The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-21

children nowadays, and l win so no further for
proof" Al.
The Examination OF Ira d. Eddy, Chargoa
with Insanity, at Hartford, Conn.
Some few DAYS since we noticed that Ira b. Edly
had been taken from Chicago, Illinois, TO Hartford.
to be there laced in the Insane Asylum. The act
was the work of the wife and brother Of Mr. Eddy.
who centended that he had SO far lost the OF his
business faculties, by following the delusion of tho
spirit rappers to be unable to take propo Of
his property and that he should therefore be sonned
and treated as unatic.
1t will be recollected that this same Ira 3. Eddy,
in connection with Seh Paine and number Of
other mediums and spritualiss, established bank in
Chicago some moIths since under the free mixing
Law Of Illinois, and carried discount and depoa.
business in trne spirit rsppiDg style under the die
tation Of the spirits OF those great fanciers who
long ago settled tier accounts Deaths counter.
The bank was opened with prayer and closed with
a b. .dictcn as regularly as church on Sunday.
ana crhen any Of is customers came for fayors the
shirt Of Alexander Hamilton Nicholas Bidile
was s,aked up and lp opinion asked in regard to
the rsie.y and religious tendency OF the operation
before the application could be deeNed upon. Mr.
Eddy was at that time charged with insanity and
placed in duIance his bills were repudated and hs
bank broken up. he bias since been OPERATING
among the rappers, neglecting his family and his
business and sGuanderDg his estate. Such are the
charges viii h brought against him in order 70
deprive him Of the control OF bis property and Sc
cure his admission into the esylUn above referred to.
But by the following repols Of an examination At
Hartford on writ of habeas corpus which we copy
fIcm the Hartford Times, II will he scen that he
has again been at liberty it being the opinion of
Judge Phelps that he is Of sound mind and his bust
ners qualifications uhimpalred:--
Judge Phelps held special court to-day (Tues-
day July 49, on writ OF habeas corpus which
had teen sued for the purpose OF bringing Ira =.
Eddy to an examination.
EDDY was one of the leading operators i'll the
famous Chicago Spiritual Bank last winter, aud
his conduct in that affair, cs well as more recently,
is claimed by those who have been instrumental in
bringing him to the Retreat here, to justify bis con
fDement as q lunatlc.
The case has excited some interest and the court
room was filed with spectators. EDDY prese.t.
and certainly did not look much like crazy man,
unless rather heavy beard and moustache might he
considered an evidence of insanity. lie is a quiet,
nofensive looking man. of medium size, rather pale
countenance, and calls himself " a Spiritliast."
The writ Of babeas corpus required the attendance
of Dr. John S. Butler Superintendent Of the Insane
Retreat il company with Ira B. EDDY, to show owl
dence Of his Ediys) insanity, i such evidence ex-
being sworn, stated that on Tuesday last. the 18th
inst. three came with Mr. Eddy to the Retreat,
and informed him that they had brought an insane
them letter from D. C. EDDY, Of Chicago. (brether
of Ira B. dated July o. 1868 introducing DR.. John
A. Kmnicott, Of Chicago" who in turn introduced
his two companions as medical men from the Vicinity
OF Chicago.
This letter he'd been preceded by another one ad-
dressed to Dr.. Butler. Below we give them bosh in
their order
D. C. EDDY's FIRST LETrER.
Cmc,Ge March T. 1853.
s,IrrIsr.snysT OF THE HARTFORD R,uREAr-
Gesr SRI aipiv you, inst,su ION for tie ainis
afa p.f H. d1v hO1a Hxtx |
copseTvsor. apa lot acqustBtsi With year forms
Ct edni SION but learn that admit thos Of o9er
reg uatiops win Iefer ron to Belkns Esq Pie
sdsnt Safe Bank, Hartford Yours, respectfully, rv
D. c. xDpY's SECOND LETTER.
CHICAGO, July ., 1858
SUPERINTENDENT or HARTFORD RETREAT
Allow 10 introduce TO your acqusrtiuca D,ctw
John KrDicott shoiatends my brother,
Ira B. tx dy. ot ahom NO have cosrsspo4ded, u your
place. lbs Doctor il friend and relat,ss Of our family
He Inform you q the nature Of tho patse.ts
end will make temporary arrangements. and will en-
dssvor to sec you soon Very respectfully; : rn,v
DR.. Butler testified that be was abseut at the time
Of the receipt OF the first letter lie desired to exh
county Qll) CouIt Of Common Pleas, on the appl
cation Of Sarah Eddy the wife Of Ira b. aud Others
lrayDg for the appointment OF conservator over
the estate of Ira B. Eddy. These proceedings were
sane Trey believed, and the Cour: appointed De
voton q. Eddy, the brother above referred to, con-
determining the amount Of the estate 10 DO
100000.
This was the authority on which the institution re-
ceiyed EDDY and it was certainly valid. The Doctor
then, at the request Of John Hooker Esq, counsel
for Eddy, stated some facts in the case Vie said
that Eady had been uniformly quiet, and he had not,
after week observation found conclusive evidence
Of lis insanity. The chief evidence was the prison
ers general tone Of conver5ation-and this, IN BIS
mind was not conclusive He bad been very cour-
teous ard gentlemanly in his conduct, and had dned
at tie family table. He had not yet been able 70
make up his mind that Eddy was insane.
John Hooker, counse! for Eddy, then proceeded TO
read letter written by Seth Paine 10 the Chicago
Commercial ADVERTISER concerning Eddy's alleged
abduction. 1t stated that he had been suddenly and
foIcity taken oil in the night train OF cara on Sun
day bya mob OF interested persons who wanted the
banding Of his property; that Eddy had received 10
notice OF the intended seizure, but that bad he not
been taken he would coon have proved LIS sanity,
rs lie had ahesdy taken measures to have the Qes
tioI tried before the same tribunal which had oon-
victed in lf insanity ard had evidence that would
reverse the ist decision, aid its accompanying pro
cee6.ngs.
letter from Chicago was next read, addressed to
4. j. Daris Of THE city, ard signed by thiIty-cig1t
persons Ct wealth and respectaLility, living in that
city among whom was the Postmaster OF Chicago
AID the proprietor OF the fremont House. It stated
that Eddy was OF sound mind and q good business
man. Other letters TO the same effect were pro-
dused.
James Morrou sworn-Tesides in Chicago is wen
acquainted with Eddy and with rauy OF the signers
OF lle itttVr le!srIed 10. has InVtIru WIN Go.J
through Wisconsin and Notsern Illinois l.st winter;
has never discovered his insanity thinks be Is a
good business man has watched him to scs IL 10
was insahe on hearing that he bad bcan charged
with insanity could not detect such disorder IN Inn;
lac the reputation Of beng wealthy has wife, b,.s
no children is remarkably kind and foTb,ariug in
bis manners was engaged in mercantile business
previous TO bis banking operations.
Nathan II. Dollea, Of Chicago--Affirned that he
had resided IN that city eighteen year.; had known
ddy fifteen years Always supposed him 10 he sane;
was ahsent ia Norwich Conn, at the time che above
proceedings Gelative to conservatory wcn hal,
and was surprised TO learn Of il when LIE back
THINKS the abduction OF EDDY IVES brought aolDt by
those WHO wanted t. handle his property ho nsver
squanGered cent OF hs property Is worth SO 600;
has always CONDUCTED his business shrewdly ani
rstonally; bad just instituted suh to reverse TIE
court proceedings alludeJ to, and woaii have DO.
hnd La