Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-02-01
AMONG MADMEN.
Horrible Story of the Incarceration of
Sane Man in n Lunatic Asy lum.

New York, January els it pos
sible in this free republic, in the latter
part of the nineteenth century, for n
man with IMMUNITY to cause another
who may be obnoxious to him, but
who is of perfectly sound mind, to be
incarceruted in an insane asylum and
subjected to indignities that even lu-
naCics should be protected against ?n
This inquiry WAS addressed to re-
porter by n well-known lawyer. The
man of whom the lawyer spoke, James
b. Silkman, who is now over sixty
wears of age, has lived for over twenty
years in Yonkers. His family consists
OF his wife and four children, one son
aud three daughters. Mrs. Silkman
died over five years ago and bequeath-
ed to her children house and lots val
ued at So, 900.
The husband was appointed trustee
of the estate, in which he had n life
interest. The brother of Mrs Silk
man, Darius Crosby, is "A wealthy law
yer of this city and member of the
iirm of Lockwood Il Crosby. Mr..
Silkman's son, Theodore H, has for
some years been employed in the
Office of Lockwood IL Crosby. He is
now about twenty-siX years old
Ii is alleged that the son, instigated
by his uncle, began TO make alterations
| in the house, which Mrs SillSman had
bequeathed her children, without con-
sulting his father and in opposition TO
the fathers wishes. Mr.. Silknian pro-
tested, u quarrel ensued with the son
aud Crosby, who ordered the father to
leave the premises. a threat made by
| Silkmal ITO expose certain discrepan-
Giles In certain marriages and hirthsu
In Mr. Crosby's family, it is asserted
provoked Mr.. Crosby's resentment.
A few evenings afterward, May 10,
1882, SillSman was attending lecture
In the house of Everett Gale Mt fonk-
ers, when the bell rang. Silkman. GO
ing to the door was confronted by
three officers who arrest d him, placed
him In carriage and conveyed him
to While Plains. 1t IL charged that
on the next day. without being taken
before Judge Clifford, who had issued
the warrant for his arrest, he was ta-
ken 10 Utica and placed In the state
lunatic asylum.
| There he was detained until August
23, 1852, when Judge Barnes discharg-
ed him on The ground that he was not
insane or of unsOund mind, and his re-
straint or imprisonment was unlaw itIl.
The papers have just been served in a
suit brought In the supreme court In
Westminster county by James Il. Silk
man against Darius q. Crosby, in
which the latter IL charged with lnsti-
eating SilknIan's Incarceration in the
lunatic asylum, and damages of $25,-
600 claimed.
On entering the asylum he was
locked up alone In a small cell or bed
room at s p. M, with no light, sepa-
rated from all bodily comforts AID
| friends. and no opportunity given him
10 communicate with any person in
his interest,". While in the mad. house
he was compelled TO associate with
ordinary poor house patients aud those
who were really insane, TO listen 10 oh.
scene language, 10 endure the priva-
ton OF all decent arrangements, 10 eat
poor'house fare, such ms wretched but
Ter. soggy potatoes and Long Island
coiiee, under threats of resort TO the
mouth-screw and stomach-tube In case
OF revolt.
he charges that letter which he
Wrote to an intimate friend, contain-
| Ing Information concerning Important
papers, was sent by the asylum officials
10 Crosby, and that tue papers men.
toned were taken from the safe of hi,
office and used in an Effort to prevent
has release alter being altered for this
purpose. Mr.. Silkman Is one of the
managers of the society for promoting
the condition Of the insane.