Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1890-08-15
INSANE MILLlONAIRES.
SPECULATION ON WALL STREET
HAS TURNED THEIR BRAINS.

VINO nave zone TO ASy iums-A Lunatlc
Broker Operates Among Other Patients.
Enough Wall street men to fill an insane
asylum have gone crazy because of the ter
dble strain upon them," said veteran
stock broker to a reporter yesterday
A retrospect of a few years showed that
the remark was true. More than in any
other kind of business the slaves of specu-
1ation are liable to lose their reason.
Attention was called to the subject by
the case of Broker Dedrick II. Middendorf,
who was found wandering in the streets Of
this city few days ago.
Middendorf was a speculator in small
way, and when he made a few thousand
dollars by the rise in sugar trust certifi-
Gates it is supposed his good luck proved
too much for him.
When found he had s., 900 in his pockets.
He was dangerously insane, and bit and
struck the officers who removed him to
Bellevue hospital, where he now is.
A few years ago William Van Setback
was one of the best known and most pop
ular members of the New York Stock Ex-
change He was daring Spectator, who
had acquired large fortune in few years.
Mr.. Van Schaick lived in Orange, n. J.
One evening he went home wild eyed and
crying His wife was shocked at his ap-
pearance.
1--WE are paupers!' he cried. "Al that 1
had has been lost in Wall streetW
His wife was unnerved at her husbands
words and believed them true. Next day
Van Schaick's safe was opened by his rela-
,tives, and in it were found 100000 in gov
eminent bonds. At the time his mind gave
way he was worth close on to $500, 900, but
he imagined that he was pauper.
Mr.. Van Schaick was put away in a re-
treat. 1t is said that he has almost recov-
cred, and may put in an appearance in Wall
street again in short time.
''GET READY TO DIE"
The case of Charles Prentiss is still talk
ed of by members of the Stock Exchange,
although it occurred several years ago.
Pfentiss was a shrewd and successful trad
er, who had made fortune by constant
application to the business of speculation.
One day he rushed upon the floor of the
Stock Exchange and mounted the rostrum
"You have made your last eighth" he
shouted to his astonished fellow brokers'
SECT ready to die, for the Lord is about to
visit you all with destruction"
Mr.. Prentiss was taken to his home in
New Jersey by his family and has drifted
out of sight. 1t is believed that he never
recovered from his sudden attack of in
sanity.
A memorable case was that of qashing,
handsome Charlie Johnes. He was the
life of the board, always ready with jest
and story and the leader in all sorts of fun.
He was young man, too, and no one in
the entire city seemed to have brighter
prospect before him. JoE.,os was the rcc-
ognized leader of fashion Oh the Stock Elk
change, and his mind was particularly
bright and brilliant.
All at once he collapsed because of a
constant strain, and became mere child.
His plying friends had him removed to a
private hospital, where he still remains
1t Is said that he will never recover his
reason. Occasionally Johnes imagines that
he is again figure upon the floor of the
Stock Exchange.
''Ill sell 1000 sugar trust at 9O'' he
shouts, while he jumps around and Gre
-ates CONSERVATION among the other pa
tients by his agile antics.
Jchnes had fortune of 500, 900 when he
became insane He had started few years
previously as clerk for Charles F. Woeris-
hotter, the most daring and successful bear
operator that Wall street has ever had.
Jay Gould's first partner, Charles M.
Leupp, lost fortune in Wall street. He
took the profits from his tannery business
and sunk them in stock speculation.
Then he became insane, and cut his throat
while lying in a bath tub.
Another acquaintance of Jay Gould is
now confined in an asylum in this state.
This is "Col." Wells, who was for years
-anoted speculator. He lost his fortune, and
conceived the idea that his i'll luck was due
tO ho nofi Of To- wit
whom he had some business dealings
Wells became insane upon the subject,
and kept sending letters to Mr.. Gould
threatening the life of the little magnate
Mr.. Gould became frightened at the threats
and called in the services of Inspector
Byrnes.
The inspector watched the mail boxes,
and caught Col. Wells in the act of de-
posting threatening letter addressed to
Mr.. Gould. Wells was tried and found in
sane, and is still confined in an institution.
INTO THE RIVER.
John Platt was prominent Wall street
man ten years ago. He was the American
representative of important German bank
ing houses, and frequently swung a line of
10000 shares of stock.
The excitement told on him and he went
mad. Platt went down to the foot of Wall
street one afternoon, after the close of the
market, and mped off the dock. His body
was never recovered, and is supposed to
have drifted out to sea.
An1asa F. Stone used to be prominent
figure on the Stock Exchange until he went
crazy.
{ Ex-Surrogate Robert Hutchings is an in
mate of Jersey asylum. He was unlucky
An Wall street, and the disappointment
broke him down. At one time he was one
sOf the largest operators in the market.
The friends of Douglas Green, who ran
off with Mrs. Snell-McCrae, believe that he
is insane He was a hard worker and took
little exercise, and it is said that his queer
actions on the exchange had attracted at
tention long before he INDUCED in his final
crazy action.
Washington Quinlan, the young plunger
who mysteriously disappeared recently and
has never been heard from, is believed by
his fellows to have become insane. They
Say he had been conducting himself in an
erratic manner owing to his heavy losses
In speculation.
Post, the aged broker, who used to eat
sandwiches and pie 1T buffet counter and
skip out without paying for his lunch, was
crazy according to his friends.
So was William Il. Guion, who had been
. Spectator for many years, and whose
losses are said to have unbalanced his
mind.
rIoro q ro mon in Wall straat uho oesort