The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-24
A REMaRAABLE CASE.

Alleged Abduction md Confinement Five
Weeks ip n Lunnfic Asylum Of soc Cooke,
The Ex-Circua osOwn--A Broiher.in-Law
charged with the Abduction and Also Al.
tempted Poisoning OF Mr.. Cooke rnd Wife.
case endowed with several remarkable features
OF startling Interest was yesterday brought to the
magisierla notice OF Judge Mansfield, OF the Essex
Market Police Court, through the aGidavit of Mr..
Marinus W. p. Cooke better known as Joe Cooke the
clown, whose performances In the sawdust ring are
still fresh in the memories of thousands. 1t Is SIX
years since he left the equestrian arena and during
these six years he has been keeping the Supnyside
Hotel, the halfway house to the Fashion race course
on Long Island, and favorite midway stopping
place for metropolitan turf patrons en route
To this popular race track lie was brilliantly sue
cessful as q clown, but far more peculiarly
successful as the ovial Boriface OF the sun.
nyside inn. He soon paid for the latter
property, and in addition bought and paid for q
handsome house and lot on De Kalb avenue, Brook
Ign, besides becoming the possessor OF other real
estate. To go back In history twenty five years
ago he was married in the Astor House by Alderman
Sturdevant, now deceased. The fruits OF this union
are two children Tins wife and these tive children
are living Ia the De Kalb avenue house. lie aud his
wife and children have always lived on the best OF
terms A skeleton In the house-and 1t win be borne
in mind that VIC are giving the statement Of Mr..
Cooke-hNs been brotncr-n-uw, one Henry III.
Foster This man became the brothor-in-law Of
W. Cooke through marry ing the latters sister. Mr..
Cookies record Of this brother-in-law IL not very
catering, as may be gathered from the fact that no
makes biographical dispOsiticn of ten years OF his
life "a folows:-Iive years imprisonment IN tire
lou lana state Prison az Baton Rouge, and Ave
years N prison at Toronto, Canada.
ALd now we come TO The principal facts set forth
In he ada, II made yesterday by sir. Cooke before
Judge Mansfield. ON the 18th Of August last lie left
his sunny sde inn and came to this city, and IN the
afternoon starred to go back by way OF The ferry
rNcT 10 Hunters Point As he LEFT the Ierryboat he
was suddenly seized by Foster, his brother-in-law,
and a Policeman aandcuned, put into carriage
aud conveyed TO Kings County Lunatic Asylum
Arrived ut the Lunaiic Asylum he delivered over
10 the keeper, assigned 10 cell ana kept there till
the 18th inst, when Dr.. Mead, the head physician,
having become satisfied OF his sound mental condi-
ton, relieved him IRON the prolonged ana painful
du,dnce to which he had bcca subjected aud gave
him his liberty. II should be stated here
that he does not complain OF his treat
inent AZ the hands of the asylum onlclas,
though under what prctence OF reason or authority
they should have kept HIM there the length Of time
they did or IN fact, Tor day, Is to him profound
mystery. ne only Knows thls much-that ne, or
rather his wife, Iatd ten dollars week for his board
and that he received extra care and attention, AS
wen as fun and uns;lnted duet, on this account.
His seizure, his beng handcuicd ana his conveyance
To inc Lunatic Asyluln he AYERS, were without any
warrant OF authority. lie never subjected to
any medical examination before the seizure and
neither afler his Incarceration in the Iunafic Asy.
lum. lie charges the whole thing upon his brother.
in-law, and he ascribes the motive desire and
determination Of the latter to get possession OF his
/ property
There is another charge additional 10 the above
preferred by Mr.. Cooke against his brother-in-law
lle sEs mat Mr.. Foster deliberately and wlckcdly
sSg 10 WORK To poison him and his wife, and,
/ this accomplished would doubtless have
nlauc finishing job of the poisoning by,
poisoning Their children. Having been suIicrer
| some medicine TO take, which. however he was
prudent enough W abstain from taking. LIS vile