Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-07-29
The Insanity Of Robert Dale Owen.

for eight years. This time he had spent
in the East in the pursuit Of literary labors
to which field he had retired after a some,
what successful political career. The
later years had been devoted to the inyes.
tigation of Spirltualism, in which he was
firm believer, and of his connection with
the medium Katie King the readers of the
Times are familiar When the pretenses
of that woman were exposed Robert Dale
Owen was much disappointed, but lost
none of his faith in the belief of 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 sensi.
tive nature, this Frustrated him, and for
the first time in his life he was seriously
sick, and his whole nervous system was
shocked. While convalescent he ac
cepted an invitation to deliver an
address before the Turf Association at
Rochester, about eight weeks ago. The effort
was a labored one, and his actions on the
racing 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 al.
ways accompanied him as his secretary
and attendant-the predatory chapters of
labored book entitled: "Theology.
Though Not Spiritualism." He had not
long pursued this before he gave lnmis
taxable signs of the mental malady, and
by the advice of friends was taken to the
Danville Water Cure, Livingston county,
New York, under the management of DR..
Jackson. He derived no benefit from his
sojourn there save restoration to physi-
Cal health, and was finally taken to his
home at New Harmony by his son, Col.
Julian Dale Owen. He rapidly grew
worse, until it was deemed best to send
him to the lunatc asylum at Indianapo-
lis He was adjudged insane by com
mission of Justices last Thursday after
noon, and yesterday morning, before day
break, was taken to Indianapolis by way
of GRANVILLE, III.
1t has been charged that he is crazy on
the subject of Spiritualism but this is de-
MED by his relatives. Their denial may
be well founded, for at no time during his
demency has he ever referred to the Katie
King trouble or to Spiritualism, and only
in long, extempore prayers, which he
makes occasionally, has he touched upon
religion. What occupies his mind mostly
is horse racing and the disposal of large
sums of money in charity AS for the
former, in his life he has never taken
more than ordinary interest in turf mat
tiers still, in his diseased minds eye, he
beholds fast horses contesting on the turf,
and he imagincs he owns the State of
Kentucky and that he utilizes that terri
tory for stock-raising. Again he i'm
AGNES himself wealthy aristocrat,
entitled to be called "my lord" and that
he has castles, fine equipages and
large amounts of money. His brain is also
busted in planning charities by which his
tellowmen may be benefited through his
imagined wealth, In New Harmony he
wandered about the streets talking inces-
sanity and with everyone he met He rec
ognized all his old acquaintance and
called them by name, but his incoherent
conversation betrayed dethroned reason.
At periods he would be in a state of terror
and tremble with fear of assassins, who he
imagined surrounded him, ready to plunge
daggers to his heart il he made step; thus
for hours he would remain in one chair
or one position. These fears almost mad
dened him, and in recovering from them
he was considered dangerous. These
periods were very wearing and exhausted
his physical strength, and are the cause Of
great alarm to his physicians and family.
Robert Dale Owen is now seventy-four
years old. He is not quite six feet tall,
and previous to his sickness was a we'll
preserved old gentleman, straight as
young man of twenty, and had distin-
guished appearance. His head is large,
the features prominent, and he has
beaming, benevolent face. The forehead
is very high and straight, large mouth,
with lips compressed firmly, and long,
straight chin. He has long nose, which
divides pair of blue, uncertain sort of
eyes. II" wears his hair long, and it with
his whiskers is as white as the driven
snow. His face was clean shaver, but
under his chin he wore aclosely-cut beard.
The venerable gentleman was always
model Of neatness, but during his insanity
he became careless, and his white hair and
beard were allowed to grow long and
tangled.
Robert Dale Owen is not rich; he was
once. When his father died the property
went to the sons and by the death of his
brothers, David Dale Owen and William
Owen, he succeeded to it. After the
death of these relatives he found himself
in the possession of an immense amount
of land, considerable of which he sofa
very cheap. Had he done like shrewd
business man, kept the land for number
of years, he light have been worth mlI-
ions. When his children became OF age,
Robert Dale Owen, like his father had
done to him, divided his property among
his children, consisting Of Col. Julian Dale
Owen, now aged about forty years, Ernest
Dale Owen, a lawyer of this place about
thirty years of age, and Miss Rosamunu
Owen, about twenty-five years OF age, tne
latter his attendant wherever he went. lie
retained fortune equal to $4,000 Tor
himself, but he has lost nearly all oil this
during the past few wears through persons