Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-02-26
THE FIELD INQUIRY.
DR.. Draper and Hon. Homer G""dh"e
Important witnesses.
A New York despatch of Wednesday

A New York despatch Of "Wednesday
evening says:
Judge Van Brrmt began today the inquiry into
Edward W. Fields sanity. preparatory To deter
mining whether he should be placed ON tria Tor
grand larceny or consigned To an asylum. Ilr
Joseph Draper superintendent Of the insane
ASYLUM at BrnttlpbOrO Vt. testified that the
records of the asylum showed that Rev Timothy
Field an uncle Of Cyrus W. Field, was an inmate
of the. asylum in lSIj. and died there. He was
then 10 years old He had inherited insanity
Rev Timothy Fields son, Lorenzo Field was a
patient in the asylum in 1883 and in 1872; lslla
Field Lurenzo's daughter died insane in the same
asylum i'm 1874. Her brother Curtis G. FIELD IS
now in the asylum. insane. having been there
chairman of the board Of supervisors Of the
insane of the state Of Vermont, testified To the ~
sanity Of several members Of the family OF WI
liam Field. another son Of Rev Timothy frld,
now resident in SaXtons River one son commit
ted suicide by shooting. A daughter has been an
inmate of the Mclean asylum at Som'rvillo'
Mass. from which she was discharged as nm
proved but not cured. The statement that the son
shot himself was entirely unexpected. and sen
Saton was caused in court when this iact was
brought out
Cyrus w. Field, ir., came to Brattleboro
from New York last Saturday evening to
consult Dr. Draper about going to New
York with the asylum records, to testify in
this case. The wish of the Field family
is, of course, to prove Edward NJ. Field
insane and save him from prison. The
firm of which he was the head failed for
about 81, 900, 600 and practically no assets
could be found The charge of the prose-
cuton is that Mr.. Field defrauded the
creditors in this amount. The Rev. Tim
othy Field referred to in the New York
despatch, was a minister at Westminster
West.
The evidence given by DR.. Draper es-
tabished the fact that insanity has existed
in four generations of the Field family, the
father and mother of Rev Timothy Field
having both been insane and died insane.
While the insanity of so many members of
one branch of the Field family does not
establish the insanity of Edward NJ. Field
it shows a strong hereditary tendency. \
sister of Edward NJ. is an inmate of an
asylum and suffering from acute insanity.
Edward NJ. Field who is now in Ludlow
street jail was brought into court and sat
throughout the day in a listless, half-de-
mented way Dr. Draper was recalled to
the witness stand i'm the afternoon to give
his opinion of Fields mental condition.
While declining to give definite opinion
without further examination, he said
Fields appearance was that of a man who
was losing his mind.
The judge stated that the point to be de-
termined was not as to whether Field was
insane when his firm was wrecked and its
funds dissipated, but whether he was now
in such mental condition as to be able to
defend himself.
The case attracts great interest in New
York, and the reporters have worked the
hearing for all it is worth in the way of
sensation and amusement. Here is one
clipping from the Mail and Express
Homer Goodhue. chairman Of the board Of
supervisors Of the Vermont Insane, an old man
with Websterian head testified that four or five
years ago he was applied to for papers admitting
William Field. brother of Lorenzo. To- an asylum.
Before the papers could be made out however,
William became better His daughter has been in
asylum.
and said he was man of well balanced mind up
to the time he became insane. The trouble was
acute mania.
Did Rev Timothy Field have any more sons
asked Mr.. Cochran
Yes, Abner, by former wife who i, now
dead was the answer
Where is he now:
Eli: and Mr. GoOdhue made a trumpet Of his
hand
Where is he-uow,'
i don't know he's dead
While the spectators wcr. laughing Mr. Cochran
sat down
The sun gave several columns to the
case on Thursday. and illustrated lis re-
port with outline drawing of DR.. Draper
and Mr.. Goodhue as they were alleged to
have appeared on the witness stand.