The Three Christs of Ypsilanti (37 page)

BOOK: The Three Christs of Ypsilanti
10.18Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Between July 1960 and August 1961, Joseph received many letters from Dr. Yoder—I was the author of these letters, with Dr. Yoder's full knowledge and permission. Joseph almost always replied promptly and lengthily, often within a few hours of receiving the letters. At first he delivered his letters personally to Dr. Yoder's secretary, but this proved to be such a nuisance that it was arranged to have all his letters sent and received through Miss Anderson. During the daily group meetings, he would receive, open, read aloud, and comment upon the letters, in this way making it possible for us to “become familiar” with their contents and to note Joseph's reactions to them firsthand.

The purpose of these letters was the same as in Leon's case—to explore the nature and meaning of Joseph's authority system and to determine to what extent changes in behavior and delusion might be brought about through messages emanating from a figure he accepted as a positive authority. They had therefore a twofold purpose; to make Joseph feel more secure and contented, and to persuade him to do certain things which he had been unable or unwilling to do, when the suggestions had emanated from us. His responses to Dr. Yoder's letters were manifold and complicated, and although we were sometimes able to anticipate them, at other times we were not. Moreover, in his reactions to the communications, he often revealed himself in ways he never did with us, thus affording us new insights into his character and into the nature and magnitude of the problem of identity which he faced in daily life.

The exchange began when, in the middle of July 1960, Joseph wrote to Dr. Yoder asking if he could be transferred back to England, his “native” country, the country he loved so much. The reply sent in Dr. Yoder's name noted that, according to the hospital records, Joseph had been born in Canada, had never been
to England, and was a naturalized citizen of the United States. It was therefore unlikely that the English would be willing to have him back or that the American authorities would be able to initiate action for deportation. To this letter, Joseph replied, in part:

Dear Dr. Yoder:

I must say that I have not felt any too well over it, but since you state so, I am unable to do anything about going back to England. I am God, however, and I must wait for my power, so I may be back in England one beautiful day. As God, I am a citizen of the world, there is no doubt.

I have consulted Dr. Rokeage and Mr. Spivak as you write in the letter and they were at one as to what you state.

For the next three months there were no further communications between Joseph and Dr. Yoder. Yet the result of the initial exchange was dramatic. While previously Joseph's delusions about England had made up a large portion of his conversation, he now dropped all references to it and no longer spoke of having been born in England or wanting to be deported there.

On September 19, 1960, I interviewed Joseph to find out to what extent he still held to his delusions about England, and to his other grandiose delusions about himself. When I asked him where he was born, he said Canada; of what country he was a citizen, he said the United States; whether he had ever been to England: “No, I never have! I was born in Quebec.” If he left the hospital, what sort of a job would he take? He would be a janitor, he replied, or work for the railroad, or be clerk in a bank or a department store, or work on the assembly line at Ford. He did not, as had been his usual practice, lapse into dreams of more grandiose jobs, such as bank president or owner of a department store.

I pursued the idea of his working in a bank, to see whether he would end up owning it. He said instead that if he brushed up on his mathematics he might eventually become a teller.

Joseph also said he now realized it was useless for him to try
to go back to England. It was clear, however, that he had not really given up his grandiose delusions, but had decided simply not to talk about them. “If Dr. Yoder says I am God, then I can't get out of the hospital. I have the right thing in mind. Nobody bothers you if you say you're a laborer. I'm trying to be myself, Joseph Cassel.” He went on to talk about being deported to Canada, saying that maybe he could take over Prime Minister Diefenbaker's job. Then suddenly he pulled back. “That's a nice dream. One does dream about things too high.”

All in all, an impressive, insightful performance. I had never seen Joseph more realistic. The communication from his authority referent had indeed produced marked changes in his behavior. By inhibiting his delusional speech, it gave him a more realistic posture vis-à-vis other people in his daily environment. But at the group meeting he “backslid” a bit. “The last time I was born it was in Quebec. But I am originally English—no doubt about it.”

A few days later I asked Joseph once again if he had been born in England. He hesitated, then grinned: “I'm supposed to be born in Quebec.” When I asked why he was smiling, he evaded my question. I then asked him who John Michael Ernahue was. “Myself,” he answered. “But I can't use that name anymore.”

It was fully three months after the receipt of Dr. Yoder's letter that Joseph showed signs of a relapse. He began to talk more openly about his English delusions. At the group meeting he mentioned that he was God, but also that he knew enough not to talk about it. This was at the time that Leon was openly calling Miss Anderson “God,” and I suspect it upset Joseph, compelling him to reassert his God identity.

The correspondence between Joseph and Dr. Yoder was resumed on October 24, 1960, and from that time until August of the following year a great many letters passed between them. Joseph's were frequently very long—one ran to thirty-seven pages—and often extremely and obsessively repetitive. Those reproduced here are excerpted to eliminate needless repetition, but they preserve the flavor,
tone, and pace of the communications and convey faithfully the nature of the relationship which developed between Joseph and Dr. Yoder.

October 24. As Joseph opens the letter at the group meeting, he says: “I bet it's from Dr. Yoder.” He reads it aloud.

My dear Joseph:

The other day I had a conference with Dr. Milton Rokeach about you and I was pleased to learn from Dr. Rokeach that you have been getting along very nicely lately. I am especially pleased to learn that you are once again reading good books, which shows me that you have excellent literary taste, and I am also especially glad to learn that you no longer talk about being deported back to England, since you are not an English citizen. This means that you are getting better.

Dr. Rokeach has also reported to me that you are now able to discuss in realistic terms what sort of jobs you are qualified to take if you were to be discharged from the hospital, and if you were to go back to Detroit. The fact that you are able to do this realistically is very encouraging and also means that you are getting better mentally.

Keep up the good work! The more realistic you get, the better you are. The better you are, the sooner I will be able to consider sending you home to Detroit. You have been here for a long time and I would like nothing better than to send you back home to Detroit as soon as possible; that is, as soon as you are well.

Have you been to church lately? If you haven't, why not go next Sunday? It might do you good, you know. Remember how good you felt the last time you went to church?

Write me if you get a chance. I'm always glad to hear from you.

Sincerely yours,

O. R. Yoder, M. D.

Medical Superintendent

Joseph is agitated as he finishes reading. “He doesn't want me to go to England. He has nothing to do with the discharge. Social Service takes care of these things. He's just a figurehead, that's all he is. I've always been better mentally. I entered the hospital voluntarily. Just a letter of insult, that's all. Just a comic affair, that's all.

“That's my business if I go to to church. The next thing will
be a letter saying, ‘Joseph Cassel, you didn't answer my letter so I didn't send you home.' Just a letter of diatribe! of insults!”

Angrily, he tears the letter up. “I'm not insane, crazy. By thinking I'm sick, then
he
isn't sick. He could write, ‘You came here voluntarily. You've been here a long time. Go home!' That would be reality! I want to see Yoder personally. He said I was able to get out of the hospital very shortly. Why did he change? Because Dung went over there and told him that I was sick, or something of the sort.”

Leon, of course, immediately denies that he did any such thing, Joseph ignores him and continues. “I don't waste my time on those letters. I tore it up. No letter came to me. I can write letters better than he can. I can make speeches. My mind was quiet before I received this letter. Now I am agitated. It's utterly despicable. I don't want Dr. Yoder to tell me what I am like, what I feel like, whether I'm sick or no. That's my business!”

October 26

My dear Joseph:

I know that you have a need for money so I am enclosing 50¢ for you. I hope you will be able to use it for your enjoyment.

As I said to you in my last letter I am especially pleased to learn that you are reading good books which shows you have exceptional literary taste and I am especially glad to learn that you no longer talk about being deported back to England since you are not an English citizen. This means that you are getting better.

Dr. Rokeach tells me that you got very angry with my letter and my feelings are hurt about this. I really mean it when I say that you should write me if you get a chance and as I said in my last letter it might do you good if you go to church.

Sincerely yours,

O. R. Yoder, M. D.

After reading the letter aloud, Joseph comments on the suggestion that he attend church. “He won't leave that alone, will he? All admonishments!” He says he is not going to answer, but will send a message through me, saying: “Thank you very
much for the 50¢. I am getting better every day.” He concludes: “What else can you do against the authorities?”

Joseph
does
answer Dr. Yoder, however.

October 26

Dear Dr. Yoder:

I do so want to thank you for the nice letter, which you have forwarded to me. I do so wish to thank you, withal, for the .50 which you have also sent to me! Thank you for your praising me on my choicy perusal of literature.

I do go or attend the church service every Sunday. I also make an answer on your writing to me
anent
my mental health:—I am making progresses, daily in regard to my mental health! … Thus, I am getting better every day, using such psychology. . . . ‘Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better!!'

Excuse me for my not having written to you, before.

I am yours truly,

Joseph Cassel

October 30. Today Joseph begins an ambitious program to write letters to all his relatives, most particularly to his wife, but also to his father, people with whom he had long ago virtually abandoned contact.

My dear wifie,

Last week, I wrote you a letter, but no answer. I hope that this letter will get an answer from you!

I hope that you are well, as are the daughters? As for me, I am getting better, every day!

Yes, I am broke, I have not a cent to my name. Last Friday, I went with the store party, but there was no money for me at the money-draw—bank—. Thus, I was without a cent! … I'm “broke,” not “badly bent,” but “broke!” … Can you tell some of my friends or relatives to send me some moneys? Please. And, please send me some money? Please?

I do so hope that you are well! I miss you every day; I love you every day.

Your husband and lover,

Joseph Cassel

November 2. A brief letter arrives from Dr. Yoder with twenty-five cents enclosed. It ends with a P.S. “By the way, have you been to church recently?” Joseph promptly replies, thanking Dr. Yoder for the twenty-five cents and assuring him that he attends church every Sunday, never missing a service.

November 6. Joseph writes to his father, as far as we know for the first time:

My dear father,

Yes, yesterday, it snowed! there's snow upon the ground! I have a ground-pass, thus, I go out, and my corduroy coat is comfortable and handy! Is there any snow in Canada? …

I hope you are all well. And I send you and mother and parents and friends my best regards! I also wish you all a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!!

But I am broke; I keep writing to my wife for money, but I don't get it! Can you, please, send
me
a money order? I thank you in advance!! … I am in the hospital (and I don't like it.) I wish I could get out!! My wife won't get me out!! … May be, you can write to Dr. O. R. Yoder … to transfer me to Brockville hospital in Brockville, Ontario, Canada. I thank you in advance!! … I haven't Georges' address, or Simone's address, or Philipe's address, or Madeleine's address. Can you sent them to me? … What is Louis Bordeaux's address? However it may be, I await your answer and I'd like some money, I'm broke. Thank you in advance.

Yours truly,

Joseph Cassel

P. S. Can you use Joseph instead of Josephine upon the money order?

November 14. Joseph tells us at the group meeting that he went to church services yesterday. Protestant services! Twice! The aides confirm Joseph's report. Joseph also receives a letter from Dr. Yoder:

My dear Joseph:

I was very pleased to receive your letter of November 2, and I want to thank you for it. It is, of course, all right for you to regard yourself as a citizen of the world, and I have no objections to your saying so. However, I do object to your statement that Ypsilanti State Hospital is an English stronghold. First, it is not accurate to call it a
stronghold and second, Ypsilanti State Hospital is not English. Ypsilanti State Hospital is an American hospital. It is supported by American funds and we do not receive any support, financial or otherwise, from England. I think that since you are a reasonable man who is getting better and better, you will recognize this as the truth.

As for your remarks about attending church, it was not clear to me from your letter whether you were or were not attending church. Could you clarify this matter further for me?

You say in your letter: “As for my identity, I am what I am, God!” I certainly do not wish to dispute this but I do wish to dispute your statement that “you can depend” on the English to be with you. It is my opinion that since you have been in this hospital the English have not given you the hand that you so richly deserve.

All the preceding leads me to what I really want to tell you.
You can depend on me to give you a hand
.

Enclosed is a small token of my esteem for you. Please write me soon and I will write you again shortly.

Yours very truly,

O. R. Yoder, M. D.

BOOK: The Three Christs of Ypsilanti
10.18Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

Harvard Rules by Richard Bradley
Not So Silent Night by Kelly Ryan
The Ares Decision by Kyle Mills
Lovesick by Alex Wellen
Double Share by Lowell, Nathan
Every Seven Years by Denise Mina
Rumpole Rests His Case by John Mortimer