The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-08-10
| Remarkable Domestic History.

A SANE MAN IMPRISONED NEARLY TWO
YEARS IN 4 STATE LUNATIC ASYLUM
AN AFFEcTIoNATE MoTnER-1N LAW.
From the st. Louis (Mo Dispatch. !
The following brief narrative,
stranger than fiction will be recogniz-
ed and located duly by the partici-
pants, OF those Immediately or are-
motley connected with the parties
concerned -
A few years since, in one of the
fashionable streets of the city of
Cleveland, Ohio, resided a family of
culture and refinement. The family
consisted of the husband, wife and
two young boys. The husband was
a successful and prosperous merchant.
He had pursued his calling for TWEEN
ty-two years in his native city, enjoy
ed the confidence and respect of his
neighbors, had accumulated hand
some property and built up a large
and lucrative trade. His private res
idence was elegant and its appoint
ments complete. Whatever "a cult
waited taste could devise or suggest,
either for convenience OF comfort,
was literally supplied. In convent
ent and serene enjoyment passed the
hours in this home circle. Each day
was festal, and the prandial banquet
was one of unstinted and unsullied
JOY. The father being man Of edu-
cation and "to the manner born,
delighted in association with the cul-
tivated and refined. Warm hearted
and affectionate, he cherished the
wife of his bosom with all the ardor
of fervent love, and in the society and
companionship of his children his
world of joy was complete. How I'M
forseen and mysterious is the future
In dark hour unexpectedly, the
shadows crept in and cast gloom
over the sunshine of life. The faith
er and husband was taken seriously
i'll, and, acting under the advice OF
his physician, absented himself from
business, and for short time found
in small village in Western New
York that quiet needful for the re-
, cuperation of impaired health.
While thus regaining physical vigor,
conspiracy was planned and per
fected by his mother-in-law, which
for wickedness in its purpose and
cunningness in conception and con.
. summation is almost without parallel
even in the annals of witchcraft. II
was no less than the entire destruc.
, ton of the family, in alternating the
! affections of his wife, despoiling him
, of his property and robbing him o.
, his children. All the Vaccinations
: of malice and malevolence were EN-
ployed in the accomplishment OF this
mischievous scheme.
9 With perjured witnesses and
, bribed court, an inquisition was hat
+ and the victim pronounced lunatlc
, Under the order of the court he wa
: : imprisoned for nearly two years il
= the State Lunatic Asylum. A com
2 mission was appointed to take thu
management of his business ant
!. property, which was so badly eNccut
: ed that out of an ample estate onl.
G $4,000 were realized. After endur
: ing close confinement for nearly tive
e years, this injured and abused mai
clandestinely escaped from his prisol
j cell, and fleeing to an Eastern State
5 was received with q warm and ear
- nest welcome by true friends. Fo
o several months he was solely depend
G ent for support upon the generosit
5. of acquaintance. So indignant wer
e his relatives at the treatment he ha
i experienced that they rallied aroun
: him and determined to compel rest
e tuition. He was furnished with mon
o ey, and, what was still better,
70 - strong moral support by some of tn
q ablest and best men of Connection
n Returning to Cleveland, he institute
proceedings to get possession OF
a remnant of his property. 10 avoi
expenses and protracted litigation
|, he agreed upon certain compromis
1t of his affairs, procured decree (
y divorce from his wife who had S
:. n grievously injured him, yet generous
!. ~ donated to her moiety OF his es
D. tate, and surrendered to her keepin
the younger child. A little MOI
d than a year since he came to this cit
lie with his elder son, to commend
at anew the battle of life. Here he hi
~ ~ prospered and is again very SIT
y, ~ cessful merchant. Though sad al
y, ID his past domestic experiences, he hf
not lost all faith in feminine affectio
g. and constancy, and has recently ell
in tered into new coniugal relation
he which it is hoped will be more ha
Re monious and satisfactory than tt
W former.
e.
NV DUTToN ONIONS.