New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-25
THE STATE LUNATIc ASYLUM.


70 f1< GoStos " IH We ,. TsessA
SIR: The partial destruction by fire Of the spendd
central building Of the New York Safe Lunatic A,y'
inn a, Utica, the morning Of the 18th inst, and the
total destruction by the same irresistible element, on
the afternoon Of the l9th Of the stables have caused
a great deal Of excitement here among all classes Of
our citizen.. All cf us justiy pond Of noble
institution and the sudden calamity which has befalen
il has sent thrill Of horror to every heart. Beside
the great discomfort and deprivation 70 so large g
number OF helpless fllow-cIestures so long inmates
within lie walls il s great peeunary loss TO the State
| and to our own city.
Both of the fires il seems were the work Of an in
eepdiary long inmate Of the institution and who
was sent here according to the testimony of the Super
nt.udent, DR.. Gray elected at the examination before
| Judge, Depio, Bacon, Root, Dr.. ". II. Dering aud
the resident managers of the Asylum, the 10Th inst.
Dr. Gray testified, oath, liz tie presence Of the
accused, William Speirs, as follows
IL am Superintendent Of the New.York State Luna.
,c Asylum Speirs came 10 the Asyum oa the 2lst OF
January 1850 while Dr. Benedict was Superintendent.
The CaseBook states that he was arrs gned for me
CRIME Of arson in the first degree, Sc, the ith OF
January, 1880 in the Court Of Oyer epd Termner OF
New.York City. Has been in tue Asylum at Black.
wells Island II months, and has be en- deranged rs,
capped conviction on the ground insanity and orered
10 be sent 10 the New-York State Asylum. Suisse
oueptly, it seems, in 1856 he was discharged cured,
by an orcer of the Supreme Court, Feb. l, 1870.
Dr. Gray further testifes that he did not then leave
the Asylum, but remained urder employment, working
in the dDipgroom and sometimes in the prnsing-office
and in all respects the Doctor gives him very good
clsracter-was INDUSTRIOUS careful and thoughtful,
and gave no evidence Of eXcitabty; had large liber
ties in the institution and went, it appears, pretty
much wherever he desired to. In September 1856 he
voluntarily left the Asylum, but returned agsin of his
own yolton in the course of the following month.
He took away his keys and brought them back with
him, and seems to have been employed in various
WAYS. The Doctor says: In February, 1886, gave
him his keys and in June directed them to be taken
away, for swearing; but he Immediately after was
penitent, and they were restored to him again.
Now, then let us turn for a moment to the consid
Grafton Of the testimony Of Edmund A. Wetmore,
Treasurer of The Asylum, and fathern'law TO Dr.
| Gray. Mr.. W. says that VIM. Spers, the person now
present, informed him tina. he set both the buildings
on fi,e; tina. he stated in the presence of DIR. Gray
and Owen Jones that he set tire to the BARN and m
answer to a question by hom it was done, he said ne
had q match and set the fire iu the straw OF nay.
Being a-ked what he did then, Sper' replied that lie
| cane out and went to the woods. Another witness
says: "When met him in the woods, he laughed
| an unusual thing for him." Deponent then asked
him if be set the fire in the attic of the central bull
ing of the ASYLUM and he said he did. Being asked
| where he replied in the alr-passage, IN the att'c
that be entered il and set the fire there with some
paper ard light stuff, and around some woodwork 10
The airpasssge; said he set the fire in two or three
places in The open at;ic with some pieces OF candles
which be got in the dark Being further asked
why he did all this he replied that he was mad; and
being asked for what be said Dr. Chaplin ordered him
away for making the balloons. Being asked II ne was
mad at anything else, he old not reply immediately,
| and on the question being repeated by Dr. Gray,
Speirs after little hesitation, said" DrGray, you
| took away my keys" Speirs was agitated, bu' al
| times controlled himself and spoke with camness.
Amer such testimony as is here stated, surely no IT.
| telgeBt person need hesitate abou: making up nus
mind as to the insanity of this miserable man. ana the
only wonder is that it should have escaped the OBJ
servaton Of the Doctor and all his assistants lae
fatal error it seems to usand we state win diiIi-
| dence-was in allowing this man the entire range OF
the institutions for ting excuses as preventing
him to aid IN making balloons, and taking away his
KEYS all his original evil destructive propenstes re-
TUNED 10 seek revenge and the now blackeped and
smoIderpe walls of this noble institution too pinry
tell how successful he has been in gratifying it.
Judge Bacon has decided to hold the accused for
rria upon the testimony elected the examination,
and has ordered the poor miserable to the County
JAIL Surely under all the circumstances, as the tes'
tmony shows humanity suggests that he be instan ~
rteased from thence and sent 10 some other place OF
confinement, and there kept and watched and
tended" all the days Of his life. h.
state Luaafie A'ylum Utica, July %, 1857