(Transcribed from the June 5, 1918 edition of the Adair County News, page one.)

PENICK CURRY.

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An Adair County Horse Jocky, Impersonates An Officer, and Is Locked Up.

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Well Known On Jocky Street.

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Last Thursday['s] Courier-Journal contained the following:

When is a "nut" not a "nut?"

United States Commissioner Craft had this weighty question to answer yesterday when Penick Curry, charged with impersonating a United States officer and forgery, gave evidence of having suddenly gone insane. Curry made hideous "faces," pulled his ears, nose and eyes, and pretended not to be able to understand questions, or who, where or what he was. Commissioner Craft fixed his bond at $500 for the preliminary hearing to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock. He was lodged in the county jail to "cool off," as Commissioner Craft expressed it.

Curry was arrested by I.S. Kittel, of the Quartermaster's Depot at Jeffersonville, Ind., where Curry was formerly employed. In the affidavit, sworn to by the arresting officer, it is charged that Curry, between April 23 and May 23, by impersonating a United States officer, forged numerous checks.

It is charged that Curry wore a badge, as is furnished employees at the Jeffersonville Depot, and would show the badge. He was cashed [sic] and if he were not known would show the badge. He was never refused when he produced the badge. According to the affidavit Curry used the following signatures on the checks: "L.W. Curry," "P.V. Curry," and "Melby Page..."

As Curry sat in the United States Marshal's office yesterday before being brought before Commissioner Craft, to all appearances he was in good health and normal. However, he suddenly drew his face into various contortions. For a time no one noticed what he was doing. When one of the officers noticed the "maneuvers" the prisoner was going through he asked him, "Why the faces?" This did not bring an answer from Curry, who continued to draw his mouth in every position conceivable.

More questions were put to the prisoner, but none brought forth an answer. When taken before Commissioner Craft, who had been notified of the "queer acting" of Curry, commissioner Curry said: "You are very good at 'pretending.' First you pretend to be an officer of the United States and now you pretend to be crazy."

After Curry had been taken away, Commissioner Craft said he thought it was very poor "camouflage" and that the prisoner might regain his "mind" before Thursday.

Curry was brought out last Thursday for trial and after being held over he stated to the Judge that he was not crazy; that he was just fooling. It looks very much like he will make a trip up the road.