News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-09-14
SHUT UP In A MADHOUSE.
MIR. Silkman's Story Of His Expert
ence in the Utica Asylum.

MIR. Silkmans Story Of His Expert
ence in the Utica Asylum.
The examination into the case of Mr..
James B. Silkman, of Yonkers, N. Y,
alleged to be insane, was concluded by
the dismissal of Mr.. Silkman from Gus
tody. In summing up the case Judge
Barnard said that not only was the pris-
oner perfectly sane, but that in his be-
lief he was so at the time of his COM
initial as a lunatic. Mr.. Sllkman is a
lawyer and has considerable real estate
practice in New York. While attending
Spiritualistic seance some four months
ago he was arrested and taken to the
Utica Asylum on warrant from Judge
Dykeman, based upon the certificates
were instigated by the br6tner In
Mr.. Silkman, Mr.. Darius G. Crosby, of
New York, and his clerk, Mr.. Silkman's
son, young man of twenty-three.
Three of the experts summoned pro-
nounced him perfectly sane, including
DR.. Kellogg, of the Poughkeepsie
Asylum, the fourth expert taking the
opposite view. The testimony of large
number of witnesses went to show that,
though eccentric, he neither was nor
ever had been insane. He was con-
sidered to be of nervous and over
enthusiastic temperament.
The son appears to be somewhat under
the influence of Mr.. Crosby, the brother
in-law, who, it is said, desired to end
the contest over certain piece of prop
erty by this summary method of dis
posing of the other claimant. As soon
as the decision in his favor was reached
Mr.. Silkman returned to Yonkers,
where he is staying with DIR. r. J.
Southworth.
A reporter called upon Mr.. Silkman
and was received very graciously by
kindly looking old gentleman-tall and
slim, with high forehead, gray hair and
whiskers, and his pockets bulged out
with legal documents. He talked very
rapidly, in a somewhat nervous manner,
not altogether unnatural for man but
Just escaped from lunatic asylum. He
did not, h however, betray any symptoms
of insanity.
"WelI," said Mr.. Silknan, smiling
grimly and extending his feet repose-
fully on a chair, 81 got away from
them, but it was close call. Why, do
you know really thought at one time
during the examination that they would
send me back to die in that complete
hell with all the modern improvements
that they call the Utica Asylum. You
see, my brother-in law, Crosby, and I
had it pretty hot about this property
and we both did what we could to annoy
each other. I told him L was going to
publish certain papers showing him up.
That was too much for Crosby, so he
| got my son (his clerk) to swear out q
warrant to arrest me on the charge OF
threatened assault-confounded lie 1T
was, too. Then they put me IN the
asylum; rifed my safe in New York and
stole the papers I spoke Of
"The evidence in the examination
seems to show that your arrest was
rather informal ?" said the reporter.
"sInformaP was no word for it" re-
piled Mr.. Silkman. "Why, the Sheriff
and his deputy arrested me and rushed
mo off to White Plains without my sup
per, on a warrant based upon the GER
tificates of two doctors-one Of whom,
DR.. Balch, had not seen me at all, and
the other, DR.. Benedict, only for five
minutes. They declined to let me see
the County Judge Clifford who signed
the warrants without seeing me, and re-
fused to let me consult lawyer. On
the way to Utica the next night they
made me drink whisky to put me tc
sleep. At the asylum was received by
DIR. Jocelyn, who locked me up.
"Well, you may talk of hell, but that
Utica Asylum is just hell on earth. And
as for that big black spider DR.. Gray.
who manages the concern, am going
for him in the next Legislature. He
actually wanted the court to adjourn sc
that he could go off for a bender to New
port. The fare he gave me was like
poorhouse commons. I demonstrated
and offered to pay for better food, but
was refused, though I paid Sc weei
for my board. A patient told me thai
if would not eat they would put the
food in my mouth and force it down al
they do chickens in Connecticut for the
Christmas market. was shown sor
of screw and was told that its use was
to force open the teeth of refractory pa
tients. During the first part of my stay
I was obliged to hoe manure in the COW
yard and wheel it off. My letters were
not sent to their addresses, but to my
enemies who put me in the asylum.
"After the habeas corpus was
served" Mr.. Silkman continued, '-
went to the Poughkeepsie Asylum for
week before my examination. If the
other was hell this was heavenly. L
any one has q mother or brother ane
can afford the luxury let them sent
them to the Poughkeepsie Asylum"
In reply to letter concerning hi
alleged violence and profanity, MI
| Silkman said. "That's another lie.
: never took the Lords name in vain Il
my life"