Asylum Heights

by Austin R. Moody

  Glen took the prescription’s writings and got up to leave. He ended the consultation by saying, “I have been advised regarding this by the same party that told me about this disease in the first place. She is a streetwalker who is far more familiar with the intricacies of this condition from a practical standpoint than you or I, or even your doctor friend in Meridian. I have been very good and have kept this thing in its holster ever since she told me about it.”

  The doctor said, “Good, and good luck. Come back to see me the next time you are in New Orleans. I want to see what sort of job my friend did on you.” He extended his hand and Glen took it. The doctor sincerely meant it, and Glen was most grateful for what the doctor had done. With the day already spent, Glen elected to stay at the Chartreuse one more night. He could get a fresh start for home early the following morning.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  MARSHALL WINTERS

  Marshall Winters was sufficiently prepared to take Glen into custody. He took the squad car and drove to Hale to apprehend him. He stopped at the little store in the center of the community, entered, and asked the proprietor the directions to the Hailes place. Before the storeowner had an opportunity to speak, one of the three customers in the store volunteered, “Well, you just passed the place when you drove in just about three quarters of a mile back toward Quitman. They are on the left side of the road, and the house is painted white with light blue trim around the windows. What did you want to talk to them about, Marshall?”

  “I see you have no shortage of curiosity in Hale,” the Marshall answered. “I apologize but that is official business, and I am not at liberty to answer that right now. Anyway, I thank you for your time and trouble,” he concluded, then promptly left the establishment and returned to the squad car.

  The storeowner was obviously agitated by his customer’s outburst and registered it by yelling at the miscreant, “Dammit Virgil, why did you have to blurt it out like that? You ran him off before he bought anything. I have enough trouble making ends meet in this place without you sending him packing before he even bought a coke. If you hadn’t popped off like that, he might have bought a round for everyone.”

  Marshall Winters spotted the house by the distinctive blue windows and pulled into the yard. He immediately noticed that the yellow and black automobile was missing. He turned off the engine, got out of the car, and walked to the front porch. He didn’t see or hear any dogs about so he stepped up onto the veranda and called out, “Mr. Hailes. I would like to speak with you.” Shortly thereafter the door opened and Papa Hailes emerged and recognized Marshall Furland Winters.

  “What can I do for you?” Papa asked.

  “I want to talk to your son.” The Marshall responded.

  “He isn’t here, he is out of town. What did you want to talk to him about?” Papa inquired. “It’s official business. When do you expect him to return?” Marshall Winters wanted to know. “I might be able to reach him, but I have to know what you want him for because he is on important business and I have to give him a reason to need him so urgently,” Papa replied.

  Marshall Winters looked at Papa very directly and said, “There was a murder in Meridian on or about New Year’s Eve in 1931. In my investigation of this crime I learned that Glen was at the nightspot where the victim was last seen. I understand that Glen has a flashy convertible automobile that is yellow with black trim. The man was last seen getting in just such a car and driving away. We are asking everyone that was there what they know of the events of that evening. Please try to get in touch with him right away and have him call me at the police station in Quitman. If I haven’t heard from you by Wednesday, two days hence, then I will have to reach you again, because we are trying to get this investigation cleared up as soon as possible.”

  Papa said, “I understand. I’ll get in touch with him right away.”

  Marshall Winters thanked him and left.

  Papa remembered his son’s condition on New Year’s morning, 1932, and a feeling of heat went over him when he contemplated what he had to ask Glen when he talked to him.

  That afternoon Papa was in Quitman. He rode over to the Hotel and called the service station in Dothan. After three rings, Petrous Porter picked up the phone there and advised Papa that Glen was still in New Orleans but would be back in Dothan on the 1:00 p.m. bus that afternoon. Papa thanked him and told Petrous to tell Glen that it is imperative that he be available to talk with his father as soon as possible. He said that he would call him right at a quarter to two, thereby allowing Glen time to get to the service station from the bus depot. He then left the hotel and went to a dry goods store nearby and bought a list of staples that they needed at home. From there he went over to Tom Hailes’ store to see how they were all doing. Papa stayed there about a half an hour then returned to the hotel and found an easy chair. He loitered there until the grandfather clock indicated 1:45 in the main lobby. He promptly went to a phone booth and called the service station in Dothan. Petrous answered once more and confirmed that Glen had arrived. He then went to Glen’s room to advise him his father was calling from Quitman. Soon Glen’s voice came on the telephone.

  Papa didn’t waste any time with amenities. He said, “I hope you are doing well, Glen. I had a visit from the Marshall from Quitman this morning and he gave me some disturbing news. There was a young man from Meridian who was murdered over New Year’s 1932. You must have been there when he was last seen because he says the fellow left in a yellow and black Studebaker automobile. It sounds just like your car, Glen. He wants to see you and take a statement of what you saw and did that night. I remember when you got home on the morning of the first you were banged up pretty badly yourself; did you have anything to do with his departure?”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  DEJA-VU

  After an inordinate period of time, Glen answered his father. “I have never lied to you, Papa. I had planned to come home very shortly anyway because I got the reports on my condition from the doctor in New Orleans, and it wasn’t good. I have a venereal disease called tertiary syphilis and it is in its late, late stage. I was going to Meridian for treatment at the Mississippi State Hospital, but I had better steer clear of there for now.”

  Papa was now very worried about his son’s mental state, and apparently he was in a terrible pickle with even a possible charge of murder. “Don’t do anything frivolous right now, Glen, do you think that you could leave the car over there in Dothan and catch the bus to Shubuta? I will talk to your brother Floyd, and he can put you up over there until I can come over and we can sort this all out.”

  Glen said, “Sure I will Papa. I will call and get the schedule from the bus station and let you know when I will arrive. Thank God for you and the family.”

  Papa waited in the easy chair for 35 minutes, and then he heard the telephone in the booth ring again. He got up and answered it.

  Glen told him that he would be in Shubuta at 8:30 that evening and said, “Don’t come tonight. I will take a taxi to Floyd’s house. He knows that I’m going to be his guest for a few days, doesn’t he?”

  Papa assured him that Floyd understood everything and Papa told his son that he would be there shortly after lunch the next day. He then hung up the telephone and left for Hale right away.

  That night he could not sleep because he was so worried about tomorrow and the trouble that Glen faced. He didn’t hide anything from his wife as a rule, and he didn’t like keeping her in the dark about this situation. He realized that there was nothing that she could do about it, however, and therefore he decided not to tell her right now.

  The bus was on time and Glen arrived in Shubuta that night. He found a waiting taxi in the bus station and was shortly at his brother’s home. They had prepared a very good dinner, and Glen enjoyed the family atmosphere. He had not had any of that for a long time. Floyd purposely avoided discussing the reason for Glen’s visit, he was just glad that he had come to see them.

  The next morning Papa arrived
and told Glen that they needed to talk outside. They walked to a field adjacent to the house and Papa said, “Before we go any further, Glen, I must know exactly what you have done. If you killed that young man then we can face it together. If you didn’t I will make every effort to see you through it and get you acquitted so just tell me, yes or no?”

  Glen told his father directly, “This guy was a smart aleck; he beat me to a pulp and would have raped my girlfriend who was with me at the Owl’s Nest just outside of Meridian. He was determined to make trouble, not only for me, but potentially for you and my mother. I could not let him do that and live. So the answer is yes, I killed him, I had to do it.”

  Papa then saw that Glen’s face suddenly became horribly disfigured. He noticed that his right hand was involuntarily twisted as well. Glen tried to take a step when he suddenly pitched forward, sprawling on the ground at Papa’s feet. He tried to get up, but his right leg was paralyzed as well.

  “My God!” Papa exclaimed, and bent down beside Glen’s writhing body and got his affected arm, lifted him up, and then began to walk with him toward the house. Papa then called out, “Floyd, come out here quickly and give me a hand. Something terrible has happened to Glen.”

  A few moments later Floyd appeared from within the house and the two of them carried Glen to the guest bedroom and laid him down on the bed. Papa examined his son and discovered that he was unable to speak or to comprehend verbal commands. He knew that he had sustained a very severe stroke on the right side, and that he was rendered virtually unable to communicate. He realized that this was providential because he was unable to talk to the authorities about the murder and he could take no questions.

  He said, “Glen, if you can hear me, then I want you to listen very closely to what I have to say. You cannot speak, therefore you can’t take questions. If you should regain those faculties during the next few days and weeks then don’t let anyone know that you can because this can be your defense in this terrible thing you have with the law. I will tell you this again daily until we know that that matter is concluded.”

  Glen didn’t stir from the bed, so Papa didn’t know whether his message had been received. Papa knew that he had to get Glen to a doctor as soon as possible. He remembered that Glen had told him about the Mississippi State Hospital in Meridian and that he had mentioned a doctor’s name that he was supposed to see there about his condition, but he could not remember the doctor’s name. He went to the living room and found the telephone. He called Meridian information and got the number of the hospital. He called the number and told the hospital operator that he needed to talk with a doctor who specialized in strokes and venereal diseases. Soon, Dr. Peter Moriarity came on the line, and after Papa related the situation the doctor advised him to bring Glen to the hospital right away.

  Papa first called my mother and father and asked them to go by and get Mama Hailes and to meet them at the hospital in Meridian. He then made a makeshift bed on the back seat of the Ford from sheets, a blanket and pillows that Uncle Floyd had provided. The two of them again picked up Uncle Glen and carried/walked him to the car bed.

  Uncle Floyd asked Papa if he wanted him to go along to assist during the trip and when he arrived at the hospital. Papa thanked him but declined, saying, “You have already been very helpful, and I will have more than enough assistance when I get there. I will call and let you know how things are going after I get him situated at the hospital.”

  He then started the engine on the Model A and backed out of the yard. An hour later he met my father and mother and Mama Hailes at the hospital, and they unloaded Uncle Glen and carried him through the sweltering afternoon into the Mississippi State Hospital in Meridian.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  SEQUELAE

  The day after Papa took Glen to the hospital he called the Quitman police station and asked to speak with Marshall Winters. When the Marshall answered the phone, Papa advised him that Glen had had a stroke and that he was critically ill in the Mississippi State Hospital in Meridian. Papa further said that he would be glad to meet him at the hospital and that he would introduce him to Glen’s doctors so that he could verify his condition. He pointedly refrained from telling the Marshall that Glen was entirely unresponsive and Papa prayed that he still would be unable to speak when the Marshall came to see him.

  Marshall Winters said, “I will be at the hospital at 10:00 tomorrow morning. I would appreciate it if I could have the lead doctor at the bedside when I arrive, because I have to get back to Quitman as soon as I can in the morning.”

  Papa replied, "I’ll be there early and will ask the doctor to meet with us at that time." Papa told Mama Hailes about his conversation with the Marshall, but he refrained from telling her about the terrible situation that their son was in that led to his talking to the law officer in the first place. Intuitively Mama had known that something was wrong but she didn’t ask any questions.

  Papa was at the hospital the next morning at 8:00 and he went directly to Dr. Moriarity’s office. He advised the doctor that the Marshall would be there in a couple of hours to talk with them about Glen’s condition. He simply stated that Glen was a material witness in a certain legal matter and that he wanted to talk with Glen regarding what he had seen and done relating to that case.

  Dr. Moriarity said, “He won’t learn very much from this witness for a very long time, if ever. Glen’s mind is not sufficiently cogent to talk about anything right now and as I said, maybe never.”

  “I’d appreciate it if you would relate that information to the Marshall this morning. Glen is going to have enough trouble getting well without being subjected to some gumshoe trying to extract whatever information that he can right now.” Papa said.

  The doctor replied, “I will be more than happy to impress that upon him. It is now 8:30 and I have to make rounds on my other patients, so why don’t you go to the cafeteria and have a cup of coffee then meet me in Glen’s room at 10:00?”

  Papa arrived in Glen’s room promptly before 10:00 just as Marshall Winters entered the room as well. Papa told him that the doctor was to meet them at any minute and that the Marshall would receive a thorough briefing about Glen when he arrived. Just as he had spoken these words, the doctor walked into the room with a contingent of students, interns, and residents.

  Papa introduced the doctor to Marshall Winters and the room suddenly grew quiet in anticipation of what the doctor had to say. Before he could say anything, the Marshall proceeded to the bedside and spoke to Glen. To his surprise and chagrin, Glen did not answer, move, or respond in any fashion but continued to sleep without changing the rate and depth of his respirations.

  Then Dr. Moriarity said, “Marshall Winters, Glen has been totally unresponsive since his arrival at the hospital. His father has told me that you have some very important questions to ask him, but he is in a deep coma and obviously unable to comply with your wishes.”

  Marshall Winters asked the doctor, “When will he wake up?”

  The doctor shook his head and replied, “No one can answer that question; perhaps today, tomorrow, next week, or never.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me, Mr. Hailes, before I came up to Meridian and lost a great deal of time from my office?” The Marshall asked.

  Papa answered, “Because I felt that you needed to see Glen, to actually discover for yourself the extent of his impairment. You could not have known this without first-hand knowledge.”

  The Marshall appreciated the sagacity of Papa’s answer and then he said, “You are indeed wise and right regarding this matter. I could not have appraised his true condition without seeing for myself. With that said my business here is finished and I will say goodbye to you for now.

  I shall submit my findings to the District Attorney for Clarke County. It is nice to have met you, Doctor Moriarity.” Then he turned and walked from the room.

  The following day, the Marshall contacted the District Attorney’s Office and told his secretary that he needed to talk to her
boss as soon as he was available to speak with him.

  A few moments later the District Attorney came on the telephone and Marshall Winters advised him of the fact that the Souinlovey murder had been solved, but the perpetrator had had a stroke and was unconscious; that the doctor had told him he would probably not be able to understand any of the charges if he woke to receive the indictment.

  The District Attorney said, “I must talk to that doctor as soon as I can. Even if he were to wake up and understand the charges, his lawyer will be able to file a plea of innocent by reason of “Non-Compus Mentus.” I am afraid that the man will go free no matter how we approach it, and I do not intend to spend the county’s hard earned tax dollars to find out.”

  The Marshall said, “What of the victim’s family, they won’t want to give up without a fight.”

  The District Attorney responded, “I still don’t want to spend my budget on this.”

  The Marshall saw that his case was rapidly dissipating and said, “What if the family has enough to cover the expense to prosecute?”

  “I know that these poor folk do not have the resources to do that. You know how much that will have to be expended in order to do it correctly, and I won’t do it in any slipshod way. I know how you feel about this, but you don’t have the money to make any difference.” He amended, “However, I will certainly talk to the doctor as soon as possible and be sure of what he had meant.” He added “I must go now. I have someone waiting in my office.”