Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-04
A PREY OF PARESIS.
James d. Murdock, the Well-Known
Iron and Steel Broker, Now
CLOSELY CONFINED IN DIXMONT.
Bis Wife Files q Petition in Court for an
Inquest in lunacy.
NO HOPE OF RECOVERING HIS MIND

Asylum is James H. Murdock, the promi-
nent iron and steel broker of this city.
About three W eeks ago he became insane,
and, prompted by fear for their personal
safety, his family hal him removed to the
hospital, where he is at times a raving
maniac.
That Mr. Murdock was not of sound
mind was noticed two or three years ago.
About the same time he was seriously
troubled with disease of the optic nerves,
and in order to secure the best available
treatment he was obliged to consult num-
Der of specialists, but none of them seemed
able to render him any assistance.
This worried him very much. At
last he was advised to visit
DR.. Goodwin, of Philadelphia,
After seeing this physician once he made
frequent trips to the "Quaker City," but
the disease had gained such headway that
nothing could be done other than give him
temporary relief Following this Mr..
Murdock's nervous system entirely broke
down. Subsequently he was attacked with
paresis, and from that time on he grew more
eccentric every day. Last spring Mr.. Muir
dock met with an accident in which one of
his legs was broker. This caused his con-
fnement at his home in Sewickley for some
time, and then it was noticed that from an
eccentric vein he became decidedly foolish.
Became Almost Totally Blind.
While suffering from the broken limb Mr..
Murdock's eyesight became far worse, and
shortly after his recovery he had so far lost
the use of his eyes that at times his wife had
10 accompany him to his Office, while boy
in his employ would assist him to his home
One month ago the insanity of Mr.. Muir
dock became SO pronounced that his family
were obliged to keep him at home. A week
later he grew worse, and his residence was
not only closed, but visitors, outside of the
immediate family, were refused admittance.
Physicians we're called in, but nothing
could be done, and as last resort DR..
Hutchinson, of the Dixmont Asylum, was
called upon, and arrangements were made
to remove the unfortunate man to that in
stitution. A few days previous to his re-
moval to Dixmont the insanity of Mr.. Muir
dock took peculiar turn. He labored un-
der the hallucination that he possessed
patents that would yield him millions of
dollars. One of these inventions was a
new cleaning machine of some sort. He
also imagined that he had a very
extensive correspondence, and to attend to
this he had his stenographer come from the
office to his residence at Sewickley nearly
every dav, and for several hours this person
was kept busy writing letters to imaginary
capitalists and to the Patent Office at WASH
ington.
Doing Business With tho President
To one of his visitors Mr. Murdock said:
h,,a, a. s-xa H. L.
room and will see you in moment"
Later he said to the same person: sI wish |
you would call tomorrow, as the President |
with his Cabinet will be here. President |
calls upon me because I have a |
letter for him which emanated from the |
Deity through me-"
About this time the physicians were
called in and it was learned that nothing
could be done for the sufferer Mrs Rosaline |
L. Murdock, the wife of the insane man,
notified his relatives, and the week previous
10 his removal to Dixmont he was attended |
BY his sister from the East, his brother,
members of the family. When it was finally
to send him away, ORA Nc
Cready and Murry, of Sewickley, were
,alled upon to examine the patient and tes-
,ify to his insanity. The affidavit was made
before Magistrate George F. Rudisil, and
following this Mr.. Murdoch was removed to
where he will probably stay
Until death ends his sufferings, as his case
las been pronounced incurable.
Mrs. Murdock is completely prostrated
,ver the unfortunate circumstance and re-
uses to be seen. When called upon last
evening, her daughter, q pretty girl of
bout 16 years, went upstairs to her
Mothers room but the lady refused to see
my visitors and sent down word that she
lad no statement to make regarding her
insanity or any subsequent
events.
Has Seen Service on ths Field
Mr. Murdock Is distinguished looking
nan of about middle age, and has several
children, two of whom, at least, are under
o years He Is q member of the g. A. R.,
lolds prominent position in the Four
eenth Regiment, and is a member of Cen
raj Wiley's staff During the late re-
,ellion he took an active part in the. hostil-
ties and for gallant service rendered was
reated Captain, which title he still holds
Mr.. Murdock is senior member OF the firm
# Murdock & Co., with offices in room SO
# the Bissell block. He is well-known
ron and steel broker and the agent in this
ity of several prominent corporations
Yesterday afternoon Mrs Murdock filed a
'etition for an inquest in lunacy on her
husband. She states that three weeks ago
e suddenly became insane, and is unfit to |
manage his estate. She further AYERS in the +
'etitIon that her husbands business is in
uch condition that it is necessary to have
ONE one appointed to attend to and settle
tup.
The friends of the family are deeply exer-