St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-22
TO SAVE HIS REASON.
AdOlph Grethen an Inmate in the
Rochester Asylum.

AdoIph Grethen an Inmate in the
Rochester Asylum.
There is good deal of surprise and
feeling over to the commitment to the
insane asylum at Rochester of Adolph
Grethen, a violinist of considerable
merit. When taken by the officer he
appeared cool and collected, and many
OF his friends, who are probably not
familiar with the circumstances, think
the proceeding uncaIled for, and will
investigate the matter thoroughly.
AdOlph Grethen is the son of Anton
Grethen, a prominent German and local
attorney. He has been Instructor on
the violin atthe Northwestern Conserva-
tory of Music, and has the name of be-
ing one of the most finished performers
on his favorite instrument in the North
west. He played with Max BendiX at
one time in the famous Philadelphia
orchestra, and also with the Boston
Symphony orchestra, and until about a
year ago was concert master of DanZ'S
orchestra. Although he was an ac-
complished performer, he appeared to
be subject to fits of mental alteration.
and his queer actions resulted in his
being discontinued In his position of
concert master by Mr.. Danz, the leader
of the orchestra.
He is the author of what is claimed to
be a queer system of musical notation,
and also the opera "Manitou," upon
which he has spent much time and
study. At one time he tried to organize
a musicians protective association in
Minneapolis, which never materialized.
About 5 o'clock Thursday he stepped
into the Office of Prof. G. II. Morse,
director of the university, and told him
that his family was about to send him
to the Rochester insane asylum, and
that they had examined him that morn
ing before Justice Abel, and that his
own cousin, DR.. Van der Horck, had
been one of the examining committee.
Prof. Morse was thunderstruck and
could hardly believe that MI. Gretchen
was not joking, but when convinced of
the truth of the statement he flew into
a rage, and insisted that another exam
ination should be held at once. which
he thinks will result in the immediate
release of his friend and colleague.
Prof. Morse thinks that he was nat
urally of a nervous temperament, which
was increased by his application to the
study of music. When they left the
office it is said that the officer in charge
stated that he did not think
he was crazy, but that he had
his papers and must do his duty.
Prof. Morse. however, insisted that
he should be examined by DR.. G. E.
Thayer, who stated that he could find
no traces of insanity, but afterWard
stated that his examination was nee
essarily hurried. DR.. w. A. Murray
and George f. Bauson, friends of Gre
then's, expressed their Indignation at
the proceedings, and said that they saw
no cause for hurrying him off to the
asylum.
A. 2. Abel, the commissioner before
whom Grethen was examined, said that
DIR. Kilbourne, before whom he was ex-
amined, was better able to judge than
he was, and that if mistake
had been made it could easily
be righted. He SAID that the
indications were that Grethen
was melancholy, that his hands were
clammy and cold, and that his chief
craze was his insistance; that he was
married to his cousin, Miss Zenzius. Of