The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-16
BIInn's Forums DISAPPEARED
While Hs Was in an Asylum
WAS IN ASYLUM THREE YEARS.
When Released After Gaining His Rsassa,
Hs Fsunt That His 80 Houses Had
Been Decided Away

New York, Jan. ls.-Chrlstian Blinn
Harlem, in the supreme court yesterday
morning made the astounding statement
that he had been in trance FOR three
years and had either signed away. given
away or lost several hundred thousand
dollars worth OF property.
IL went 10 sleep a rich man he said
plalntively. land awoke 10 find myself a
pauper"
Tslinn has brought suit against Julia
schwarz md her tenants to recover se6.-
900 collected in rent. and seeks also 90
cancel deeds held by Mrs. Schwarz. Mrs.
schwars says Blinn transferred the prop
erty 20 her for AIN adequate consideration
before he became insane.
Blinn denies this. although he admits
he was In sanitarium for three years,
between 1892 and 1885. The defence Will
endeavor To prove Blan insane The case
is being tried before Justice Truax and a
jury. and Is likely 10 last more than a
week.
Blinn, the first witness yesterday, II
n rotund man with smooth face and
spectacles Prior TO 1892 or about the time
ne was taken III. he owned property 10
Harlem valued at upward 81 ~ l.0ooSo. In
cludlng thirty-three houses and valuable
lots. His illness commenced with an at
tack of the grip.
Suddenly" said Mr.. Binn. my, life
became blank. l remembered nothing;
knew nothing; had no glimmer of mem
ory until 1895, some time in May OF that
year, 1 think. Then. suddenly as mem
orNy had left me so N returned.
II found myself in a strange building,
among strangers The faces were all un-
familiar 4 asked where was and to my
amazement learned thatI was In Or.
Combes private insane asylum, at Flush
ing l.. L. | was allowed out OF the asylum
on giving my parole that would report
at the institution I'm the following Septern-
ber. ] had no money and began 20 search
for my property"
Mr. Blinn said he found his mother IA
possession of a portion OF his property.
which she made over TO him. He found
that none OF the others who held his
deeds. nearly all of them strangers. would
make restitution.
II had owned a great deal OF property,
said Bhnn, and could not recall thai
had disposed OF any OF II. and yet wher
went TO my tenants, who had always
paid me rent, they refused to recognize
me al their landlord.
Mrs. Schwarz said that she paid ms
SIS, 900 for the part Of tho property deed
ed to her. TO which l made reply III
ever made such deed IL must have been
while | was crazy
DR. r. G.. r. Combes, OF the asylum In
which Blinn was kept for three years,
said OF Blinn:
This was one OF the most remarkable
cases / ever met. Blinn was one of the
most violent patients i have ever treated
He imagined there was an electrical ma
chine i'm his brain and was subject 20
other delusions. His cure was sudden and
complete"
DIR. Combes swore positively that Blinn
Is now perfectly sane. DIT. Edward q.
Janeway and DIR. James A. Williams also
testified that Blinn is now sane.
Margaret Blinn. the plaintiffs wife,
swore that she induced her husband ia
sign the deeds conveying the property "a
Mrs. Schwarz. as they needed the money
at the time and Mr.. Blinn was very III.
She said that her husband frequently
attempted 10 Jump ont OF windows. she
once caught him when he was half over
the window-sill and asked him what ne
was trying to do. He replied that he was
looking for bottle of wine.