The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-21

! NEWPORT, Nov. 21.-Dennisteun n.
Bell, the young society man and college
graduate who admitted that he started
several mysterious blazes which puzzled
the police of Newport, has been commit
ted 30 BloemingdaIe Asylum by Judge
Baker, of the District Court, in this city.
The commitment was made upon che
sworn testimony of physicians that the
young man is a degenerate and has an IN
eontrcllable desire TO see big fires sEd
cannot resist the temptation TO start
them
Bell and his father, Dr.. Christopher NJ.
Bell, of New York, rode up to the District
Court Building at p. N. yesterday in a
covered automobile. Judge Baker and
Clerk GiIpir we're re only persons in the
court room at sI.e time, and It was the
intention to hoio the enquiry in secret
The chief OF polio already had a warrant
drawn up and il I5as sworn to by DR.. Bell,
who charged his son, the self-conleSsed
incendiary, with being of unsouna mind,
and declared thai II would be for the best
interest of the community and the young
man himself II ae were placed in con-
hnement-
When father aid son reached the court
the warrant was read to the young ma q.
who merely nodded his head in an Uncon-
cerned way. ". P. Sheffield acted as
Bells lawyer.
Dr.. c. T. Ksane, Superintendent OF tRe
Rhode Island Insane Hospital. and DE-
Christopher F. Baker, well-knoBn New
port physician. were the witnesses
against Bell. The doctors had a three
hours interview with the ineendiaTy last
Saturday at his fathers summer home in
this place. While the doctors were tell
ing the Judge that they considered Bell a
maniac and entirely irresponsible, The
young man showed the utmost indsnef-
enee When one physician said he was a
degenerate the accused man paid no at
tentioag
Dr.. Kezn in his testimony said he was
convinced that epilepsy had made young
Bell a degenerate He said Bell had in
perativer conceptions which he could not
control The doctor said the young man
is irresponsible and that it is dangerous
for him 10 be al large, After three
hours conversation with Bell DR.. Keane
said there vas no doubt that the man was
insane on the subject of fires His great
desire in life is 10 see a blaze. said Dr.
Keans l'Fie starts a fire not with any
criminal intent OF any desire for gain, but
merely TO crafty his mania Nero fddled
while Rome burned"
Pyromania. the doctor said, is now q rec
ognized form Of insanity by medical men
Dr.. Baker swere positively that Bell IS
a Iunatie The shape Of has head, one side
being longer than the other; the appear
auce Of his face and his manner OF talk
ing were sure Indications o. an Unsouad
mind He said that during his long in
terview with Bell the young man never
volunteered an excuse for his acts OF in
ceRdiarism. which. in his opinion, WAS an
other proof Of insanity.
DR.. Bell. the father, was not SWORD. but
in broken voice he made a statement 10
the Judge He said his son Is q moral
man. kind and afectienate, and had been
brought I'D under moral influences. From
his very childhood, said Dr. Bell, the boy
| always was made wildly excited by 67es.
| Il was difficult to control him when FIRE
/ engines ratified by his home IN Fifth Ave
| nue. Vertigo oftentimes followed the ex-
element Of a FIRE IN the neighborhocd.
When boy Bell would fight TO be allowed
I to run TO @Tes. and sometimes in his
frenzy would destroy furniture and brie-a-
| brae.
| i never dreamed he would start fire
himself said Dr.. Bell He vas always
loving and dItituI son. and his mother
and I had his confidence"
After the FIRE IN the EIdridgs villa
which Bell did not start, it vas said that
| he was so DESTROYS of seeing another fire
! that he started biazes in the Mahoney
| stable and in the SPouting Rock bath
| ing pavilion
The judge without any comment con-
ritted Bell to BloomingdaIe Asylum, and
| Chief Of Police Richards left last night
for that Institution with the young man
1t is said that Bells uncle was one Of
| the founders of BIoomingdale. It vas
deemed best to place him in an instffu-
ton where he can be under the eyes Of
his parents
Bell Is under charge here of incen-
diarism- and his bail bond for 5000 Is
signed ~ his father. It is said that his
commitment to BloomiagdaIe will not
act as a. bar TO prevent his prosecution
AID that an Indictment viii be asked by
the police.