New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-28
WANTED BRAINS. NOT MONEY
A LUNATIC'S STRANGE DEMAND on COR
NELIUS VANDERBILT.

NELIUS VANDERBILT.
| HE ASKED FOR WHAT HE WANTED AT HIS IN
! TENDED VICTIMS FFTH-AvE. MANSION
THE MADMAN ARRESTED AND LOCKED
UP-HE HAD BEEN IN BLOOMING
DALE ASYLUM.
The crank epidemic is still increasing and
| wealthy New-Yorkers continue to be annoyed BY
foolish demands from irresponsible persons. The
| latest victim Of the crank is Cornelins Wander
| bilt. On Saturday night young man called at
| Mr. Vanderbits house, at FiftyeeveGth-st. and
Fifth-ave., and made the most extraordinary de-
| mand that any of the modern cranks have yet
| made. The request from the caller resulted In
| his arrest and to-day physicians VIII examine
| into his mental condition and try 10 determine
| whether a madhouse is the proper place for HIM
The lunatc was taken to Bellevue Hospital yes
terday afternoon and there he was recognized as
a man who had been there before, had been de-
cared insane, and had been put in Bloominsdalc
| Asylum by his friends.
About 20 o'clock on Saturday night. when Mr..
Vanderbilt was entertaining a party OF friends
at his home at No. | FifySaventh->t.. there was
violent ring at the doorhcll. The butler answered
the ring and opened the front door to see who the
late caller might be- lie was confronted by
wcll-drcsscd young man, who, in rather loud
tones demanded to know if Cornelius Vanderbilt
was at home. The servant replied that he was,
but as the callers conduct seemed TO be rather
strange, he got in front Of the young man when
he attempted to enter the house. He also pushed
him back and tried to close the door. but the
intruder thrust his foot inside the opening, and
the servant could not push the obstruction away
Il" don't propose TO 90 away from here until /
ba,o Mr. Vanderbilt s1i1 ST
What do you want with him. the servant
" will explain that business to him, said the
visitor.
But >Ir. Vanderbilt is with friends and cannot
be disturbed"
That does not make any difference. Ny bust
ness is urgent and ! must see him at once was
the reply.
The mans strange conduct frightened the
servant. and suspecting that he was dealing with
a madman he made an effort to humor him.
If you will tell me what business you wish TO
transact with Mr.. Vanderbilt said the servant
i will tell him that you have called and maybe
hc viii you
Well | have called TO get Mr.. Nandcrbilt's
brains, was the extraordinary demand which the
man made. ." want 20 have Mr. NandcrbIlt
brain, analyzcd wish 10 take his brains 10
want 70 scc what difference there Ii between the
brains Of the man in this house and my own. By
this means ! may IL able 10 learn why ! am
=, moor. Mr. Vanderbilt has hecn able
70 accumulate a large amount Of money. Will"
have failed 10 make a cent, and as il Il all owing
- the difference IN our brains. must ascertain Just
wherein the difference lies
The stranger continued io explain tho uatnre oi
hi, call and although the butter attempted to IN
t,rrupt him. he could not get the man 10 stop
talking He explained his business IN such
loud tone of voice that one or TWO other servants
went into fhe hallway 10 sec what was the trouble
unc NJ tie servants who had heard enough Of the
ror.s remarks to surmsr that the caller was y
rranlt5 hurried out Of the side cntran'" and IN
formed Policeman Southcmcr. Of tn" Hny first
IT, station, ~ what eoins on 1t
tic Vanderbilt home. III" policeman ""r
.oun at the front door of thr house
and there found the stranger, who WAS stu
making his absurd demand for NJ Nan!crbts
brains Tie intruder objected 10 going away, be-
lore hc had sen Nr Vanderbilt. aad thcpoIi"cm
was compelled to drag the man from tine entrance
10 tie Vanderbilt home. He wa taken - the
FIfD- -iirat--t station, where hc gave his name aa
John j. LlneIuan. and his az" aS twcnty-iour Years
lie .,d that ne WAS an American 10y birth and that
u, lived m No GlG East Elcycnth-,; When
he WAS searched membership card of the
Young Mems Christian Association was found
in his pocket lie also had pocket
book containing fifty cents, which he said
,a, all the money he had in the world. After
being locked mp he became moody, and instead
If being as taulatyr as h. was when at the Van
,erhilt house he declined to have anything to say.
He was arraigncd before Justice Grady in the
Yorkyillc Police Court yesterday morning charged
with being dangerous person 10 be- AT large.
None Of the Vanderbilt family appeared To make
Southeimcr told the magistrate of the
prisoners strange conduct, and l.ingman
WAS committed 10 Bellevue Hospital where In
sanity experts will pass upon his to-day.
The prisoner looks like an insane person. Ills
manner il restless, and he has peculiar stare
IN his eyes lie was taken Ia Bellevue Hospital
Yesterday afternoon. and was at once recognized
~ having been there before. ON November
l.ingman was committed to the hospital 10 be
examined as to his mental condition by Justice
Bnny at the Essex Market Police Court tl'c
DAYS later the experts Of Bellevue declared hlm
insane Ills friends had him taken 10 Blooming
dale Asylum.
When a reporter of The Tribune called n Mr.
Nanderbilts hOdSc last evening the butler. VINO
answered the ring at the doorb"ll si.. That MIR.
Vanderbilt wOuld not talk 10 any reporters.
Il would not disturb Nr. Vanderbilt about
such small matter" sald the hntcr. No
crank called here at all Nr. Vanderbilt do'sn
want 10 have anything said in the paTcrs about
it. Mr. Vanderbilt was in bed at 10 o'cIocd
Saturday evening. ana th'r is no one here who
knows anything about crank
Al 4