Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-04-26
A FAMILY CURSE,
Effort 10 rr0Ys Tho WCuld-Bo Bank
RObb.r Insane.
, SLAVE TO CIGARETTE SMOKING.


A. was briefly announced Ia 'he
NFysof last evening the question Of
the sanity Of Charles w. Austin, inc
young Journalist who cteatcI such u
ssn,atiou In this city on Saturday last
by attempting daring bank robbery
was being inquired into before
The county board Of lunacy. Inaslnuoh
a. the oiIense committed by the ac'
cu.,d was ~ most serious one, County
Attorney Walter 4. Murphy aud his
assistant, II. G. Eichnor appeared rs
representatives Of the people and asked
that the examination Of witnesses 10
made thorough and complete. A sori.
o,s c,ime had been committed and the
r,uuifrments Of the law must be fully
,omplied with IN every particular They
tt1 pot r,rp 10 examine the witnesses
~ youuv Austin but would reserve
IN. right 10 introduce Witnesses, should
they deem IL proper, In behalf Of tho
NJ. ID. Austin, tho aged and re-
.reetsd father OF the young man,
,ourht earnestly 10 establish
ihst bls son was wholly irres.
ponslbl. for the desperate decd.
Nh, Austin testified that lac was the
informant ia this preceding, and tho
father Of Charles w. Austin, now In
the custody OF the marshal, and
against whom charge Of attempted
robbery IL pending. His sou has been
a resident oil the state OF Washington
q Ia y
ago he mad not seen him tOr several
wears. About six we,hs ago he camU
hero from Olympia, and hal been uu'
der his immediate care evessince. lhe
first inumatiOu he had uf the comb.
ton VI tho young man was III the way
II new spap-r mention (he was poor
novelis,j snd Ia Letters from he young
wile,sialing thathe had been dtrsngcd
by cigarette smoking. Siels were
liken 10 provide f1f hIs treatment, and
lie was sent 10 the keeley Institute at
Olympia where he remained about AK
week., during which time the
phypiciGna became satisfied that his
mind was affected aud notified ms
family ~ that tact, and aI'
vlsrd that he he place In An my.
lum. His brother then went on and
found the situation such that tue
iatner thought II best u have him
brought TO salt Lake ana be cared Tor.
His mother thought that " he were
here they might bo able To restore him'
lie came anu WA In nfecblo conJJloh.
The family noticed his condition,
frequent Goscnt miudoiness anu many
singular acts, but thought shat viii
improved bodily health bll would be
right.
His father arranged 10 get him light
employ ment as an assistant In the
office at the Turkish baths, but the
manager soon discovered that no was
not at himself, and then he was pia, Ell
under the care OF physicians who said
they could cure him Of HE smoking
prOpcnsitius OF there would be no
charge. lie wns there few days, and
soon alter he took his hat ana over.
coat aud pawned them for 81 ~ 10 buy
cigarettes. The attempt was then
made h divert the habit to q pipe three
times day. At various times ho
seemed to be disturbed on
religious questions, aud last Friday
asked. TO 20 down TO see Dr. McNitce.
During the nights he had awakened
frequently and ssked u few questions
on these topics. lie seemed 10 worry
about sending for his wife, ami
would begin lettera every day nr
20 aud leave them unfinished. HIS
conversation was mostly limited 10
answering questions, or 10 yes and no,
anj always showed a lack VI Interest
In leading conversations. lie has ever
been kind and nileC,iOnate, HE IelR.
tons with his wiio being the mot
happy. Aud singular TO relate, he has
never expressed any regret for the at
tempted deed or shown any cOntrition.
Ills condition continued 10 grow
worse, anu his father aud brother dc.
cided 10 quietly force him In the asy-
lum, and on saturday last the brother
actually went 10 Provo for the purpose
OF arranging matters, ut the very time
this act occurred.
In talking with hiA father after the
event, lie said that M he was going
down the street he wished for drink
VI whisky, aud he wrote an order foT
IT, signed by Kelley Institute, aud
Tiled TO get II honOred ut two drug
drug stores, succeeding at the second.
After drinking, lie decided 10 tct some
money and send for his wife, aud pro.
ceeied at once TO the bank.
Mr.. Austin testified further that in.
sanity was a family curse. An sun,
Of witness had been Insane for fty
Year,, and in an asylum most Of that
iime; his fathers brother was also dc,
mented occasionally, and his own
lalher was once insane; "a cousin now q
professor In leading eastern colleg,
was once Insane, but was now cured.
The examination was TO be resumed
this afternoon.