The sun., 1897-12-30
.rAeAnIEs or \ J gIsoaorY:
The lawyers Ezpcrtuess with the Bieyoio
cited as Proer or EHis Hfental sounduesr.


cited as Proor Or His Mental soundueas-
stress was laid yesterday by counsel for
Franklin ]. Bischofi, before tho Sheriff's jury
which 10 considering his mental condition, on
the feet that for the past fivo months ho had
been an inveterate bicyclist the inference be-
ing that his expertness with and devotion to
his wheel demonstrated that he was not insane.
1t appears that Superintendent Lyon of Bloom
ingdalo Asylum gave Mr.. Bischof permission
to ride his wheel daily on condition that he ro-
turn TO the asylum at 3 o'clock in the after
noon. Blschoff awaited himself freely OF this
privilege, and his examination yesterday
showed that he had ridden 1871 miles. Ho
said ho could bring his cyclometer to court in
proof Of his statement. He admitted that ho
was mentally deranged when he entereu tho
institution. but declared that he was all right
now. Ho was not asked II ho considered bicy-
cling factor In his improved condition.
When ho first went to Bloomingdalo he was
put in Ward 8, which, he said, was known as
the "madmen's ward" but later he had been
promoted to No. 1. Afndavits Of formerssWar-
den Roe Of Ludlow Street Jail and of d. Edgar
Anthony, tho present counsel Of Lawyer
Bischoff, were read, in which they stated that
while Bischoff was In the Jail he was mentally
Justice Henry Bischotf of the Supreme Court,
brother Of tho lawyer, testified that prior to the
their father There had been objections to his
brothers marriage, and when asked to dc.
scribe his brother as youth the Judge said: said
IDENTIFY generous at all times. He was excita-
bio, and always getting into violent passions
He was habitually perverse and paid no atten.
tion to tho admonitions of his family He was
bank Franklin received $1,000 a year. but
lived at the rate Of $4,000 a year.
II was lod to discover certain irregularities
Of his by some Of the clerks. and found that he
was signing checks to keep up a fictitious bal.
ance. We decided that his interest in my
fathers bank should cease, and after CONSUL
tation with him he agreed to resign.
''He then met some people who got him to
join In an advertising scheme-R Photographic
album with n musical box attached. He ap-
piled to my fathers friends for advertisements,
and the scheme fell through. He next, started
a supposed branch Of my fathers business at
116th street end Third avenue, which he called
'Bischof's Uptown Agency. In connection
schatz, now Judge at Mount Vernon, informed
me Of Irregularities OF Franklins in connec.
tion with this business and said he thought
that he. would have to prosecute him. We
ment was made by which he was to go to Brook
lyn and live on an allowance, but he did not
stay there long. He returned to this city and
resumed @ cd the practice Of , law, which he contin'
About 1875 the witness heard that his broth.
or had attempted suicide, and the witness went
to house in Tenth street, where he found him
In hall bedroom; The attending physician
poisoning when franklin burst out laughing
and said that he was only shamming. Once at
City Island Franklin had left his fathers
house saving that he would drown hin himself.
in the water. and brought him ashore.
The case went over until to-day.