River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-07-30
ROBERT DALE OWEN.
The Causes and Manifestations of His
Insanity.
Correspondence Chicago Times. J


Although he always claimed New Har-
mony as his home, until his return in
deranged state Of mind, last Sunday, Mr..
Owen had not been in his adopted home
for eight years. This time he had spent
i'll the east, in the pursuit of literary la
bors, to which field he had retired after a
somewhat successful political career.
The later years had been devoted to the
investigation of Spirituallsm, in which he
was firm believer, and of his
connection with the medium Katie
King the readers of the Times are famil.
lar. WheE the pretenses Of that woman
were exposed, Robert Dale Owen was
much disappointed, but lost none of his
faith in the belief of a union between
Spirit Land and this earth. He believed
himself to have been badly treated by
the newspapers for his devotion to Katie
King, and being of very sensitive ma
ture, this Frustrated him, and for the
first time in his life he was seriously sick,
and his whole nervous system was
shocked. While convalescent be accept
ed an invitation to deliver an address be-
fore the Turf Association at Rochester,
about eight weeks ago. The effort was a
labored one, and his actions on the rae
ing grounds after it showed that he was
somewhat deranged. This continued
only few days, but while still
physically weak, he commenced
debating to his daughter
Miss Rosamund Owen, who always accom-
panied him as his secretary and attend
ant.--thc PREDATORY chapters of labored
No
Spiritualism. lie had not long pursued
this before he gave unmistakablc signs of
the mental malady, and by the advice of
friends was taken TO the Danvilc water
cure, Livingston county, N. Y, under the
management of DR.. jackson. lie de-
rived no benefit from his sojourn there,
save restoration to physical health, and
was finally taken to his home at New
Harmony, by his son, Col. Julien Dale
Owen. lie rapidly grew worse, until it
was deemed best to send him to the luna
tic asylum at indianapolis. lie was adj.
judged insane by commission of JUS
tees, last Thursday afternoon, and yes
terday morning, before daybrcak, was
taken TO indianapolis by way Of Gray
vile, ILL.,
1t has been charged that he is crazy on
the subject Of Spiritualism but this is
denied by his relatives. Their denial
may be well founded, for at no time dur.
ing his demency has he ever referred to
the Katie King trouble, or to Spiritual
ism, and only in long extempore prayers,
which he makes occasionally, has he
toachcd upon religion. What occupies
his mind mostly is horse racing and the
disposal of large sums Of money in char
ity. As for the former, in
his life he has never taken
more than ordinary interest in turf
matters; still in his diseased minds eye,
he beholds fast horses contestng on the
turf, and he imagines he owns the State
Of Kentucky, and that he utilities that
territory for stock.raising. Again, he
imagines himself wealthy arstOcrat, en-.
titled to be called my lord, - and that he
has castles, fine cquipages, and large
amounts of money. His brain is also
busted in planning charities by which his
fellow men may be benefited, through his
imagined wealth. In New Harmony he
wandered about the streets talking
necessarily and with every one he
met. lie recognized all his old ac-
quantanceS and called them by name, but
his incoherent conversation betrayed q
dethroncd reason. At periods he would
be in state o. terror, and tremble with
fear OF assassins, who he imagined sur
rounded him, ready to plunge daggers to
his heart If he made step; thus, for
hours he would remain in one chair or
ono position. These fears almost mad.
dened him, and in recovering from them
he was considered dangerous. These pc.
RODS were very wearing and exhausted
his physical strength. and are The cansc
Of great alarm to his physicians and
family.
MS PERSONNEL.
Robert Dale owen is now "A years old.
He is not quite six feet tall, and previous
TO his sickness was wcll.preserved old
gentleman, straight as young man Of
twenty, and had distinguished appear
ance. His head is large, the features
prominent, and he has d beaming, beney.
client face. The forehead is very
high and straight, large mouth,
with lips compressed firmly, and long
straight chin. lie has long nose,