The evening world., 1891-11-27
His Malady Causes His Brokerage
Firm to Assign.
The Step Necessary to Ascertain
the Firms Standing.
Death OF His Mother, Mrs. Cyrus
w. Field, Upset His Over.
taxed Brain.

The firm OF Field, Lindley, wiechers Co,
with Offices in the Washington Building, one
OF the most prominent stock and grain COM
mission houses In Wall street, announced its
suspension just before noon to-day In the
Stock and Produce Exchanges.
Edward N. Field, the senior partner, Is .
son OF cyrus W. Field.
The news created o sensation In the street,
for the firm has always been regarded as one
Of the strongest In the trade, and Its business
was very extensive.
Surprise was still further Increased when
II was learned that the assignment had been
made on account OF the sudden mental col
lapse OF Edward NJ. Field, the senior member
OF the firm.
In other words Mr.. Field has become In.
sane, and us he has had complete charge Of
the firm's financial dealings matters have by
his sudd IN illness boon lelt In such muddle
that an assignment was made In order that
things might be Strengthened out.
The Assignee Is Charles II. Gould, lawyer,
OF . Wall street. he says that no statement
OF assets and liabilities can possibly be made
before the books and accounts OF the firm
have been carefully examined.
The other partners In the lrm believe that
its affairs have not been disastrously In
volyed. They know OF no losses whatever,
and do not believe that any have been SUI.
fered.
The partners In the firm, which was organ.
lied April last, are Edward N. Field, the
eldest son OF Cyrus W. Field; Daniel Lindley,
j. F. Wiechers and Herman G. Hilmers.
This nrm succeeded that OF Field, Lindley
Co., which was formed s0me twelve years
ago and In which Cyrus w. Field was o
special partner. with 100000 capital, and
Edward VI. Field and Daniel Lindley were
the general partners
The present iirm did business on . capital
OF $500, 600, and Its dealings were mainly
confined to the commission business In the
stock, Produce and Coffee exchanges in this
city, In all OF which the firm was represented,
and in the Board OF Trade In Chicago.
1t was stated te-day by Assignee Gould that
Mr.. Field had been falling mentally for some
time past. lie had been told that members
or Mr.. Fields family had noticed peculiarities
In his actions for q year past.
1t was never suspected, however, until
within the last week, that he was not able 10
attend to business.
Loss OF memory was his first symptom, and
now he cannot tell anything about what he
has been doing during the past few weeka
Mr.. Gould went t. consult him In regard to
some business matters few days ago, and
Iound Mr. Field SO afflicted as to be utterly
unably to give any connected statement Of
the firms affairs
| Lawyer Gould became alarmed and spoke
TO the members OF the firm about It, and
medical examination was made. Mr.. Field
was pronounced to be insaIe.
/ Within the past three months the flrm has
been advancing large sums Of money In An
enterprise which MIR. Gould declines TO denne.
A very large amount OF money Is involved.
Mr.. Field has had complete charge OF the
management Of this enterprise.
/ What he has done In hts dtsordered mental
state, or how he has carried out the plans Of
the investors, is yet mystery, and no light
has yet been shed upon the matter by Mr..
Field, who is utterly unable to give any IN
telligibe account OF the affair.
| AS the money put In Is not readily available
although Mr.. Gould says he believes 1t to DO
amply seuured-the possibility that II might
be required led the firm to take the step OF to-
day In order to protect itself and its custom
ers and creditors.
The assignment is made without prefer
ence, and 1t is believed that every creditor Is
amply protected.
In the stock and grain markets, both hero
and In Chicago, the announcement Of the
firms suspension had no appreciable effect
| upon prices.
| Business men were shocked when they
heard the cause OF the assignment but there
was no disturbance OF the market. This
would show that the amount OF outstanding
contracts OF the lrm at the present time is
very small.
The last important deal In which It was
engaged was IN taking big load OF septem-
ber corn on the hands OF q. v. White Il Co.
and disposing OF it. This transaction was
closed out long ago, the firm simply taking
It's commissions for selling.
Mr.. Field Is about forty-three years old,
and lives with his family at 1875 East Twenty.
nrst street. He has remained ut home, under
the doctors care, for two days Although he
| Is able 10 20 about, his mind wanders sl the
time.
| His condition Is believed to be due entirely
20 overwork and was probably brought on In
It's present acute form by the death OF his
mother, which occurred last Monday.
His father, cyrus W. Field, Is also at home,
and IS Frustrated by his wife's death and tho
discovery OF his sons depiorable condition
| one peculiarity OF Mr.. Fields condition 10
that he has an unnatural appetite and seems
TO crave food all the time. This 10 said 70 be
one OF the usual symptoms In patients suffer-
| ing from paresis-