The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-04
Who Are Responsible for the Killing
OF Mr.. Dillebcrf

Who Are Responsible for the Killing
OF Mr.. DiIlebcrf
The shooting by RoMAINE DILLON Of Mr.
Dr.LEnEn opensup an interesting question
n 10 how far the relatives OF dangerous
mnatic are Justified In allow NJ him to 20
abroad. The time for the shutting up OF "a
murderous madman Is not after he has
killed q real or AN imaginary enemy, but
tho very moment he first exhibits homi-
ridal tendencies, or even a desire to bru-
tally attack those ne does not happen 20
IKE, or those who In any WY give him
hispieasure, or e,m TO his insane appre-
tension TO be hostile to hun.
The insane homcdal passion sometimes
man feets itself at once in a murdrrOu- as
rauit upon the person, whoever II may be.
who chances to bo present when 10 takes
domnion of the mentally diseased person.
For Instance, % few years ago ia New York
gentleman Of previous most aminblc
character, who had u charming wife aud
hmily, and who had never before III mi
tested IL tendency to do INJURY TO any one.
though by reason of misfortune In bu.i
pess he had been for several weeks d.
Spondent and morose. suddenly jumped
x
aud rushed at his wife with tha oprving
knife. She escaped from him, ana Ia was
Immediately taken To an insane a.ylun.
Suppose hu had been kept ~ hone and al
lowell his liberty because the next day he
showed no further desire 10 mnr1er hi-
wife, would the liberty allowed him have
been ju-tiAlblc1 Ou1ht not his relations
To have been mn ie nineuaOio TO the law
Tor permitting 10 lans"rou' "a p 'r4pn 10 20
hbroai-a man liable al am tina 10 al
,utburst OF homieila mlnH2
The case of ItoMNSH DILLON ia many
respects suggests that 10 which W. hlyo
referred Instc vi, howcye", Of -'n'iug
aim TO an asylum, his rclltiy,- took no
measures to secure hi coIdne nnnt. For
ave or six year4, we believe. he has been
known 10 his relatives rs = dlIgc 'ous lu-
natic. We are told that he has + pa-ltadly
Threatened 10 shoot gentlemen who di-a-
kreel with HIM 90 - plrlOs cOnvcrsai ON
oil "a trivial topic. II has entered his rela-
hves houses by eiiiabiug over the balcony
milling, ana rushe / Into their DRAWN
rooms with all the signs Of in- .niiy. lie
has for years been an object ut tcrro 10
the ladic' OF their a. miles, who have hid
aen at his approach. Everyb DIV who was
well acquainted with him perfectly I'M
derstood his condition, and though they
might not have anticipated personal inj ny
FROM him, they were well aware thai h"
was too dangerous a person to be- allowed
loose.
Yet what did his relatives dor They
took pains to keep him ont OF their own
. a..
they used all manner OF devices to get him
out OF door again. II seems never To h we
occurred to IA m thar the mau from wnom
they them Give, anticipated harm, miRit
prove dangerous To the public a. we'll
All the thou-ht they had Wa 10 avoid in
Jury to Ia m-clvc~. 50 this RlM,iNE DU-
Ion was suffered to keep possession of II
handsome property, and 10 hir' elegant
rooms in "A public hotel. and no check Of
any kind was put upon hun. lis cccen-
tricity was wen known 10 the hotel keeper,
who must have had reason 10 know that
his rich LOGGER was a man Of un.Dlnd
mind, and was just about IA M to
remain in hotel ~ n d ntsl tiger.
Yet, though he had repeatedly in
suited guess and threatened them with
V1pltutti ne WAS u'A lulu"l bll u
the house anl handed over TO the police.
We hold that the family and relations Of
RoMAINE DuLoN are guilty OF an indsrre-
ton which approaches crime in turning
loose this animated package Of dynamite
upon the public, when they were them
selves In terror Of his outhursts. They
were abundantly able TO provide him with
sprivate keeper and private house Of Sc
elusion, II their sensibilitles were 50 deli
cate that they objected 10 putting hun INTO
public asylum. las own means were
ample for this Yet they never had hun
declared unatc, nor In any way inter
iered with him. except to keep him out Of
their own houses, 50 far rs they could
without angerng him too much. They
deserve the severest public censurr, and
OH the facts of the case, a. they are report
Cd to us, we say that DILLON should be
now where he ought to have been years
ago, and that is In an insane asylum; while
his relations ought 10 be held responsible
ior the death of Mr.. DILLEBER.