibson then left the office.
The officers came down about four o'clock that afternoon.
About an hour before the arrival of the officers, Mr. Gibson and his
mother went into the cigar store, kept by Herriges.
"Good afternoon," said Mr. Gibson.
"Good afternoon," replied Herriges.
"What have you got that man locked up in that room for?" asked Mrs.
Gibson.
"Is that any of your business?" asked Herriges abruptly.
"Well, I don't know, that it is, but I would like to know what he is
penned up there for?"
"Does my brother annoy you?" inquired Herriges.
"Well, yes, he frightens my children," replied Mrs. Gibson.
"You must have very funny kind of children to what other people have"
sneeringly remarked Herriges.
"I don't know that they are any funnier than anybody else's children" said
Mrs. Gibson.
Herriges then turned upon Mrs. Gibson and said in a very provoking manner.
"Why, it is a wonder, he don't frighten you, too."
Mr. Gibson, taking it up for his mother, then said:
"Yes, he did frighten my mother very much last night."
"Well, if my brother frightens you so, you had better move out of the
house, as quick as you can" said Herriges.
"I will, if you only will give me back what money is coming to me" said
Mrs. Gibson.
"No, I won't give you any money back" answered Herriges.
"Well," said Mrs. Gibson, "I can't afford to pay you a month's rent in
advance, and then move some where else and pay another month's rent in
advance too."
Herriges then began to talk so offensively insolent, that Mr. Gibson and
his mother were obliged to leave the store. They at once went down town to
see about another house, for Mrs. Gibson had been rendered so exceedingly
nervous by the startling events of the past few days that she was almost
sick.
By the time Mr. Gibson and his mother had returned home from their house
hunting, the officers had arrived, and brought the insane man down stairs.
After that the back of Herriges house was shut tightly up. The next day
the officers came down again and removed the insane man in a carriage to
the Central Station.
During the time that Gibsons lived in the house, if Mr. Gibson at any time
got up to drive a nail in the fence or side of the house to fasten a
clothes line to, or, as on occasion to fix wire to bold stove pipe,
Herriges would come out in a hurry and order him to get down and not do
it; saying it would destroy the property; but as Mr. Gibson now thinks to
prevent him getting near the window of the room where John was.