Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-19
4 SENSATION EXPLODED.
THE WILD STORY OF A DISCHARGED
ASYLUM PATIENT.
Facts Concerning the Commitment of
w. e. Kraft in the Insane
Asylum at Napa.

James Mexican Arnold, recently dis
charged patient from the Napa Insane Asy-
lum, has been giving a San Francisco paper
an account OF his alleged experiences
while in that institution, which, if true,
might render necessary an inquiry by the
Legislature into the management of the
insane asylums of the State, and the meth
ods by which patients are committed there
to. His story is as follows
1 assure you, that it is an awful thing for
sane man to be housed with crowd of luna
tics. l have felt the experience once before.
and know just how to estimate it. During my
stay at Napa l had my daily exercise in the
yard assigned to "harmless'' cases. There had
opportunities to realize some of the horrible
pictures of Dante's Inferno" The unfortu-
mates with whom l came in daily contact bore
the unmistakable impress of despair. Many of
them had been confined for years, and not
few had spent the years of their youth and
manhood in the Enclosure. What little spirit
they once may have had oozed out of them,
and duller, deader, more apathetic lot of
human beings could not be imagined TO exist.
was not however, the only sane man in the
asylum. Soon after being admitted made the
acquaintance of young man of my age, named
W. <. KRAFT. He was committed from Saera-
mento on December 24th last. / saw him when
he came in He was a perfectly sane man and
a fine specimen of vigorous manhood He
could not understand why he hsd been ar
rested and examined and related the stupid
details of the Court trial with tone of prevail
ing surprise. His folks reside in Hamilton,
Ontario, but he had no relatives or friends in
this stare. He and were inseparable compan-
ions from the day we met, and as we were al
lowed as thoroughly safe and harmless cases,
10 take trips to the city of Napa unrestricted we
usually travelled together and commiserated
with each other.
The owners of restaurants where we fire.
quently took our meals would, in all probable
ity, be astonished to know that their quiet
patrons were inmates of lunatic asylum.
mean to have proceedings instituted to have
Kraft discharged some time when return East,
for unless somebody intercedes in his behalf
the chances are that the poor fellow, like many
another. will live and die where he is now.
This seems an extraordinary statement, but a
reference TO the cold business proposition in
volved in the asylum procedure may explain it
away. In the first place the institution was
built to receive about 500 patients. Nearly 500
persons are crowded into it now.
As matter of fact, the officials are not over
anxious to discharge anybody, for the reason
that they would lose the special appropriations
per capita made by the State. Not enough SYM
pathy can be extended to legitimate inmates of
an insane asylum; they are truly living dead.
But different species of sympathy is required
for a rational, reasonable being, who, by the
villainy or Ignorance of others, is condemned
to live his life in the horrible association of
madmen. In such position the strongest
mind and heartiest constitution are liable to
break under the strain, and they often do so
that we are faced with the fact that the insane
L a
So far as the case of young Kraft is con-
cerned Mr.. Arnold is decidedly "off,"
even though his other statements may be
correct. The facts in connection with the
commitment of Kraft are about as follows:
Instead of his having no relatives on this
coast to interest themselves in his behalf,
as stated, he has brother who holds
responsible position in a prominent bust
ness house in this city, and it was at his
request that the unfortunate young man
was examined and committed.
The testimony taken before Judge Arm
strong when W. E. Kraft was examined as
to his mental soundness ELECTED the fact
that be was a young man of superior at
tainments who had worked and studied
hard from boyhood. While quite young
he started in business, and applied himself
so asslduously thereto that he was stricken
with brain fever, which left his mind in
such condition that it was found necessary
to place him for a time in an asylum in
Ontario, Can. He was discharged, but
thereafter acted in an eccentric manner.
He is a man of magnificent physique,
pleasing address, fluent talker and in
general way as bright a person as one
would meet in frst-class mercantile circles
He left home without means, but man.
aged to enjoy ride to Minneapolis in a
Pullman car, and from there to this coast
he also travelled in first class style. He
had made the tour of California, also and
finally his eccentric conduct caused his
brother so much trouble and anxiety that
he found it necessary to take the step
which resulted in the young man being
sent to Napa. He was examined by Drs.
Cluness and @. B. Nichols, and discussed
with the physicians and the Court his con-
dition and the prospects of his recovery.
nh Tpfo fofn Ill hat h.
was not q lunatic, as distinguished from
mildly insane parsons, and that there was
reason to hope that, under proper treat
ment, he would be fully restored to mental
soundness.
Judge Armstrong read letter be had re-
ceived from the Superintendent of the asy-
lum in which Kraft had been confined,
giving the history of his case. He asked
Kraft if he did not think it would be bet
ter for him to go to an asylum, where he
could be cared for and free from any an
noyances, in the hope that his health
would be fully restored, and the young
man replied that he fully approved of that
course. Nobody regarded him as a danger
GUS person to be at large, and it was never
contemplated that he should be deprived
of his liberty.
If the statement of Arm old, that Kraft is
now entirely sane-which, however, must
be taken with some allowance on accoudt
of Arnold's own alleged unpleasant ex-
perience-it simply shows that Judge
Armstrong did wise and humane act in
sending him where he was so well cared
for as to render such a result possible. If
not entirely recovered, as Arnold claims,
he may be well on the road to recovery,
which might never have been otherwise
possible, as he was clearly in no condition
of mind to support himself and enjoy that
rest and freedom from anxiety so neces-
sary to preserve mental equilibrium in one
whose brain is at all affected
The physician who examined Kraft
stated to the Court that if he were with
relatives who could look after his wants,
and could prevail on him to seek perfect
quiet and repose, it would lot be necessary
to send him to an asylum. According to
the statement of Arnold, Kraft is allowed
perfect freedom to go where he pleases, and
simply has home at the Asylum, which
does not look as if he were the victim
either of conspiracy, or of hard-hearted
asylum superintendent.
SADLY WRECKED.