The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-07
THE N. E. PHILLIPS CASE.
Rev. John II Purdue Contributes Some
Information About Il.

Rev. John II Purdue Contributes Some
Information About It.
No one seems to know what Las be-
come of u. E. Phillips, the man who was
released from the asylum on June 20 by
order Of Judge Hazen of the district
court. Phillips is tile man who was con-
fined five years in the state insane asylum
here. illegally. Phillips convinced every
one that he is now perfectly sane He
asserted that he had never been insane,
and that he was sent to the asylum with
out the forms of a trial before the pro-
bate court
The records at the asylum show that
Phillips was regularly tried before the
probate court of Smith county, and adj
Judged insane April so, 1889. The state
ment Of the case says that Phillips gave
evidence Of homicidal and suicidal ten
denotes. The asylum record shows that
he was under the delusion that he could
hear voices Of people in Smith county,
but the only record Of any violence on
his part was on Oct 81, 1890, when he
demanded his liberty and tried to take
the keys from an attendant
The record suddenly breaks off early
in 1898, when the statement is made that
Phillips was sullen in manner. Nothing
more about the case is on record at the
asylum
In relation 70 the case, the following
letter has been received a. the JOURNAL
office:
TO the Editor Of the State journal
SIR:=In your issue of the 29th / see
the account Of the release OF Nj. F. Phil
lips from the insane asylum by a writ OF
habeas corpus. This should reveal one
of the boldest and blacklist crimes known
20 the citizens Of Kansas. This man
says that he has been confined in the in
sane asylum OF Kansas for five years, and
yet perfectly sane This statement
Mr.. Phillips will have no trouble to
prove. Nor do / think it any difficult
matter to prove that it was 4 known fact
TO the officers of that Institution II they
were blind TO such fact they were GER
tainlv unfit for that position; if they were
aware Of it (which / believe they were),
then they know the condition under
which he WAS brought there. and there
fore know who is responsible for his
confinement The laws Of justice to hui
mainly demand that light be thrown
upon this darkness
In February of 1890 / was engaged as
attendant in that institution / was
placed on b. ward, the most
violent in the asylum. As
glanced around at the occupants
my eyes rested on this man,
Phillips, neat and tidy in appearance. his
every bearing showed him to be a man
ot Intelligence, cCnversant with any
subject, sociabie and courteous. At the
dinner table the first day l asked the
other attendants what Was the matter
with that man with the gray suit on
They said nothing. / then asked what
he was there FOR. when the head attend
ant said that this was one of the mystic
ries of the institution.
During the day Phillips told me the
same story he told your reporter and up
on the witness stand. This he often re-
peated during my stay there aud always
the same. lie would frequently urge me
TO look after his case and see what
could be done. 1 told him as long as l
was employe in the institution could
do nothing. but when L quit would see
what could be done / remained there
only a few months. then wrote to two
lawyers in Smith Center, asking them if
they knew anything about his case. / re-
cetved no reply. I then wrote to his sis
tar in Dakota. She wrote to the super
fntendent, DR.. Eastman; he replied: she
then wrote me. sending his letter. His re-
ply to her in substances was about this:
* les your brother Mr. Phillips is an in
mate Of this institution aud we consider
him very bad man; he has spells dur
ing which he il almost uncomfortable
he is a man we deem unfit to be at large"
When l read this / WAS fully convin-
ced that there was something ssrotten"
about the case. His sister said she would