The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-15
R0BT. W. CHAPMAN'S DEATH.
BRINGING THE BODY HOME FROM THE
ASYLUM AT W1RD'S ISLAND.
Its Alleged bruised Condition Three Different
stories Told OF the Origin OF the Wounds
Information Refused at the IsInnd.


Information Refused at the Island.
Robert Willis Chapman was prominent
politician In tho Fifteenth Ward q few years
ago. He was in business rs harness maker at
Blccckcr and Crosby streets and lived in one
OF row Of trim little houses in Elizabeth street
His homo was well furnished. and always open
to his friends. An interesting family surrounded
him. and his business was an ample source Of in
come In politics, also success attended him.
and he was elected n member Of the Common
Council In 1870 his decline began. He failed
and for several years altorward he had no rcgu-
lar employment, Then ex-Firc Comm issioncr
Van Colt. atried friend. appointed him harness
maker in the repair shop Of the Fire Depart
ment. Ills wife died. his children married. and
he lived alone in Eighth street.
About the middle Of juno last Mr.. Chapman
paid n visit to daughter. Mrs. Louisa T.
George. Of 2O7 East Eghty-ffh street. lie was
excited and restless. The Metropolitan Ec-
waited Railway seemed to be tho urpermost
topic in his mind. lie referred to it frequently
and finally invited Mrs. George to take II ride
ON 1t on the following Thursday.
On the afternoon named Mrs. George waited
dressed for the street for her father She
heard the door bell ring and went down to tho
front door. As she opened it her father rushed
past her. and ran up the stairway to the second
story. Mrs, George called out;
Papa. what is the matter with you 2" and he
stopped and turned
I'm very xix in my head" he said tako
care OF me. Send for the Doctor at once"
Mrs. George tried to quiet her father, but
could not His nervous excitement WIS not. ap-
Bsreqfdy to pe sHGdned MrS ge1rEe sent i2s
ncghborhood. and he prescribed some soda
tives. He suggested complete change OF air
and scene, as to 4 quiet nook in the country. but
Mrs. George said that she had not the means to
send her father out OF town.
She gave her father front bedroom. and at
tended him IpNgtptlN lut he did NOT Improve.
His mental malady developed steadily. Inter-
walls OF almost complete mental alienation began
To be frequent. He seemed TO have Fremont
ton OF the approach OF one Of these Miacke for
he invariably retired 10 his bedroom and closed
duccd to quit the room until the, attack had
spent its force On the 81 u July he was VIC
lent. and DR.. Richardson recommended that he
be sent To an asylum tor the insane.
As Mrs. George had no money 70 pay
the charges a, private asylum. il was
Asylum for the Insane on Wards Island. TO
defer the evil day OF his entrance there. Mrs.
George prevailed upon the Doctor 70 hayc her
NAMED until the ION ot July. He was then
trans ierred to the Wards Island asylum. lie
After his body was taken to his daughters
house on the 81 inst. 1t Is said terrible bruises
w wgG o l9n@ by Rs e FAMILY f4 nsI regns at M
| Chapman had been i'll treated The strong
feeling against the Officers Of the asylum that
was cnGendcrcd 10y this was communicated
| yesterday TO two wei -kuoWn polite clans. ono
| being an Alderman. The other. VINO lately held
| a high Office in the city Government. said that
| lie would request the Commissioners Of Chart
ties and Correction 10 inNeoilgaie Mr.. CHAP
!" Ny father" Mrs. George said last evening.
was. 10 my opinion. outrugcously III treated
| Ia ,ho Wards Island Asylum FIR the Insane;
| When my husband. my aunt. and first visited
| him alter ho was tak,n thcr". hc Wa, IN IN"
| quiet ward-that is, the ward where the qui"t
n pnirp's o are o kSnb him c2Gd a@' ia rIay y
baby, Two weeks later. h.wrter W. re.
ceiyed notice from pr. ,N.nonneH mat
| in water bed. because his body. We
| were told 10y tho nurse. was much bruised
| His right arm was wrapped IN oil silk and h"
said TINT IL was SO weak that he could NOT Use IT,
| Ills right eye WAS blackenel and his loit hand
| WAS swollen g. nearly double Its natural s2".
| Matter oozed from his right EAR. He seemed To-
| be only partly cons. iou- Of what was :. 'ng IN
about him. He fell asleep ,9"r2si"naIly while
| W. were talking to him. My husband asked
| him who hurt him; and he answered. Man
with brass buttons ! asked him the same
| question and got the same answer. All that We
| father had had n fight with one Of the patients,
| and had been beaten. lie was lying ia pool
| Of his own blood. IN one Of tho halls. when
TINS story Tisnt be probable. were t. not SO
hnstrnrd hy bodily injuries the assertion Is al
ways made that they were received from
another patient. In ny fathers ca77e. NOR;
| believe weretoll \ gentleman who called t. see
my father says that he was Informed TINT
| NY ldkUfl NAAdN h''A hf'lf.it ullA llit'l
tho keeper 10 save his own life, b"nqi
| him with some wooden vessel We
| have ais heard that tie hospital authorities
| give another version. II is that my father got
| into n political discussion In tho night with hs
| bedmatr. in the quiet ward. The latter. b"ln
| very powerful. beat my father Numerically be-
| fore the keeper could interfere.
Tho only one Of these stories that seems
| probable Co me Is that about the kevper us ng
| the wooden vessel upon my father When his
! body was brought home 10 Us the left side WAS
| covered with black and blue bruises. and tho
| left hand looked a. though II had been troddeu
| on There WAS also "A cut on thetop OF his head.
| There can Ice no justin alton for such cruel
| usage rs these MARKS showed Ny father was
n small. slight elderly man, who could be cas- y
| handled by a strong man. When he was AT all
violent Acre, few words from me would quiet
him.
"On the 81 oiSeptembcr We got n notice TO the
| effect that father was dead. We had had no IN
| timation that ha wac near death At the asy lum
| We We're informed that he died az about IL
| o'clock on the preceding evening. The doctors
| said, II l am not mistaken. that the cause OF
| death was paralysis 81 the brain. II T. n
| on the Sd Of July and that his body was brought
| back on the 80 OF this month. because Dr. Rich
| ardson said Mrs. George II your father goes
| to Wards Island he'll come back dead man
| within two months | allowed him 10 be taken
| there with heavy heart, but | could not dc
| otherwise. for my husband Is poor man."
| DR.. Washhurn. acting Medical Director Of the
asylum, said that the Commissioners had di-
| rooted him TO say nothing for publication about
| Mr.. Chapman's case. and that he must decline
| to answer any question in regard to IT,
| The Lincoln Club. Of which Mr. Chairman
| was n member II Is understood intend 10 in
| quire into the causes Of his death.