The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-01
WAS II. B. LA RUE INSANE?
HE SUES CITIZENS OF ELMIRA FOR
$f?5. 900 DAMAGES.

One Editor, the Chief Of Police, the Super.
inteudent of the willard Asylum, and the
Physicians who Pronounced Him Insane
are Among tho Dsfcndants-uis Very
Queer Actions In Arranging for Read.
ings In Eimira by Miss Jennie u. Potter.
ROCHESTER,. Oct. 31.-IIcnry H. In Rue. n
prominent business man OF Horncllsvlc
recently brought three actions against iozen
or more prominent citizens Of Elmra. includ-
ing the proprietor OF the Telegram. the Chief OF
Police and the superintendent OF Willard
| Asylum. Two OF the actions were for libel and
| ono for falsc Imprisonment. and the aggregate
| damages demanded were Sl25.O00 Ex-Mayor
John Is. Stanchileld Of Emira appeared before
| Judge Rumsey at the opening OF the special
| term this morning to ask that tho place OF
| trial in all three actions be changed from
Steuben to Chemung county. He outlined the
case for the defendants by saying that what
ever might now be Mr.. la Rue's condition. no
was undoubtedly insane Mt the time when tho
| proceedings complained OF were taken.
Mr.. La Rue" said Mr.. Stanchleld. came
| to Elmira from Hornclsville to arrange for
readings to be given by Miss Jennie o. Potter.
He went to tho office Of the Flmira Sunday Inie-
| gram and in terviewed Messrs Morse and Brooks
about printing several thousand Autographs
anu CuTuS OF 1nNltutlOu u pS ulStIlUutcu
| among the ladies OF Elmira. He wns told that
the cost Of the work he asked for would be in
| the neighborhool Of $4,000 He made no OBJ
| lection and told the publishers to make out
! their bill and he would pay for 1t. He then
won't to the offices OF Mcssrs. Jones and Owen.
the managers OF the two rival telegraph lines.
| and said that no desired to engage all their
messenger boys to distribute the invitations
when printed. He wanted them arrayed in
! dress suits and white kid gloves. mud went to
| leading clothing store to order the suits. He
| then went to the florists and ordered 1000
! buttorhole bouquets. None OF these parties
! discovered tha Mr. La Rue had any money
! with which to settle those extravagant bills
| which he was contracting. Later in the day
! he went back to Hornrlisvllc
| I'VE allege upon Information and belief that
he returned that same right on freight train.
and at about > o'clock in tho morning went to
| the house Of the manager Of the Elmira Opera
| House. Charles Smith. raped on his doors
and windows and threatened to shoot any one
| who intcrfered with tho proposed readings.
| Early in tho nornir', he appeared before
Messrs. Jones and Morse and told them that
there was a conspiracy among tho citi-
Zens Of llmira to prevent his bringing Miss
Potter to give the rca,.inGs. and asked them to
G"ss rm Il sn1In WITH his "
quest. believing him TO he a maniac. The
Chief Of Police ,hpd a talk with him. and de-
his T r.m in an HGr"oIys THs" Tnsey1s
to the Jail until he could IL, he examined
sion. composed Of two of Elmira leading ply.
sicans. did examine him. pronounced him
insane and he was accordingly sent to Willard
Asylum. whence he was discharged last June.
i,ecause. as i am informed. there was some
defect in the process Of his commitment. Mr..
| La Rue has now brought action against every
one in E!mra Who had anything to do with
7 inplnlinn pnipp
the physicians who udjudGed him insane. We
have iorty-one witnesses. all business men.
versations with him at the time and who can
testify to his strange conduct. The prorrietors
OF the hotel where he stopped are among our
witnesses. and he barber who shaved him."
been shaved recently" said eX-cungressmnn
Van Noorhis Of this city. who appeared for La
Euc. as he pointed to the flowing beard Of his
He has not heen shaved in twenty years."
added Mr.. Van Noorhis.
| In his reply TO Mr., Stapchneld's argument
witnesses in. Hornesviln who had known
| him for lifetime who could testify to his
sanity and business ability His client was a
CS'apis hs n %hSh nSt rea
which Mr, s'anchileld's statements were
based greatly eya :Gerated the facts. Mr.. La
Rue had taken interest in Miss Potter MS an
chance before the public. He was amply able
to rav for all the bills he had contracted. even
il they had been as enormous as the cx-
aGGcrated statements Of defendants uflidaVits
would seem to show.
Justice Rumsey denied the motion to change
the, place OF trial The newspaper. he said.
nsa" man and tEs men ne e Who had HIM ue an
carcerated so lar from home should have
acted upon facts they could prove anywhere