The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-07
BRASSINGTON IN AN ASYLUM.
HE rs SUFFERING FROM HYsTFRTI,
NOT DOC BITE, ms DOCTORS sdH.


Three More Ert. In witch He Acted Like
u DoE-Hi. s,n-rs A EErnvntea by Hts
.Father-His Mother Ftnds Needed Money.
Young John Brassington. who has been Ill
with puZzlinR madness Extraordinarily for the
past ak weeks. was removed yesterday after
noon to the State Lunatic Asylum at PouRh-
keepsie Three times In the course OF tho day
he passed through tho spasms to which he has
been subject. In each attack he barked and
snapped like n dog and struggled under
the restraint OF the straps with which
he Ia bound to his cot. Tho fits
were all caused By exciting disagreements be-
tween his parents In reference to his removal
to some institution whore he might be treated
and kept In safe restraint. 1t Is n singular fea-
ture OF the young mans trouble that he Ia ex-
cited to violent outbreaks by some external in
nuencc When left alone he is usually quiet.
The policeman. John De Courcy. whom Chief
Foley delegated to watch the young man In his
home has had little to do so long rs his father.
Henry Brassington. kept away from him. and
there wero no disputes between his father and
mother. But such o quarrel or the presence
Of his father was certain tO send him of into
1T and start him frothing at the mouth and
exhibiting every other symptom Of hydropho-
bia. But nobody believes that he hns hydro
phobia. Ills story that he was bitton by dog
and was treated at the Pasteur Institute In the
early spring Is denied by both his parents and
his physician. The doctors who signed the
commitment yesterday said that lie was SUI
fering from hystoria. They said further that
1t was OF form remarkable and unusual in q
man, and especially uncommon In so young
man. They believe that treatment will restore
him to health.
Young Brassington Is q handsome boy In
spite OF tho fact that his face Is pale and
wasted. He talked nationally to O Sun re.
porter yesterday.
There's nothing the matter with me but
overwork." he said. "All that need is to rest
and be let alone for whIlc."
He showed number OF bruises and scars on
one leg. and said that they were caused by his
father. who had treated him with great
brutality. The elder Brassington denied this.
and said thnt the scars were made By him In
that hospital doctor had told him the hoy re-
CURED heroic treatment, and he gave it to
boy would ever doub tse the father had
acted on the doctors advice. -,
On Wednesday night the boy took enough
morphine to Keep him quiet until his father
sington. who had slept or the effects Of the
up early and announced that he WIS sorry he
treated the boy as he had donc on "Wednesday
house. saying that he would 20 to town and
make arrangements to have him sent to SAN
tarium.
After a few hours he returned again under
the influence Of liquor. Hewent into his sons
room room and began to taunt ths boy who lay
man. In a few moments tho boy began to
froth ut the mouth and exhibit the usual
symptoms Of fit moment later 4 was on
to get free. The father. mindful Of the bites
Wednesday. beat a retreat. AS soon as his
father was out OF sight young Brassington
After this happened. tho, hoy's mother went
to Police Headquarters. determined to have
Sergeant Foley, execute the warrant against
day. The charge was intemrerance. and her
object vas to get her husband out Of the boys
had the warrant and while she was searching
for him BrassinG,on went to Judge Appel In
sns CITY ss6 cSH y "Ha s scf Sq napP S fes
asylum. Chief Foley objected to this on the
TO support the boy. Then the father had tho
eommitment changed to the county poorhouse
orderly in the hospital a. Mount vernon drove
h t, tho te thess oor
whore the boy lay and called through the
Now. iii got you out OF here!"
and Brassington turned to tho policeman and
"ASo n. ossr Your s duty sn "a we'll we'll have
him IN Tarrytown inside Of two hours"
BY this time a crowd had gathered in the
OF the surrounding houses. The boy had al;
ito and his
at time rs Mrs s Ga came
the street. When she saw the crowd she
as her husband and his two 1ns wess
entering. She stopped her husband and looked |
was committed to the Doorhouse She burst
into tears and turned aPfsaiinEy to her bus
.. An excited scene cnsued between tho trio. |
The wife ;, begged her husband s to have the
some private institution.
II cam afford it." he said finally. "Ihavon't |
get the money to SPEND on him, Here. Scott
have. Here. look at this..you." she cried.
% SEQ Y Ta1on Ro e6
Here Mis-; Brassincton dlycd down and lifted
and ashiSied s5o lii Wien ms She " stood erect
Just see Y can't afford to pay for my boy"
The boys attack had grown worse and he
to his father. Finally the elder Brnssington
and Mrs. BrassIgton returned to court. and
asylum at Poughkeepsie. where. his father
s Sai he would be treated asa private patient
him. and the hospital orderly, he was driven
scepsle He was quiet during tho drive. but
refused to enter the train voluntarily. He was
His physicians say that the hoy Is suffering
rom acute hysteria and that the accompany
ing phenomena AFRO entirely nervous In their
origin. None OF them believes that his condi-
ton Ia due to q dog bite,