Aged sixty-one, from Sutton, admitted February 7th 1822. This poor
old man appeared naturally harmless, kind-hearted, and simple. While
here he appeared constantly ready and anxious to do any thing for
his fellow-patients, and especially those who were unable to assist
themselves. His prevalent notion was to think himself immensely rich,
and he expected every day to hear that he was to go and take possession
of his estates.
He had been a humble sawyer at Sutton; but when out of work in that
trade, would do any thing else to earn a few shillings.
Amongst his other miscellaneous occupations was that of supplying the
place of an alarum-clock to his neighbours, who had occasion to rise
early, for the market or other objects, by rousing them from their
slumbers at one, two, three, four, or five in the morning. For this
purpose poor Killick usually sat up all night, in order to be up early:
and for these services he received a few shillings per week. But after
his mental derangement commenced, he still remembered his old calling,
followed it up without any particular orders, and would awake half the
neighbourhood at all hours of the night: so that instead of being a
useful monitor, he became a general nuisance; and he persevered in this
practice, until many of his customers actually paid him for desisting
from those unseasonable visits, and not calling them through the night.
By these kind of services, negative and positive, he made out a little
weekly income for his support.
He was never under restraint here; always kind and obliging, and a sort
of favourite with every one.
On the 29th of March, after (as may be presumed) a very learned
discussion upon religion and politics in the keeper’s room, as the poor
fellow was in the act of making up the bed of a stupid patient, he was
seized with a fit of apoplexy, and instantly expired, without even a
sigh. He had reared a fine comely family.