New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-27
is B. Fl. VAN AUKEN INSANEf Z

SEEKING HIS RELEASE FROM AN ASYLUM.
AN APPLICATION MADE TO THE BROOKLYN COURTS
WHAT A GENTLEMAN FAMILIAR WITH TIE
CASE SAYS.
Barrett II. Van Auken. for many years a whole
sale fruit merchant in Washington-st., this city,
has been under confinement at DIR. Barstow's
private Iunatc asylum at Flushing L. L. since
1874. He was placed there at the instance of his
wife. who is o daughter Of Commodore c. X Garri-
son, the commitment being approved by Justice
D0nohue upon the certificates of two physicians.
He had been confined there once before previous to
his marriage with Miss Garrison. Mr.. Van Aukcn
was widower when he married
Miss Garrison, but she was ignorant Of
the fact Of his first commitment It
was several years after the marriage that his con-
dition became such as to compel his being placed
under Dr. Barstow's care An effort is now being
made, apparently without the approval of any rel
atives interested to have him released.
In the Kings County Supreme Court, before JUS
tice Cullen, petition for the release of Mr.. Van
Auken was presented yesterday by ex-Judge Leon
ard, one of the counsel connected with the Henry
Prouse Cooper case IN behalf of that eccentric
tailor. The proceedings are taken upon a writ Of
h.beas corpus. When the counsel for DIR. Barstow
objected to the petition on the ground that no ono
nearly connected with the alleged lunatic was .
party to 1t, Judge Cullen decided that any ono
could petition the Court If he had proper
grounds to believe that a person was I'M
lawfully detained in q mnatic asylum. Mr..
Leonard said that while he was engaged In another
lunacy case, which took him to DIR. Barstow's
asylum he met Mr. Van Auken After having held
a long conversation with the exmerchant he felt
satisfied that he perfectly sane and ought to be
released. The counsel for DIR. Barstow said that
the production of the patient in court would put
his life in jeopardy. He charged inter-
csted motives against the persons who
were moving in the matter but sug-
gested that a commission be appointed to examine
into the Justice Cullen reserved his decision.
NO DOUBT OF Mr.. VAN AUKEN's INSANITY
Mr.. Van Auken is about si1ty-six years old. Hs
formerly resided at No. 42l Ffth-ave. at the cor
ner OF Thirty-eighth-st, where his wife and chill
dren still live He has q boy about nineteen years
old and two daughters under fourteen. He
had children by his first wife also. Mrs. Van
Auken is more than ten years his junior.
prominent resident of the city, who is familiar with
the facts in the case, said last evening:
" 1t is perfectly proper that the writ of habeaa
corpus should be availed of whenever there are
doubts TO whether person Is improperly de-
prlved of his liberty. SO far as know, Mr. Van
Aukens family have not the slightest desire to keep
him under confinement if lie is sane
There is no motive whatever for their
wishing him to be unjustly confined But there is
not the least doubt of his insanity. Commodore Gar
rison's daughter married him In 1859. AT the tlmo
she was not aware that he had been III q strait
jacket year previous for about SIX months. 1t
insanity became pronounced; dc was always
irritable aud nervous being eiaMt az times
1859 1853 he q attempted to commit sucide BY cutting
his throat IN his office in Westinghouse From this
act it was evident that his condition serIons,
and his wife went with him 70 Europe III the hope
that he wond be benefited by foreign treatment.
They travelled for several years During that
time he twice attempted his wifes life On occx
posed TO drown her. She assented to this but sug-
gested that they approach close to the brink OF tho
water that he night have no trouble in pushing
her in When they got close TO Tue canal: 9thes Ts
insane fancy. On another occasion he wanted 20
SET fire to her clothes In order to how she would
sicans while lie abroad, but his condition fall
ing 10 improve, when he and wife returned hOma
in 1874, he was placed In the asylum.
VISITED OFTEN BY HIS WIFE AND FAMILY
"Since Mr. Van Auken has been at Dr. BarstOw's
place he has received all possible attention. Every
desire of his was gratiied in the way of comfort
and luxury. He was visited at frequent intervals
by his wife and by his family and relatives. He has
sister and brother-in-law in this city, the latter
Hudson.st. They have had every opportunity
during the last nine years for finding ont whether
or not Mr. Van Auken was insane. The visits or
his family were continued until his language be-
cae too offensiye and blasphemous for respectable
people TO endure. The man was very religious
while he was insane and his mania takes the form OF
on religious subjects. There is no
doubt In his mind that lie Is the Creator OF tho
Universe but he is in doubt as to which Person or
the Trinity he is 1t very often is the case where
mans mind has been under any restraint that II his
mental balance is disturbed his thoughts take an
extreme range in the opposite direction. those who
have talked with Mr.. Van Auken say that his
language now is intentionally immoral"
THE ACTION NOT AT HIS FAMILYs REQUEST
Mr.. Van Auken was in business for many yearA
II is not thought, however. that he amassed any
large fortune HIS business affairs were closed up
after his attempt at suicide in 1853, when it was
decided that he should be taken TO Europe. 1t is
stated by friend of the family that tho
first intimation Mrs. Van Auken received OF
the proceedings taken in the Brooklyn COURT
was about week ago. when she received notice OF
the motion for the writ of habeas corpus. More
than six months ago Mr. Leonard went to her and
mentioned that he had seen her husband, speaking
of bis improved condition. No special sig
nincance was actached by her to the in
cdent at the time, because her friends say
there has never been the least dlspoei-
tion to keep Mr.. Van Auken deprived OF his liberty
an hour longer than was necessary.
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