New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-15
INWARD NJ. FIELD ARRESTED.
,.cxrp UP AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS.
,xorY NIcoLL, WHO MADE THE COMPLAINT
ox WHICH JUDGE MARITIME ISSUED THE
- WARRANTS. DOUBTS THE PRISONERS IN
s.NIrY AND WANTS TO TEST IT.

WARRANTS, DOUBTS THE PdSONbNS AN-
SANITY AND WANTS TO TEST 1T.
~. legal complications attending the failure of
"a Jindlev Wiechers & Co. assumed new
- last night Within few days Of the
r.o,rcement OF the firms bankruptcy Edward
~ r;eld the head of the firm, on whose shoulders
1-.nonsihihty for the ruin rested, was declared
sssare by DIR. Allen Fitch and DIR. Frank H.
,-rrau two reputable physicians OF this city, and
:, their signed certificates was committed TO
.rvate lunatic asylum. The warrant OF commit
ant was signed BY Judge David McAdam, on
NC ssa.;ts sworn to by Drs Fitch and Ingram. As
~ as the commitment was obtained, Mr. Field
s..s ouietly taken from his home and was
lodged In vernon i'ouS'' ne"i 'i'DA' ''"'
NY
rha snidavits on which the warrant was
..sn,ed were prepared by Distnct-Attorney De
s.noev Nicoll Who also swore to the affdavits
sra made the complaint, Inspector Byrnes
,osterlay afternoon was called into con-
,.,snce with Mr.. Nicoll The result
:, ,bat conference was that Mr.. Nicoll and
.,o Inspector armed with the afiidavits, went
,s,ore Judge MARITIME, and formally charged Ed
ra,d NJ Field with grand larceny in the first
a.rree Mr.. NicOll has never concurred in the
.,n,v Of Mr. Fields insanity and was determined.
n the. interest of justice, that the question of
v, Fields moral and legal responsibility should
=, settled TO his own satisfaction, and that OF the
public
Judge MARITIME, having read the afidav1ts, at
.nee granted the warrants asked for. 1t was
.a.n 4 o'clock With the warrants in his pocket
Insoector Byrnes went 10 Police Headquarters
and detailed Detectives Trainor, Sheldon and
Nounoil TO make the arrest. Sheldon is familiar
xitb the White Plains district, and the
elves at the asylum and asked to
-. DR. Granger. The doctor at once responded
10 the summons Whether he had been prepared
beforehand for the visit of the detectives is not
rnown. but he evinced surprise at their
r,ssenee Dr. Granger read the warrant and then
satv refused to give up Mr.. Field, on the ground
that the warrant committing him to the asylum
had been signed by Judge McAdam, of the Supreme
ccurt on the certificates of two physicians.
sOur orders are imperative, replied Irainor
sSane or insane, we must take him from the
xyum"
After some further argument DR.. Granger con-
senteJ that Mr.. Field should be made prisoner,
but stimulated that he should be allowed 10 ac-
company him TO the White Plains station, and
CO him safely off to New-York. Tralnor had no
affection 10 this arrangement. DR.. Granger theh
told Mr. Field of the arrival of the detectives VINO
- waiting to arrest him Mr.. Field, to the
doctors astoniShment, took the matter win all
,osshle GOODNESS and indifference, and quietly
nuttng on his overcoat and hat, accompanied the
doaor downstairs. He greeted the detecuNes
with crave courtesy and announced that ne was
rady to accompany them. He made no piooosV
md uttered no word In relation to his arrest anu
\. detectives on their side, having no intereso
IN the case beyond their instructions, reiraiheo
IL
hom trying to induce him to talk.
carriage was in waiting outside the mouse
md in it Mr.. Field with DIR. Granger oy MS sioe'
and the detectives facing him; was driven to the
White Plains station, which was reached snortiy
after o'clock. The New-York train was not
long in coming. Dr. Granger entered the car
,vitb Mr. Field and remained with him until the
train began to move out of the station. Iheh nc
crasned his hand in farewell and left the car
During the Journey to New-York Mr.. Field
snoke no word TO the detectives, and in all respects
conducted himself with a self-possession and cool
ness that were remarkable in an insane man. On
reaching the Grand Central Station he was
driven in hack to Pohce head
quarters. which was reached at lo;lo'
Inspector Byrnes was waiting lor hinn'
and nnder his directions Mr.. Field. who
said nothing except to reply patiently ana pleas
sptly to the usual formal questions. was lodged
20 remain until IL o'clock this morning, when
he will oe taken before Judge MARITIME.
Mr. Nicoll had told Mr.. Fields friends Of the
arrest but up to midnight none OF them had
called at Police Headquarters.
The complainant against Edward NJ. fleld
is De Lancey Nicoll, the Dstrict-AttorDey. lie
was seen at his home No. 1913 East Thirty eighth
st. last night where he said I'm view OF the
repeated charges made in the newspapers,
deemed it my duty to investigate them IN the case
cf Field Lindley. Wiechers e. Co., without waiting
for complaint 10 be made by some OF the
persons said TO have been defrauded. Such
Transactions as the Field failure cannot take
place in commercial circles without scrutiny by
the authorities, even it, as in the case OF EDWARD
u Field no formal charges were submitted 10
ne BY interested parties. MIR. Field may DE
insane | do not say that he is not. but if he
is, it must be proved as defence TO an indlcV
nent in the usual way No man charged with
crime can avoid prosecution by being committed
In advance to an asylum.
1t is an easy matter TO have man conilned III
aprivate asylum, and although it may be the best
and proper place for him. still the proper thlhg
Is to have him legally declared insane III the
man is not in his right mind, then let Judge
and jury so decide: if he was not responsible 1or
IA acts, let the law so declare
The charges against Mr. Field is grand larceny
and the larceny consists of the theft Of five Union
Pacific Railroad Company bonds. The bonds are
valued at only 81 900 each, but other charges
and numerous ones can be found-will BE- brought
against him if we deem it necessary.
The Grand Jury is now in session and edward
~ Fields case will be presented TO the jurors
to-day. As / can prove beyond doubt that
the charge made is true, Mr. Field beyond ques-
ton will be indicted. l have subpoenaed the
witnesses necessary in the case, and the Grand
Jury will have an opportunity TO hear testimony
10 the ease early in the day. The next pro-