New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-07-21
THE CHICAGO SPIRITUAL BANK.
The Case Of Ira b. Eddy, charged with Insanity.
From The Hartford Times, July H.

The Case Of Ira b. Eddy, charged with Insanity.
From The Hartford Times, July ID
Judge Pbelp. held special Court to-day lTussfty,
JAY l9 wr, Of kateas sorpg' which had been sued
for the purpose Of bringing Ira b. Eddy to an exam
nation.
Fddy was one Of the leading operators in the famous
Chicago "Spirifu.l Bank last ~inter and his conda
that affair as well recently, is cl.med BY those
who have been nuumer tai in bringing him to the Retreat
here 10 Justify his confinement as lunatic.
The case has excited some interest and the Court Room
filed with spectators Eddy present and csrtsnv
did not look much Ike crazy man, unless rather
h, avy beard and mus;achs might BE- considered an evi
eDce Of insanity He is quef inoff-n.ve locking man
Of mtdiurh size rather pale counien.nce and calls hie
"a SpTituslist
JebD Butler Superintendent Of the Insane Retreat IN
paDy with la Il. EDDY to shOT evidence of bis I'D
oysl insanity, # such evidence existed. The Doctor ap
pesred without counsel sId being stated that %
1ueday last the l2fh inst thr with Mr. ktcy
70 the Retire. ana Informed him that they hsd brOugh Al
nssLe 20 be left under his care They brought with
ITEM letter from EDDY Of Chicago. tbro'ner of Ira
b. dated July q 1883 Oducif d. John hinnicot
of CHI, ago ~ho in turn introduced his so compsni'ns
a. m. deal men from the vicinity 81 Chicago Iher names
Thu I.tt.r had be- preceded by .n.ther addressed
to Dr. Butler Below we give them botb in their order
D c hDD' CLICKED 1cu o. aosd.y, m.rsA T. isss
s5s s h .d hs5oId q % B. Eddy SsI sS oo
Ebo,e ss an sOov.iot an no IT. ,s y;1 or
W., you PS'.t is ne ,Su PSe: s :as So B.s. %
Yours respectfully, d. c. EDDY
soDr'. sseoso LsrT,s
Superintendent Of Hartford Bees,-Dssr sT. Allow ne % afro
6ee, 70 yos m " g9a hno vno re n
your place N, Doctor friend .nd resvs o family he eta
r'r, 'rr'nersn enc vii .nassvgI to see you '0On ynnv
DIR Rut.r testified that h. sbeut the time Of
receip Of the fret lef>r lie desired exhibit certified
copy 81 be pr ceedng- o the Cook County HI Court nj
Con Pleas Oh the application Of Sarah EDDY the vile
OF Ira b. ard Others praying for the appointment of Con
srys0r the esi.te of Ira Il EDDY These proceed
ing. taken last February. The jury found Eddy
10 be insane they believed and the Court appointed
Devotion Edoy. the brother above referred TO- Con
Notwithstanding the amount Of the estate to be
$4,000
This was authority which the Institution received
Edcy and it certainly valid The Doctor then. the
request Of John Hooker Esq. counsel tor EDDY stated
facts in the lie said that Eddy had been uni
formly quiet and be had not, after weeks observation,
found conclusive evidence Of bis insanity The chief evi
deDce the prisoners general tone Of conversation
snd this 10 bis mind, was not conclusive tie had been
very courteou. and gIemany in bio conduct and I'd
dintd al the family table lie had yet been able to
msbe ny bis mind that EDDY was insane
John Hooker counsel for EDDY then proceeded 10 read
letter ritten by seth Pal, to The Chtcdgo Comm cia Id
ttc cerIii EDDY alleged abduction tsst-d that
he had been suddenly sud forcby taken of in the night
train Of Sunday, BY mob of Interested persons
who wanted the hsId ding bis property that Eddy had
received notice Of the Intended seizure but that had
be not been taken he would soon have proved his sanity
be had slresdy alen measures 20 have the question
tried BET the tribunal which had convicted him Of
insanity had evidence that would reverse the de
oIs'D al IFS Accompanying proceedings
letter from Chicago next read addressed to A. j.
Davis of his city, and signed by 30 persons Of wealth aud
respeciabilify living in that city. among whom the
Postmaster Of Chisgo and the proprietor Of the fremont
House 1t that Eddy Of sound mod and good
bushes Other letters TO the same effect were pro
duceo
James Morrel sworn-Resides in Chicago; is well sc
quaiIted with Eddy and With many Of the sgners Of the
letter referred Travelled with Eddy through Wis
Elm and Northern Illinois last winter has dscov
cred hs insanity thinks he is good business has
stced him TO .e if he - insane on hearing that he had
IA suehd cord.
in him bss The rtputron of being wealthy has wife,
but children is remarkably Kind snd orbe airing in his
engaged in mercantile business previous TO
biz banking Op. rAons.
Nah.n II Bodies o. Chicago, affirmed that he had re.
sided IN that city Is years bad knoFn EDDY IS years;
always supposed bin to be sane absent in Norwich
Conn at the time the above proceedings relative to
Conservatory had aud surprised learn Of il
hen be came back thinks the abduction OF EDDY was
brought about hy those who wanted handle his prop
erty be qusnGered cent of his property is worth
ss6OOo has aIsy- conducted his business shrevdly and
rNiOlaly; had ius instituted suit to the Court
proce dngs alluded To-, and would have demanded full
investe alton this whath wife brother
ard other c0Dieoe feared and he believed he
sezed unswsres and hurried of 70 prevenit there was
cd insane hospital at Jacksonville 10 his State but
THIS too home for their design. thuks the SO
sgnr- of the letter not Spiriuslsts. Public opinion
il Chicago de- idedy against The abduction OF Eddy
Ira Is Eddy himself bling called upon aud spoke
briefly of the affair H. said there we re some # his own
relative aud socaleO friends who desired the control of
bus property Some OF these had suddenly upon him
IA hi h use and tied bis hands aud g.ggei his mouth
iih heir hands and then hurried bin off in the c<rhs
new net where His wife dd not interfere n prevent il
One Il the persons Mir Strfrd Keeper Of the County
Poor III Chicago; another Kinncott another Freer
and anoiier . They clinci ed me with straps forced
M into carriage, end then took 10 the and
with ne here, think to of them, Freer aud -.
not physicians they pret nd but horse doctors When
undertook t. speak To any they clapped their hands on
ny mouth Am Spirituslist ana follower OF Jesus
After weighing The evidence the Court decided that EDDY
had not been pFOted man. and that be entitled
TO 20 free.
lie accordingly liberated and shook hands with Dr.
Butler. 20 whom le expressed thanks tor his cOude-
estment and also thanked his Wy found Hartford
ffienos
He viii stop in town for few days, previous to his
Chcsgo lie intends TO prosecute certain parties
in that city who he believes concerned in this affair