He pointed out to Judge Flowers why Columbus was not the place for Milligan. “Maximum security facilities obstruct the therapy of multiple personality patients.” If he stayed at the Columbus facility, Davis explained, the treatment was likely to be nonproductive.

Dr. Harry Eisel, a clinical psychologist, testified that he had administered the “Hand” test to several of the aggressive personalities to determine whether or not they might be dangerous. The “Hand” test, a series of pictures of hands in different positions, about which the patient makes judgments, is a projective technique to evaluate the individual s potential for violent behavior. Eisel testified that none of the personalities he had tested (I later learned they were Philip, Kevin, and Ragen) were dangerous to any significant degree.

Although a social worker testified for the prosecutor that Milligan had threatened him and his family, under crossexamination he admitted he was threatened often by mental patients, but that nothing had ever come of them.

Dr. Caul testified that he would accept Milligan for treatment and would abide by any restrictions imposed by the court.

On April 8, 1982, Judge Jay Flowers ordered the Department of Mental Health to transfer Billy Milligan back to the Athens Mental Health Center. He ordered that the patient be allowed to paint and do woodworking, but he also suggested close supervision off the ward. Before Milligan could be permitted to leave the hospital grounds, the court must be notified. “People say he deserves another chance,” Judge Flowers said. “Lets give him another chance.”

At eleven o’clock, on the morning of April 15, 1982, after two and a half years in three Ohio maximum security hospitals, Billy Milligan was returned to Athens.

I visit him regularly, and speak with Tommy or Allen. According to both of them, there has been no co-consciousness among the “people” for a long time. Allen hears the voices in his head—the British and Yugoslav accents—but neither he nor Tommy can get through to them, or to each other. There is no communication inside. There is much lost time. The Teacher has not, at this writing, returned.

Tommy is painting landscapes. Danny is painting still lifes. Allen is painting portraits, and making notes of the incredible experiences at Lima, Dayton, and Columbus, and how his people coped and survived.

Dr. David Caul has begun the difficult task of undoing the damage of the past two and a half years, and of trying to put pieces back together again. No one knows how long it will take.

Although Billy Milligans return to Athens stirred up controversy in Columbus that upset him, he was pleased when he read a copy of the Ohio University student newspaper. The Post had published an editorial on April 12th, anticipating the transfer:

“… Milligan, who has certainly not been given a fair shake in life, has come to Athens to be treated by the experts here. And this community, if it does anything at all, should help to give him the supportive atmosphere he needs … We’re not asking you to welcome Milligan with open arms. But we are asking you to understand. It’s the least he deserves.”