The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-08-12
" Legal lnteligenee.
DE- LUNATICO INQUIRKNDt
Before abraham Crist, Esq., Professor vaientil

| Jr., Commissioner and Jury Of thbtsen s,tizens
AUo I-ln the Matter Of John Clark, supposed Lunac
"A commission Of inquiry held this evening In
Of the Courts ofthe Common Pleas City Hall before the
above commissioners to ascertain the STATE Of mind
John Clark of the city Of New York surgeon whether
he lupatc enjoys lucid intervals that he Is
not sufficient for the government Of himself or the ma
nagement Of his lands and tenements; and IT, SO from
what time the said John Clark being In that condition.
hath aenated any lands or other property and also,
to inquire the value thereof and who his heirs aud
next Of kin The order for the commission issued
from the Supreme Court; and 1t directed that the
personal attendance OF DR. Clark should be
arising from fracture Of the thigh The supposed luna
tic native Of Scotland and was formerly medical
attendant of the late Duke Of Athol
Dr. Nichols, examined by Mr.. Carpenter. deposed-I
am physic an Of the Lunac Asylum AT Bloomingdale;
DR. John Clark the supposed unatic Is in my custody
besides being very aged he has fracture of the
right thigh from which he unable to attend here he
Is insane am disposed to think II arises from old
could be brought down here TO attend this ipory With
out danger to his life he also suffering from darrhus
DO not think he is sufficient for the government of him
SELF or tie management OF his affairs. Q-Do you know
anything Of the property and connections Of sup
posed lunatic' Al know nothing of his property he
has niece named Mrs areen he has been under m v
care since the 10th Of June.
To Juror-iis friends say he is 81 years Of age; he
himself says he is 81 he irritable; do not think that
taking him to the asylum in the first instance had any
effect in producing his present state OF mind; there is
nothing to prevent the jury visiting him in the asylum
from managing his affairs he recognises his friends has
recollection Of the past seems to be good.
r.
sons OF that sge to become Insane but it frequently
ours; think Doctor Carks disease IL MT upon
old and the suerngs from the fracture Old age
would not reduce Doctor Clark to his present state
suffering from pain and berg bedridden from the rac-
tuTe. have combined to render him insane.
Doctor LudlowDeposed that ne had Doctor Clark
and in his opinion he is insane.
To the Commissioners cannot satisfactorily answer
whether his insanity arises from physical causes.
Doctor T. L. johnson deposed that he knows the sup.
posed luDac; he is Scotchman by birth and wit ness
not know that he has ever been naturad or that
ha Ia hafvv
and ninety ears Of perceived his insanity about
months ago. think he is incapable Of managing hi.
fairs sttrtute his insanity old age and the fracture
Of the thigh which has never been united.
To Juror-lie has never practsed in this country;
that he was formerly 90 the Duke of Atho he
has two nieces Mrs Green and Mrs. Macdonald he has
nephew, Colonel John Clark, Of the British army.
To the Commits sioners-ic has frequently supposed
himself tormened by insects, and told to look at
them; he has ia acied that hole the floor and
that he was in danger OF falling through he h bache
loI apart from these haucinaons, he Is not sane to
all intents and purposes he Is an insane man.
Doctor Bartlett examined by Mr. Carps nter-This
witness also gave 1t as his opinion that Doctor Clark is
inssne.
Mr.. Thornton of the firm of Dean 4 Thorton mer.
chants, deposed that he knows Doctor Clark he is
very aged man he has nephew in the British army
who was out here some couple OF years ago Doctor
Clark Is not naturalzed he has property Ks
and railway shares, to the amount Of think, between
$4,000 and $4,000 my partner who Is Europe
bias acted as his agent can't say how long Doctor
clark has been in this country do not know that he
has sold any of his property always understood that
his nephew was his heir
Juror to Mr. Carpentier-At whose instance are
these procee ceilings taken?
Mr. Carpentitr-At the instance of a creditor
Witness TO the Commissioners have not noticed
any difference in his signature Of two years ago and
when taw IL last.
Mr.. Everett, Secretary of the New York Gas Light
Company dcposed that Doctor Clark holds lfty shares
in that company has not seen him for three years
John w. Sheppard deposed that he had resided in the
same house with Doctor Clark sat with him for three
weeks; be l. an insane man. and incapable OF mindng
himself; III went To sleep for few moments he would
get out Of bed and ordesvor to cut Of the house
jurorIf his thigh broken how could he get out
Of bed a! A-Iie used to roll out OF bed he could no.
stand up; that was impossible
Mrs. Sarah MacMien deposed that she has been
quanted with Doctor John Clark about - years he
nearly 20 years Of when he came to this country
do not know that he has been naturazed do not
know the extent Of his property but understood he
wealthy; say TO the amount of 100000; he
hiinsetfeaii he worth about $4,000; his niece Mrs
Mcdonnell, resides At Kingston, in Canada; no has
another niece In Csnads also; Mrs Green Is the only
lative he has In this country.
Mr. Carpenter asked the commissioners to charge that
Doctor John Clark insane, and that his next Of kin
Col Clark OF the British army and the ohcr persons
named.
Mr. Crst addressed the jury the evidence and the
law OF the case
Professor " Mott, Jr in addressing the jury gave IL
as h opinion. that the hallucinaions sufficient
show that Doctor Carks property should 30 placed IN
other hands than his A. the nature of hf injury
(hs fracture of the thigh Is incurabe in 20 far al
yanced In years he will be- for the remsinder Of his life
bcdridden and being ircapscitatcd iOna taking
else, his mind will gradually become and more
sound
The was then cleared. and in a very few minutes
the jury brought In verdict that Doctor John Clark
months that his property Ia valued at $4,000 and his
next ofkin Colonel John Clark Of the British army
Mrs. Green, Of East Greenwich, r. L.; and Mrs .Uon-
nell. and Mrs. McPhearson, OF Canada.