New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-31
THE STATE LUNATYC ASYLUM

SIR: There is an article sgned By in your paper Of
Saturday. the 18th instant relating to the late fires at
the Asylum which think, is calculated to produce
erroneous Impressions The writer gives as quota
ton the following all portion of the testimony
Dr. Gray, taken before Judge Bacon, Of the Supreme
Court upon the examination of Spers, viz: Il am
Superintendent Of the NewYork State Lunatic Asy-
"lum Speirs came to the Asylum the 2lst of Jan
"uary. 1850, while DR.. Benedict Superintendent.
"The caee.book states that he arragned for the
"crme of arson in the first degree, &C., the 18th OF
"January 1885, in the Court of Oyer aud Terminer of
"New.York City. Had benin the Asylum at Black
"wels Island eleven MONTHS aud had been deranged.
Escaped conviction on the ground of insanity, aud
cord. red to be sent to the New York state Lunatic
"As YUM. Subsequently, it seems, IN 1896, he was
discharged cured by an order OF the Superintendent,
" February l, 1856.
This Il a summary of part Of the Doctors testi-
mony rather than strict quotation. So much OF as
should have been quoted Ill this connection, IN order to
fair understanding Of the matter, is as follows
The fret degree and for assault and battery With intent
KILL on the T s a is CSr o'sl ana
single ssed q year, barber by trade nstve Of Sootland
Asylum Of Blsckweis Leland Ii months Of the 49, time he
b., deneed and unknown not suicidal escaped
conviction the und Of insanity aud ordered to the New
Yoi Lupac A,yum quiet on TIE way particulars OF
bis history not known"
ID, ctOr Gray added:
1.-THE fore sops entry made the handwriting Of Doctor
Cool who sicsn Of the Asylum at the time
Sr pjsc. in the second hell. hsrdrssng aud shay
Dg quit. Industrious cheerful and conen-d March 1885,
st.tem,pt is made he ssys he has inclination to burn
budires or njrre Others In August 1885, he removed
:m second hall =, the first T ss Ss Srd Ap
and up to 1856 when he discharged cured the entry
md .sedi.d ss improved and was senem,ny e
We. by order Of Justice Of the Supreme Court FEB
the employee Of the Asylum working he dining
and sometime, In the printing Office In al respects ne con
and gave no special evidence Of eIctsby He bad little
educsticn when he the Asylum attended MIN dur
he had and became much Interested III him. aud
s.sd in hi, education learned boiu read and wre
ard to Sd %BdS as .s pe
an .srly period his here and under Doctor benedt
=. eli h ns cort1ed the same privilege
,sw ytbng bis conduct that occsoned any suspicion that
he in any respect dangerous peson-he was ka ana
b. makes further brief statement of parts Of DIR.
Gray's aid Mr.. Wetmore's testimony, and adds:
such testimony a. here stated surely intelligent
need making bis mind to the nsani
y Of this miserable al the only wonder Is tha SHOULD
ssss Ss fatal seem. to VI. and we state with
doence in allowing this the entiIe range Of the In
S.SoS :. sp T III L. is
destructive prop.us.ties returned to seek revenge"
Now, in fairness b. should have given his readers
at least much Of the Testimony is quoted above,
in order 10 enable them to understand clearly the
grounds upon which liberties granted to Speirs
1t appears not, might be inferred from the article
In QuteuOpy soOu cODuuct was OF late udtc,
but that almost from the beginning his condition and
behavior were such as is testified by DIR. Gray; and
that in about six months after his admission he was
removed to the first hail. being the hall ward for the
most convalescent patients; and that he continued
during period Of Fix years to the time Of his DIS.
cIsrpe) TO conduct himself with proprety-to make
himself continually useful and to give strong evidence
of improyement in intellectual and moral character
and that SUCH in substance, have been bis condition
ard condpct during the whole seven and halt years
Of his residence in the Asy um. 1t appears, also, that
such liberties as lie had enjoyed during the four
Years of Dr. Bcpedicts SUPPLEMENTARY, as well as
Since the appointment Of Dr. Gray, in July, 1854; so
tbst is evident that those gentlemen concurred 10
opinion in reference Speirss mental condition. ana
The course Of treatment which his case required IL Is
aso clearly to be inferred though not expressly stated
that The came opinion was entertained by DI. Cook
now the proprietor and medical principal OF Brignam
Hall private institution for the insane, at Canandai.
eun and the other assistant physicians. The concurrent
views Of all these medical gentlemen are certainly en-
titled to weight in determining the question Of tue de-
gree Of liberty and indulgence which it was proper "
exieLd to Speirs.
d. uses Language too bread when be says that
Speirs had the entire range Of the Ipstitution IL
sppears from tho testimony Of Dr. Gray and Mr.. Bur
rowe that since the keys were taken from him
and again in October, 1856, be could not Leave tho