Warning Ignored, Subscriber Destroys House

Jackson: Baxter Jordan of Crabb's Mills didn't think the Editors Warning in the March issue of Third Eye Over Iowa applied to him (see: Urgent Notice From The Editors, March, 1997, vol. 4, Issue #3). When the 43 year old welder used the January and February issues to prop up the corner of a TV set on August 2, he got more than just better reception.

     Shortly after 11:30 that night, firemen and police responded to a neighbor's report of a gas explosion and fire at Jordan's home. When they arrived, they found that Jordan had used an acetylene torch to cut his gas stove in half without turning off the gas. The explosion had thrown Jordan through his kitchen window onto the hood of his car. Police said that apart from small cuts and bruises, Jordan appeared to be fine. He then pleaded with them that he wasn't responsible for the explosion.

     "He told us that he stuck the magazines under the set and sat down on the sofa," explains Officer Basil O'Leary. "Then he said the picture changed from the ball game to this guy on the screen. This guy, he says, wore a real nice suit and looked just like him. And then it started yelling at him and calling him a loser and all this stuff. He said he didn't want to cut up the stove, but this twin of his on his TV told him to do it. That's when we introduced him to Mr. Straitjacket."

     According to Dr. Mathew Sprat of Massaraty Asylum near Mt. Pleasant, Jordan is suffering from schizophrenia with vivid command hallucinations.

     "We don't know what triggered the onset of his mental disease. He has had no prior indications of any kind. He is fixated on the two issues of the magazine and wants people to know that these two issues are dangerous." Dr. Sprat said in a phone interview on August 9. He noted that Jordan was in the office with him during the interview.

     "Mr. Jordan has been very upset about what happened and that Third Eye and its readers should know what has happened to him. We refused, at first. He grew very agitated with our decision and this turned into various forms of behavior that posed a threat both to Mr. Jordan as well as other patients. Hence, I agreed to inform your magazine of his case. He, however, does not feel ready to make a statement or respond to your questions at this time."