St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-11
SANE IN AN ASYLUM.
The Remarkable Experiences of
Prominent Journalist OF Chi

III
Prominent Journalist Of Chi
cage.
A suit for decree of divorce, brought
by Joel Henry Wells, has revived inter
est in his remarkable story. Although
several years have elapsed since his
final trial on charge Of insanity, the
case before Judge Moran is still remem-
bered as one of the Strangest and most
puZZling that ever occupied the atten
ton of court, SAYS the Chicago News.
Mr.. Wells is one of Chieago's oldest
citizens. He has been journalist for
over thirty years; he is cOurtly gentle
man, respected and honOred by all who
know him. His story, which he told at
length to reporter to-day, reads like
novel. Mr.. Wells says that in 1878 for
various reasons he decided to get di-
yOrce from his wife.
She told him if he commenced pro-
ceedings she and her friends would find
means of effectually preventing their
contamination. He paid no attention to
the threats, and was surprised one day
to be arrested at his home on a charge
of insanity. The certificate was issued
had ever seen. On the trial, the jury
found him~''not insane" but Judge
LOOmiS set the verdict aside. After
much pleading Wells induced the attor-
ney for the prosecution to Withdraw the
the case, and was for a time free, He
was arrested in a few days, however,
and no one was allowed to see him, all
money and papers being taken from
him. This time Wells was pronounced
hopelessly insane on the testimony of a
physician, who swore that he was Wells
family doctor, although he never had
been. Other witnesses testified that
the defendant had no business or prop
erty. Wells had some time before his
erty to his children and making his
wife eXeeutriX. He had also insured
his life for $4,000 in his wife's favor.
and says he learned at the time he was
found insane that he had been Informed
by physicians that he could not live six
months in an insane asylum. Mr..
Wells remained but short time at the
Jefferson asylum, and was then trans
ferred to EIgin. He described his life
there in detail, and the indignities and
cruel treatment to which he was sub
jected by the superintendent and at
PENDANTS, all of whom were actively en-
listed in his wife's behalf. He also
tells what farce the investigation
of the legislative committee is. Mr..
Wells says If there is any treatment at
EIgin with view to curing the insane
he does not know what it is.
After remaining IN the asylum until
he could stand it no longer, Mr.. Welles
made his escape from window one
night, making rope OF his bedcl0thes.
He secured money and remained out of
Illinois for seven months, then came to
Chicago to get, it possible, some OF his
personal property He found much of
it. but could not get it. as he had no
civil rights in the eyes of the law. He
went to Elgin to get proper discharge
from Supt. KiIbourpe, but the latter re-
fused it, at the same time refusing
Wells permission to re-enter the asy-
Ium.
Then Wells announced his intention
to lecture OH the management of the aSy-
lum. This caused the asylum people to
have him arrested. His attorneys got
but writ of habeaS corpus, and at the
trial the asylum superintendent brought
in numerous witnesses to prove that
Wells was insane. The latter saw he
was beaten, and escaped to Indianap-
oils. He afterward had himself ex-
amined by experts i'll Canada and this
country, all pronouncing him perfectly
sane. Then he returned to Chicago and
has since remained here, being con-
nected with the official organ of the
board of trade. His present condition
is a singular one. Hes is no one. In
other words, he is an insane pauper in
the eyes of the law. His freedom now
lies in the hands of the superintendent
of the Elgin Insane asylum. The issue
of his divorce case will be closely
watched by his friends. They are
anxious to see his rights recognized by
the law