Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-25
THREE MONTHS IN AN ASYLUM
Lawyer Sllkman Sues His BrOther-in-
Law for Malicious Prosecution.
From the -Ne,0 York Times.

From the Ne,0 York Times.
In the Circuit Court at White Plains,
yesterday afternoon, before Justice
Charles f. Brown, the suit of James i.
Silkman against Darius G. Crosby tor
$25, 900 damages for malicious prosecution
and Imprisonment in the lunatic asylum
at Utica, was begun. Both the plaintiff
and defendant are lawyers. The former
resides in Yonkers and is a real estate
lawyer, having an Office at No. 81 Wall
street. this city, and the defendant is one
of the firm OF Lockwood IL Crosby, whose
Office is in the Bennett building, on Mas
sau street. On May 10, 1882, the plaintiff
came to this city as usual. attended TO
business, and returned to Honkers in the
afternoon. In the evening, shortly after
O'Clock, while be was attending re-
ligious meeting at tue house OF friend,
there came knock at the door, which
the lady Of the house, surprising the call
was for her, answered. She returned and
told Mr.. Silkman that he was wanted.
When Mr.. Silkman went 10 the door he
was placedunder arrest ard put Into a
hack, in which he was hastily conveyed
10 Write Plains. MIR. Silkman says in
the complaint that the officers who arrest
ed him refused to tell him what he was
charged with or 10 allow him to bid his
family goodbye, or get change Of cloth
ing. Az White Plains he was taken 70 q
hotel and watched all night by an officer,
and bright light WAS kept burning. The
next day he was visited by DR.. A. &.
Benedict,of YOnkers, who did not ask him
any questions. but after ''yiewing him"
went away again. J. fow hours later he
was taken to the railroad station and
then told that he was on his way 70 the
Utica asylum, having been adiudged a
lunatlc and too dangerous 10 be ut large.
lie then found out that he had been ar
rested on warrant issued by judge olla5
ID. Clifford, on the petitiOn'of his son, Theo-
dOre B. Silkman, and brOther-in-law, Ia
rius G.. Crosby, the latter Of whom claim
ed that he considered his life IN danger,
and instituted the proceedings tc protect
himself.
While IN the asylum Mr.. Silkman was
compelled TO do mental work and 20 out
IN the streets aud sweep them and pun
weeds out OF the cutters and rake over
and handle manure at the stables, all Of
which was very revolving 20 him. Al
though ne made many attempts he was
always unsuccessful, in communicating
with his relatives and friends outside 20
interest themselves IN his behalf, and TO
ret him out OF the asylum. Finally. after
he had been suffering all the fortunes 81
the asylum for three months, the Lana
League Of Yonkers. before which 1Ouy
he had delivered speeches, employed John
y. Brennan, OF that city, 70 institute ma
heas corpus proceedings In his behalf.
The matter was first taken before justice
Dykman. who dismissed the case. IL was
then taken 10 Poughkeepsie before jus
tice Barnard, who, when he learned the
facts, ordered MIR. Silkman's discharge,
stamping all the proceedings IA 0utra.
geous and Illegal. When he came oul
no was very much broken down IN health
and IN spirits and soon Afterwards com
menceu this suit.