Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-14
LANDLORD LOCKED Up
And Tenants Trying to Find Out
Just How Ill He Really Is.
HEY THINK HE is MISTREATED,
Therefore They Hold Meeting to Take
Action in the Case.
A PECULIAR CONDITION OF AFFAIRS
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArcH.1
New YORK, Jan. 13.-Dr. Gustav Scho.
Ter, who was once deputy coroner, and who
lives nearly opposite the house of the "old
gentleman" mentioned, distributed copies
of this circular all over the neighborhood
yesterday:
The tenants and nei-hbors of the Strobel
fats, Nos. S2s to 336 West rorty-eighth street
who are interested in the welfare of the old
gentleman, and who feel that his valuable
estate should be in the hands of some re-
sDonsible party during his present illness,
are requested TO meet this evening. Tues
day, January u, 1872, $50 p. NJ, al Mr.. Bre.
Eighth avenue and Forty-eigEth street.
HUMANITY.
In response to the invitation 80 men and
women appeared at Mr.. Bremer's store
promptly on time, and seated themselves as
comfortably as they could on the counters,
barrels, boxes and few chairs. Among
them were Police Justice Kelly, County
Physician Crosby, Jacob Files, Peter B.
Brady, Joseph Hecht, Mrs. Emma Reisz
and Z. j. Campbell. all well-to-do re sidents
of the neighborhood.
Looking After Their Landlord.
The ''old gentleman" in whose welfare
these people are so much interested is J ohm
Strobel, the owner of the Strobel flats, who
hes i'll at $50 West Forty-eight street The
people who are around him say he is in
sane and unable to take care of himself, but
the neighbors say he is being deprived of
his liberty by schemers who want to get
some of his money. Things finally reached
such pass that Dr. Scholer decided to call
this meeting for the purpose OF agreeing
upon some plan of action.
John Strobel came to this country from
Germany in 1854, and started in as shoe
maker He saved his money an,tinvested
ii in real estate The Strobel flats are esti
mated at 5000, 600 There is mortgage on
them of about SS3. 900, but the owner de-
riFeS an income of $4,000 from the prop
cry .-..
Not Above at His wife's Funeral.
StrobeI and his wife were content to live
on the first floor of one of the flats, without
a servant. Shortly after Christmas thev
were both taken i'll with the grip, and Dr.
Lawrence johnson was summoned. Dr.
Crosby, of West Forty-eighth street, who
had attended them for nearly ten years, was
moi consulted A few davs before New
Years Mrs. Strobel died There was
large funeral, but Mr.. Strobel was not
present. DIR. johnson said ne was too ill to
leave his bed.
Mr.. Strobel has a great many friends, and
many Of them called at the house, but
man named Sherwood, WHO said he was a
professional nurse, refused 70 admit anyone.
Then all the tenants ard npiEhbors began 10
talk, and stories were told about what was
going on in the Strobel aHa~tG eats
Some OF the neighbors vent 10 DR..
Crosby and told him it was time for him TO
Interfere. He wrote Letter to DR.. John
son asking tor a consultation, bat DR.. John
son paid no attention 10 it. Then DR..
Crosby wrote again and said ne would see
that the nroner measures were taken to in
vest igate the matter. Several davs ago Dr.
Johnson applied 10 Justice Barrett, of the
Supreme Court, who appointed a commits
sion 10 inquire into John Strobel's mental
condition.
DT. ScholNr Addresses the Meeting.
Police Justice Kelly, who lives in one o:
the Sjrobel flats, nominated Henry Bremen,
the Grocer, for Chairman OF last evenings
meeting, and Mr.. Bremen was unanimously
elected. Then DR. Scholer said:
LABIFs AND GENTLEMEN: We have come
together here to protest against one of tie
greatest OutIages that has ever been perne-
ira ed in our midst You all know Jrhn
str bel, and you all like him. Now he lies
alone n his room where none OF us can see
him, kept :hele by a clique of sErewd
SchcmCrS How was it that Dr. johnson was
called in. and not DIR. Crosby, who has
always attended them? Mr.. StrChel was too
sick TO 90 for a doctor himself, and
Julius Raymond. one of tie tenants
Went Of his own accord, and Summoned DR..
= Johnson. DR.. johnson NJ once decided that
Mr. Strobel was insane, and placed this |
Irish painter, sherwood, vino is no more a |
nurse than am, to watch him. You know |
that Mr.. Suobel speaks very little English.
How can he get along with an Irish nurse? |
Nobody is allowed TO see him. Are they |
druCging him? What is all this mystery?
Vow. ladies' and gentlemen, it remains for
probe it TO the bottcm. If there is any viii |
lainy we viii Tucarth it. At any rate, no |
one can be wronged by our Investigations.
Lawyer i'ut II ght to Work.
1t was moved and seconded that a COM |
mittee be appointed to do the active work, |
the Chairman named DIR. Cros- |
by, Or. Scholer, Justice Kelly. Jacob /
Flies, Joseph Heeht, Peter B. Brady, Jacob |
Turk and Mrs. Emma Reisz Mrs. Reisz
WAS an intimate friend of the late Mrs
Strobel, and she WAS very indignant
at the idea Of Mr.. Syrobei being declared
insane. Peter B. Brady was engaged as
counsel, and instructed to go before Judge
Barrett and protest against Mr.. Strobel be-
ing declared insane.
William II. Willis, DR.. Samuel r. Elliott
and Henry Winthrop GRAY, the commits
soners appointed by Justice Barrett. met
to-day, bu' adjourned the hearing till Fri
day on motion of LAWYER Brady, who repre-
sents the neighbo-s and friends of Stro-
bel, who believe him sane. LAWYER
Brady said his clients were anxious to show
that Strobel was sane. Mr.. Arrowsmith,
representing DR.. johnson, opposed Mr..
l}radv's molten. Before the hearing on
Friday DR. Elliott will examine S.robel
Ar O:d friend Gets to See strobel.
Mr.. Weber, an old friend of Mr.. Strobel,
succeeded in seeing him to-day. According
10 DR.. Schoier Mr.. S.robeI said: MY dear
friend, who haven't you come before? None
IF nv friends nave been TO see me- These
people here won't let me go out, and I'm
100 sick 40 dO anything. / need better care
han 1 am getting here"
Mr.. Weber promised to aid him, and
anne TO DIR. Scholer with his story. Re
iorters who called at Mr.. StrobeI's fiat
we're denied admittance.
Treasurer Foyer Sues Jamicsnn & Co.