, 1879-02-02
THE BLAIKIE CASE.


THE BLAIKIE CASE.
Dr. Edwin A. Kilbourne, Superintendent Of
the E1ein Insane Asylum, Makes Some
Important and Interesting Statements Re-
sarding the Young 11an B1aikie and Als
Friends.
TO the Edito, Of The Tribune
ELG1x, ILL.,, Jan. 31.-Some yindication Of my
position In regard to the Blaikie case seems to
be called for BY recent uttcrances OF those inter-
ested in the question Of the insanity Of George
A. Blaik1e; and especially by the structures
u Don MT conduct OF Mr.. Woodbridge, attorney
and Mr.. Andrew Blaikie, father, Of the alleged
insane person. accordingly request your can
did consideration Of the following points:
AIr. George Blaikie WAS admitted as q patient
here on Jan. Z, last. He vas accompanied by
bis father and By Mr: Woodbridge, the attorney
who had managed the second inquest into his
mental condition. It bad become we'll known
to NE. as correct item OF news, that suspicious
we're entertained By press and public in regard
to the validity OF the plea OF insanity N Blai,
kie's case, but no knowledge OF this Kind could
or did deter me from careful and unbiased con-
sideration OF the case. In conversation with Alr.
Woodbridge, Just before leaving the hospital,
spoke OF cases in which persons had been sent
here on 4 verdict Of insanity who were not ln-
zane and said that 1 had sent such per-
soDs away when - satisfied OF their
mental soundness. Mr. Woodbridge then
said: 'Do not send him {Blaikie)
make it appear like farce. and some Of the
best people in Chicago are interested in him"
I neither said nor implied to him that did
not think the young man insane. had no
means Of knowing as yet whether he was insane
or not. 1t is always our custom to obtain from
friends an account Of the previous history OF
a,y case admitted. When this was mentioned,
Mr, Woodbridge INN ediately stepped In and
said lie would relate the facts; aud be gave the
version Of tile case which he had already expa-
tiated upon in court.
The Young man was placed in the wards and
thorough study and Investigation OF his case
was undertaken. 4 careful examination of his
mental and physical state on the following
morning, conducted By myself, Drs. Dewey and
Crane, failed to bring out the first sign OF any
mental alienation, as did the observation OF
several succeeding days. then felt that the
only thing lett which it was necessary to have
in order to arrive at an intelligent and correct
Judgment of the case Was fuller knowledge OF
the antecedeDts and events IN the past which
might give color to the assertion that he had at
some period been insane, il not so now. it
was now seen that the history as
given by the attorney was incomplete,
and that an ex-parte one: while doubt had been
cast By subsequent developments on the inter-
probation given to some OF the facts By Mr..
Woodbridge I reason, therefore, to suppose
that prudential motives might stand in the way
OF any further attempts to more fully iuvcst-
gate the case; hence, Instead OF writing letter
to Mr.. Blaikfe, Sr., telegraphcd him, with
out giving the special reason Why wished to
see him, and upon his arrival made q most
thorough and searching inquiry into all facts
bearing upon the mental condition OF his
son. The process was tedious and unpleasant
one. explained this, and apologized for what
might seem like innertineuce, and the gentle
man expressed himself as fully understanding
the exigencics Of the case; and here let me SAY
that he exaggerates the time during which l
grossly 1nisstates when he asserts that have
given to the world records which assured him
should be kept sacred. Not line Of the state
ment lie nude to me las been given to tue
world; but the Version OF his sous case obtained
by the papers was the one given by the lawyer
verbatim ct itcratim, and Was the same he had
already made iu court.
Alter the conversation was finished, Mr..
Blaikic said to me, You have asked me good
many pointed questions; now ] should like 20
ask you one. Don't you think my son is in
sanc!'' l replied. "Mr. Blaikie, am by no
means certain that hc is. I will have him under
further observation and let you know"
There was nothing in the information I'M
parted or Mr. Blaise about his son which gave
any further support to the claim that he was
insane lie had been perhaps eccentric; he
had certainly impaired bis nervous forces by
excesscs OF various kinds, but mental defect
such as to render him irrcs pousiole, or anything
going to show that he had been Insane for Two
years. full to find.
1t should be remembered that insanity is q
disease OF the brain. aud has its attending symp-
toms, and without disease OF brain there can be
no insanity. "Disease being the basis, it con-
stitutes the only line Of demarkation between
moral deprayity and the deprarity Of insanity"
Putting all the facts together i'll Mr.. Blaikie's
history, and taking them in connection With his
mental and physical condition md symptoms Is
observed by ue, there were wanting the essen
tial clements Of disease and mental derange
lnent which 20 to make up any case OF insanity.
The demcanor and acts Of the gentleman could
he referred 10 plain and adequate
motives. It will not do to take isolated
facts or phenomena and interpret these as
marks Of insanity, apart from the whole con-
duct and circumstances Of The individual. BY
such a process almost any one could be made
out insane, for theie is no one who does nut at
times do odd, eccentric, and Inconsistent acts.
This it is which probably enables Blaik!e's
friends, on looking back, to see many evidences
of insanity which they never noticed u the
time
l observed the patient closely, however, for
some days longer, and then determined to place
him in possession OF his liberty saue man,
as have no right or authority to Keep any per-
son not insane in custody here but, on the COP
1rnry. would be subject to heavy fines and pen
alties for doing so. The patient, moreover, had
come to the institution precisely like the great
majority OF patients, on the ordinary verdict,
making the case more simple one to deal with
tnan that in which there is an acquittal On plea
Of insanity after a criminal indictment, and
1nittimus of court commits the patient to
the hospital. In the latter case the Super
intcndcnt is allowed very little discretion. the
upon him to detain the patieut "until he is
fully and rsTD11ue7t{!u restored.n
On Jan. e. after two weeks careful observa-
tion Of the case, wrote Mr.. Blaikic, Sr., that