McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-05-21
UPS And DOWNS OF SPECTATORS.
The Case OF seney. the New York EK-
Bans neutrality-suspicious. Who he
come Insane.

Shc case OF 6eneys tne new xork XIX.
Bans neutrality-suspicious. Who he
come Insane.
New York Letter in Utica Herald
What ali instance OF the ups and
downs of life is found in George |.
Seney. 1t is hardly a year since the
press was eloquent in his praise. He
had built churches, assisted colleges
and endowed hospitable. Hence his
fame as benefactor had extended from
America to foreign lands. 1t now APP
pears, however, that his greatest work
was the destruction of the Metropolitan
bank, CT which he was President.
this bank had capital of $3,000,-
600 and the shares were at one
time quoted at GO per cent. above
par. Now, however, the Metropolitan
has gone out of existence-ruinedb by the
man that should have been its guardian.
1t is really case of robbery, for he was
not placed at the head of that bank for
the purpose of investing its funds in
paper railroads. Seney's splendid house
is in the hands of his creditors. His
picture gallery is to be offered at
auction in few weeks, and his
mode of life at $4,000 a year is
changed to poor folks scrimpage.
Such is the condition of the man who
last year was one of the kings of fl
nance.
Seney could not content himself with
the mere routine of banking. His
ambition craved distinction. He want
ed to be railroad king, and here
he is ruined man, spreading a wide
train of ruin for others. The worst
feature in this general wreck is the loss
of character. The former philanthropist
is now charged with swindIing. This,
in fact, is the basis of the action
brought against him by John S. Stan.
ton in the Brookly court. How strange
it seems that this disclosure is to be
made in that very city which once con-
sidered him one of its highest honors.
Stanton is o holder of Ohio Railroad
bonds River Division) which were
issued by the road to Seney and his as
sociates. The amount was $4,000, 900,
and the object was the finishing of the
track, including bridge, which would
give an important outlet. The plaintiff
now intends to prove that Seney, instead
of using these bonds for the above pur-
pose, turned them to private benefit.
He and his bank were heavily loaded
with other bonds of the same road, and,
in order to shove them off on the I'M
public, he paid the interest
on them, and thus kept up quotations
until they had unloaded as far as posi-
bic. The special issue of $4,000, 900 |
was thus absorbed, and the improve
ments for which they were intended are
Hence the plaintiff brings
action, and if a verdict be obtained |
against Seney there is enough fraud to
render him liable to Imprisonment.
William J. Hutchinson, the once Sue
cessful stock Spectator, Is now insane,
and it would not be surprising If Seney
should reach the same unfortunate con-
lition. General Eagan has Just died at
the Wards Island Asylum, and so has
DR.. Shine, late surgeon of the elevated
roads. Wards Asylum is the "Bedlam"
Of this city, and it may be added that
This term, so often applied to lunatic
asylum, is merely corruption of Beth
chem, which was the name of the old
EST establishment of the kind in Eng
and. Insanity is rapidly increasing,
md the Wards Island institution must
'oon be enlarged. The ratio in this coun-
ry is one in $50, while IN England it is
me in 1888. The total number of luna
les in Europe and America is 1S9, 402,
If whom 14U, 007 are confined in asy-
ums. What an immense number to be
by charity! OF this number,
england contains 30,261 and the
United States 1882. Scotland con-
aims 4,571, while poverty stricken Ire
and, whose population is not double
hat of Scotland, is burdened with 10. 1914
unatics. The earliest medical writer on
his subject was Hippocrates, who lived
20 BIC. Lunatic asylums, however, are
comparatively modern. There are sew
nty-four lunatic asylums in the United
states, and to show how this disease
apldly follows civilization, it MAY be
dded that institutions of this kind have
zen required in Oregon and Washing
on territory. The number of pauper
inatics in this city is 1,620, of whom
wo- thirds are females. There is an asy-
lm for each sex, and both institutions
re crowded to an unwholesome and
nsuitable degree. The increase of in
and other vices indeed /
eads to degree of mental malady G
-hich may awaken us to the danger !;
IL