The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-17
MYSTERIES OF AN INSANE ASYLUM.
Shocking Revelations OF Human Misery
and Suffering at the Tombs Yester.
day-A Batch Of Insane Convicts-
Glimpses Of State Prison and
Lunatic Asylum Mysteries
Fiction 0utriYalled.

the private lunatic asyums and Charles Reade pub
Ashed his novel, at IS Never Too Late to Mendn for
the purpose of showing up the silent system OF Eng
nsh prisons, 1t never entered into their calculations
that the same enormities which they so eloquently
denounced could be repeated in republican coun
try governed by the people. These excrescences on
the English body polite were thought to be in.
herent In the British system and impossible in any
country where the popular will had full and free
expression. But good and evil propensiues
are not local, they are universal. The qualities
that alorify one community will glimmer and shine
m another, and evil passions and vulgar prejudces
exposed to the execration OF mankind and appa-
rently destroyed, are TO appear under different
circumstances in other places IN somewhat similar
enape and form. Language, custom. habit, locality
create no difference In this respect; human nature
n thesame everywhere.
In the course OF his regular duty HERALD re.
porter paid visit to the Tombs yesterday with the
view OF ascertaining the truth concerning certain
statements Of fair and foul play which were ascer-
tanned to have been made in tain quarters in con-
nection with prisoners in the State Prisons and
State Lunatic Asylum. What was discovered most
amply justines our opening remarks and points
their application
At noon yesterday five wrerched men, broken in
spirit attenuated and worn, four OF them incurably
wounded by the shaft OF idiocy, were conveyed to
the romDs They had arrived from the State Lu
natio Asylum in Auburn, on the order Of Charles E.
Van Anden. the Medical superintendent or the in
stitution, with the recommendation Of John Ham,
mond, chairman Of the Board OF Inspection of the
State Prison. that they be sent to the county in
which they were convicted, to be cared for In the
county asylum One other ma me there was on the
list Abram Dubois, who, however. for some reason
yet to be explained did not arrive with the others
OF the unfortunate men.
THEIR NAMES AND HISTORY.
But little was known at the Tombs. Some OF the
attendants had hazy and indlstinct remembrance
Of seeing their faces blanch in the dock years ago.
when the judge who then sat In General sess ions
passed sentence upon them, but nothing more.
Eugene Reanwold, alias Reawneed, who was the
hrst our reporter visited jumped at the iron bars Of
the cell when his name was called, and glared
wildly out with bloodshot eyes. He spoke inco.
herently and could not be made to comprehend
what was required OF him. He was committed on
six, valued at nifty dollars, and on February a.
1s6o was sentenced to the State Prison for two years
and two months. Before the expiration OF his term
he went mad $50 1t ia saldl and was sent 10 the
Lunatic Asylum In Auburn.
Henry Wunder, alias wender, alias Engle next
visited, was pronounced Dangerous although a |
pair OF handouts held fast his hands. ON the 9th
OF June 1868 ne was charged at the Court OF Gene
raj Sessions, by Margaret schumacher, with arson
having set fire to dwelling house on Seventy-sec-
ond street. near Eleventh avenue, and on the 18th of
June was sentenced TO five years In the State Prison
After some time there he too went mad
James Murray, another OF the five, was committed |
on the 10th OF March. 1858, the complaint OF |
George Crowel who charged him with robbing MIN |
OF twenty dollars On the 24th day OF April ne was
sentenced at the Court OF General Sessions 10 ten
years In the state Prison. He also became ma
MAC.
Henry Wilson, who ran to the iron barred door az
II he intended TO jump through 1t when his name |
was called, had q short history. He stopped while
never TOOK his Wild burning eye OF The reporters
note book. At last he spoke, but trembingly and |
as II AFRAID TO say TOO much. He was committed at
she Court OF General Sessions the 18th OF De. |
cember, 1862, on the complaint OF William Moore |
who charged HIM with grand larceny, and on the
same day was sentenced TO Prison for the
term OF three years and eight months.
The Auburn people say he is mad. Perhaps he is
and perhaps he Is not. There can be doubt thai
he caught some OF the State Prison officials OUT
nde the Tomos and felt himself free be would be |
very mad.
AN OLD STORY REroLp
Ten years ago the name OF Felix Sanchez was as
familiar the public as is that of "Reddy tine black
SMITH at the present day. He was a dark muatto,
had piercing black eye. and black curls that hung
on etner sac OF MS race He did not look q very
desperate fellow, but then he was a runaway slave
and that circumstance made his dark skin and black
crimes thousand times darker. Some time pre-
vioss 10 May, 1852, he knew and loved a muatto |
girl In sullivan street. In this city, and after while
became jealous OF the attentions persons OF
murdered Hartman Curnan, his father-in-law, who
interfered 10 prevent him from wreaklng his ven
geance on the person suspected.
He escaped TO New Orleans and was there taken
and sold as slave. He told who he was and pre-
than to be sent back to slavery, was brought here
tined at the General Sessions on the 18th Of June,
1899, convicted and sentenced TO be hanged ON the
22d OF July OF the same year.
In the meantime stay or proceedings was OBJ
taineo, and the respite thus granted was employed
oy MN IN maturing plot which but for an acct |
dental circumstance would have resulted fatally to
the warden OF the prison. stephens. the wife pol
soner, was In the next cell TO him, and the |
two plotted TO murder the warden and |
effect their escape from prison. With the |
assistance OF outside parties two loaded revovers
ceeded In keeping about their persons some DAYS
One night when everything was prepared, carriages
even being waiting near the prison an atteniot |
was made 70 shoot the warden, but, owlngrto his I
luck luck az muon as 70 MS vigilance both OF the des
. sanchez abused Stephens for his cowardice ana |
tne other retallated. Sanchez fnally revealed the
about that time py the Legislature which &C.
Quilted Sanchez, aud as he could not again
assault with Intent to Kill one Of the prisoners and
was sentenced TO the State Prison for five years.
he was not long there before he also became insane
ID said and was transferred to the Lunatic |
Asylum at Auburn, where he has since been.
BRAND FROM THE BURNING.
Henry Smith, careworn, decrepit old man. who |
followed The movements OF the visitors with eager
eye and trembling lip, Stood with handouts on ms |
wrists, at the entrance to his cell door. He could
scarcely artlculate anything when nterrogated, so
great was his agitation The hope OF release, OF
which he so often dreamed, by night and
by day. In the long hours oil hiscaptvity again shot
up IRON his heart Of sorrow and tears that refused
fused his hollow CHEEKS. He was a convict of twelve
ana nal1 years standing. Originally committed
i0r burglary at No. 90 East Twenty third street. he
was uied, convicted and sentenced on the com. |
plant OF !ohn steeg on January 81 1861 to the State
Prison TOT Twelve years and six months and was |
only yesterday discharged Two years he spent IN |
the prison at sing sing and ten years in the uDatic
Asylum, while altogether he has been but twenty |
years In the country '
He Is German landscape painter: does not remem
Der why he committed burglary If he did commit
one; cant recouect why they put him IN the ASYLUM
but thinks II was for painting on the walls ue,n,
questioned what he thought Of the shower bath and
II II was ever administered 10 him. he answered
trembling and with fearful look that he i.vot Ar |
often for Punishment but that it was very cool and
nice.n His lisps trembed and he appeared
much agitated while he said this. The least |
movement on the part OF the visitors
seemed TO AFFECT him dreadfully He caught at the
wall Ior support wiln hand on the person nearest
TO him, and implored "for the mercy OF Godi not
to be sent back to Auburn. To every question asked
after he was assured that he need not be alarmed