I tend to trail off on the family tree ending up in the branches of someone else’s tree. In these mindless travels I often find humorous stories of public embarrassment. It really is amazing what they use to find as news worthy. I can probably thank my own lucky stars that they stopped finding public humiliation news worthy when I was growing up or even currently. This poor fellow was on vacation, trying new experiences and living a little, well maybe a little too much.
“The Olean Democrat (Olean, New York) > 1890 > November > 27
Two odd Characters who Occupied the City Lockup Friday Night
….William Gowen, a resident of Jackson county, Michigan, is visiting his brother-in-law, Isaac Kratts, a farmer on the Haskell. In Mr Gowne’s western home nothing stronger than cider is drank. Mr Gowen came to Olean Friday and failing to find any cider to drink indulged in something stronger. As a result he grew hilarious, and about midnight he became imbued with the idea that he owned the earth. Several citizens were aroused from their peaceful slumbers by a chorus of wild and terrific war hoops which led them to believe that the Indian uprising had struck Olean. While the impromptu brave was in the midst of his solitary war dance, Officer Sigel got upon his trail and the uprising was soon suppressed. Mr Gowen was corralled in the city stockade, where he passed the night and Saturday was arraigned before Police Justice Parker. He pleaded guilty to a charge of intoxication and was fined $5, or twenty days in the county jail. As he had no money to pay his fine he will have to “do time” unless someone comes to his rescue. He is about 45 years of age and has a family in the west.”
Did the poor soul end up spending the entire 20 days locked up? The jails would be full to overflowing in this city if the punishment was still the same!