The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1875-07-29
ROBERT DALE OVEN
The Causes and manifestations of Wis
Insanity.
Correspondence Chicago Times.

Although he always claimed New Har-
mony as his home, until his return in a
deranged state Of mind, last Sunday, Mr..
Owen had not been in his adopted home
for eight years. This time he had spent
III the east, in the pursuit Of literary Ia
bors, to which field he had retired after a
somewhat successful political career
The later years had been devoted to the
investigation Of Spiritualism, in which he
was a firm believer, and Of his
connection with the medium Katie
King the readers Of the Times are famil-
lar. Whea the prctenseS 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. lie 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 he accept
ed an invitation TO deliver an address be
fore the Turf Association at Roche Ster.
about eight weeks ago. The effort was
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 a his secretary and attend
ant---the PREDATORY chapters of a labored
book entitled : Theology, though Not
SpiritualiSm. lie had not long pursued
this before he gave unmstakabIe signs of
the mental malady, and by the advice of
friends was taken to the DanyiIie water
cure, Livingston county. y. Y, under the
management of DR.. jackson. He de-
rived no benefit from ms 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. He was ad-
judged insane by a commission Of JUS
tees, last Thursday afternoon, and yes
terday morning, before day break. was
taken to indianapolis by way of Gray
vile, H.
1t has been charged that he is crazy on
the subject of Spiritrlalism 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
l.
more than ordinary interest in turf
matters: still in his diseased minds eye,
he beh0ldS fast horses conteSting on the
turf and he magincs he owns the State
of Kentucky, and that he utilities that
territory for stock-raiSing. Again, he
imagines himself a wealthy ariStocrat, en-
titled 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
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. He recognized all his old ac-
GuaintanceS and called them BY name, but
MS ncoherent conversation betrayed a
dethroned reason. At periods he would
be IN state Of terror, and trcmble with
fear of asSasSins. who he imagined sur
rounded him. ready to plunge daggers to
his heart if he made a step, thus, FOR
hours he would remain in one chair or
one position. These fears almost mad
dened him, and IN recovering from them
ne wa considered dangerous These pc.
riods were very wearing and exhausted
his physical strength, and are the cansc
Of great alarm to his physicians and
family
HIS PERSONNEL.
Robert Dale Owen l. now "A wears old
lie Is not quite six feet tall. and previous
10 his sickness was wcll-preserved old
gentleman, straight as a young man OF
twenty. and had distinguished appear.
ance. His head IS large, the features
prominent, and ne has a beaming, benev-
olent face. The forehead is very
high and straight. large mouth,
with lips compressed firmly, and long
straight chm He has a long nose,