Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-18
Robert Elberding Pronounced
Mentally Wrong.
WELL FIXED FOR Cash
Having $4,000 and Pr0perty--lm-
agined Himself to be Very
Wealthy.

The mental condition of Robert Elber-
ding was made the subject of an examin-
alton before a commission consisting OF
Drs. T. j. Murray, Donald Campbell and
H. j. Mcdonald in Judge Lindsay's court
this morning and at the conclusion of the
investigation the subject was pronounced
insane.
Elderding is an old time emb of the
sporting fraternity in Butte, having at
one time been a faro dealer, but lately a
member of the firm of Albertson & AL
bertson in the NJ. & M. He was born in
Germany, but came to this country when
only eight years old. Mrs. Fin of Mo-
berly, Mo, is his cousin. She is the only
relative he has in America. 1t is prob
able that he will be sent to a private
asylum.
Henry Albertson was the first person
to give testimony. He said he had known
Elberding fifteen or sixteen years IN
Butte. Recently Elberding had men
toned some money making schemes
which seemed so unreasonable that his
; sanity had been questioned. He had
mentioned no particular thing. lie be-
; lieved himself extremely wealthy; talked
of sinking shafts on mines and discover
ing oil wells. From a rather close man
| in money affairs he had drifted into
| something of a spendthrift. His habits
in life had virtually been good.
For about eleven months, sald MI.
Albertson. 'he and 1 have been engaged
in business together"
Paul Albertson testified he had noticed
a change in Elberding's conduct about
three months ago. He suddenly lnaSlheu
himself possessed of a million dollars and
wanted to buy Main street real estate
and some mining property three or four
miles from the city. A week ago Elber-
ding had examined the latter ana ex-
pressed his confidence in it's richness.
Witness did not believe the patient capa-
BILE of managing his own affairs, out
would not say he was insane:
Isaac Morehouse said he had KNOW
Elberding about twelve years w
months ago he had been sent to the
Springs. but his condition did not im'
nrove. When he returned he said ne
had bought the Springs and a NINE
Prior to his Illness he had been closd
With his money, out lately he had been
the reverse, believing his imaginary
wealth prompted him to drink noth1hs
but wine. As to the patients business
affairs. he had property and money, the
III IL " ~
gotiating for the mine near the springs
he "had paid SO down to close the par
gain. About two months ago ElDerdlns
had an operation performed on MS head'
said Morehouse but it did not seem ia
inconvenience him.
DIR. p, J. Sheerin told the court and
commission he considered the patient
unsafe to be at large. He had said he
was possessed of great wealth; that ms
business partners had him placed IN
iail and as soon as he got out he would
kill them. His speech was somewhat
slow, showing paralysis of the braln.
Elberdins said he felt fine and mad
eaten a big beefsteak two hours pe1ore'
he ate beefsteak six or seven times a DAY;
they were as big as lie could get them
He had a mine out on the fiat and the
rock showed gold all over. 1t was great
He also had d ranch worth $2O0,oOO ano
all he had paid for it was 81, 900. The
vein of the mine vas Is feet wide and
the ore assayed $S5 per ton. He was At
wears old, he said, having been born IN
June, 1857, but he intended to live COZ
or 700 wears. Returning to the sub.
iect of his mines he said there wa $l5,-
coo worth of ore or the dump. that had
been overlooked. Henry and Paul AL
bertson and Ike MoreEo,sse We're n.
partners in business and he had never
had any trouble with them. They had
treated him Ike Il brother.