The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-03
THE COURTS.
The Ambition Of Youth Distorted Into
Evidence Of Insanity.
CURIOUS LUNACY CASE.
A Story or Alleged Cruelty on
the High Seas.
A RELIC OF JAMES FISK, JR.
CURIOUS LUNACY CASE
A RELIC OF JAMES FISK, JR.

Gustave 0eisingor, youth eighteen years Of age
was before Judge Brady yesterday in Supreme Court
Chambers on habeas corpus, in petirion Tor his rc
lease by his father John Geisnger The facts disclosed
show how dangerous che facilities Afforded for i'm
prisoning sano persons in unatic asylums. The Gaze
had been referred by Judge Lawrence TO Mr. George
H. Foster TO take testimony, and IN his report sub
mitted 10 Judge Brady by Mr.. Charles Spencer, the
referee says:"rhe reports, with the certificates Of
DR.. johnson and Dr. Marcy, which Gustave Geisin-
ger was committed to the asylum at Wards Island,
were based on application OF the father OF Gustave
whose evidence does not establish any lunacy or in
sanity; that the memory Of the boy Is perfect his
manner ana conduct during the examination and
his answers to my inquiries were those OF an in
teliigent boy. The explanations OF his conduct
were natural and his narration OF events clear and
rational, and his statement what took place at
the asylum was conceded by the testimony OF DR..
Mcdonald to be true His plans tor mmencing bust.
ness were natural in high spirited boy stung to
action by the rcproaches OF his parents because no
had failed 10 get place In answer advertisement
and the evidence OF Mr. Boxer proves that his plans
were perfectly practical that he right Ia mis-
judgment TO the several 10 respect TO which
his action was cr,Icised. He seems 10 10 be as
sound IN nina as that OF any boy oil his years His
management OF his latners newly established saloon
svinces, perhaps rather The enthusiasts OF Tho boy
than Tue actual judgment of mature man OF expert
enca But do not think that the attempt
10 populaze place Of business at the start by the
Rppl ion the free lunch, scueme OF which me
boy was ev.ently convert. any evidence OF uuacy.
cannot agree IN DR.. McpJnaid's opiniun tnat tine
boys own eviuence gives the best evidence OF
his INSANITY aud that any expert who examined the
evidence would say 60. HIS feelings toward mis-
parents seem 10 DC proper aud his ia.ner aud sister
desire n,s return home. cannot regard his refusal
10 Acknowledge that he was insane any evidence
against hs SANITY, nor his unwiliingness to remain IN
any ins@no usy iuni. ine ooctors testimony US 10
threats, except as 10 threats 10 induce him
u discharge MIN, IS based on statements Of his
lather and Sister, when testimony is not conArmed
un the contrary, the facts, as testified by them,
40 not WARRANT tue conclusion wuicn the
from wnat he understood them 10 say him. In
CONCLUSION the lacts TO my mind, do not establish
The lunacy VI SAID Gustav Gsisinger; but ON tue
contrary, that has future welfare MI be promoted by
tue discharge IRON the u. iu anu his return 10 mis-
home and parents. l therefore respect. uily recon-
mend that tne said Gustave Gesinger DO uscusrged"
TO this report Is added the aaavts a.d testimony oil
the Witnesses examined MIR. Jonn GeisinRer states
that Ls IS Tue iatues Of Guslavs, ana taat ne was
seat on his Application ~ the asylum on The 10th Of
October be uaa seen MIN TWICE since his Connne-
ment THERE The last time ne nm last ues-
aay, aud ne Was not permitled W talk 10 him About
permitted 10 ,aik to him. GusLavc told Linn That
he ieit well auu that ne wanted " go nome; dd
see anything irra,ona about MN ne uad CON- palned
against him because lie woulu not stay al home and
wanted ~ ~ into Uusin, 81, and thought ue had
liked lucas and sent uim " the asylum TO be cured
Of mat Gustave was IN business ABOUT Two and
used 10 gvo Cisars away LIE gave away about naif
box Of cigars, Ior which witness chided him. and he
replied that II ne wanted 70 succeed In business ne
must treat his Customers
Tue afuaavi. aud testimony OF Gustavs states:-I am
eighteen years GA; was born ~ The shy OF New
my, corner OIL Br0ome aud E,zlveth streets; my
parents are Cathoc the school Is aProestanL
80 TO church; NY parents u,a not go 10 CHURCH
my iatber went INTO tue beer bu =iness at
No lo2 s %" street, Peek sp w. had bar
ltrea,ed lew OF Inc dock men; II was III the
log, about eight o'ciock aud was alone; my Iathsr
lntehued 10 Keep Restaurant ana Mas impatient De-
cause The restaurant was not ready; would nave
made pay, a.d pay VOL; the beer Was opened over
nigut aud would nave been throwu away; all 1 gave
away .as about dozen g,ass,s vi beer ana u uozen
CIGARS. wnen my iather kept billiard saloon
Bise.ker street gave away giaas OF beer now ana
then a1d he uid not OBJ ct; wont 10 Huter, No o
FIRST avenue, aud ordered Twelve boxes oi bottles
discount, ana SAID would come and them again
ABOUT II; oruered 2SS beer bottles with shoppers
had u place at NJ. OF Cola street, and ARRANGED
to have the second aoor vi store Tor bolL,iug
Hutes's drivers; he said II | would pay him SIS
week he would get me ten customers; IN hall bar
rel oi lager there Is i've ana hall 10 six boxes; those
Blk boxes would have br0ugnt 81 70 each hall bar
rel would cost -; bottles would cost $40 gross;
ordered ale from smith; Oruefed barrel oil OLD and
new ana Da,f n Uairei Of porier; intended In the
summer to bottle and denver II, rs they wanted IL;
tod tnis To Ar. Sulth sad IT was good Idca
aad | would make money at II; Ordered lager Of
Hoiender and Oruercd ~ 10 be sent to my lather's
pace; was arrested account of mis- bottng busI-
mes, ana wnion 1 proposed 10 30 in,o; the officer
me his warran.; wanted aisV 10 60 the hard
WIRE busincss nave been Ia u real estate othce.
DE- Mc4ouasu, tue superintendent oi the asylum, in
his adav states thut he convinced o. boy's
SAINT, nat The vvy sno" Ell That ny having exagger
aled IDEAS vi his own ability was impcr,nent ioM ard
his parenis and 10 strangers. Gustave mad several
times attempted TO escape from the asylum. He
sidered that Le was iasanc and that he danger
Gus 70 DO at la &c because be had threatened several
persons.
The afidavit OF Mr.. Evander W. Ramsay, a pnysi-
Clan IN placce In New York Tor thirty years residing
at No. 40 West Twenty street, states that
amiiar with lsanity, gnd has mate careful personal
examinaon O. the Uoy, aud gives his Opinion no
is Ne, ana mat The asylum is MOI proper pi ce
hn, ana tnat Ne ougnt 10 ue discharged returned
10 his parents.
Judge Brady asked the father oil GustAve why he
had sent Ills boy " Tue asy iu ana the auer replied
that II was because be wanted 10 brgn business With
out any money me Judge SAID tIa, II that were
goVu reason Tor seuuInk persons W luuatic
good many men III Wall street would w tnerc some
OIL Tue must SUCCESSFUL men haa begun business IN
thai way. JouD jacob Aslvr was one o, these. II
having an exaggerated idea "l tner owe aoilies Was
suihcicnt W Jusnya comma tment Ior Insauty, then
The iunatc asylu would b. clowdou iudeeu. he
should oroer he BOY 10 be discharged The boy then
leIt The court lth uls