New-York tribune., 1902-12-04
HEARING ADJOURNED THAT HE MAY
RECOVER FROM INCARCERATION.
ARTIST RELEASED FROM SANATORIUM
WITH AS LITTLE FORMALITY AS
HE WAS SENT TO IT.

William s Vanderbilt Allen. the artist. great
grandson of Commodore Vanderbilt, who had
been for six years held lunatic in a sana-
tor1um at Westport Conn.,, was yesterday re-
leased and came to this city. Thus it happens
that man who for six years has been held in
sane, and who was recently pronounced so by
three experts, is now at full liberty, and that
without any order from the courts. This was
accomplished by a proceeding almost as in
formal as that by which he is said to have been
incarcera ted-by the agreement of all concerned
in the petition to have him declared incom-
petent.
The commission appointed by Supreme Court
Justice Keogh met at New-Rochelle yesterday.
Allen present. Samuel c. Herriman.
attorney for the artists uncle T. W. Sutton
of Bloomfield n. J., who began the proceeding
to have him declared incompetent, made the
announcement that Allen had been released IN
the morning and had been per1nittd to go to
New-York
NJ J. Tierney and DR.. F. w Dalrymple'
members of the commission. received tele-
gram from Clarence Lexow. attorney for Aheh'
asking that the hearing be adjourned Tor TWO
months. to enable Allen to appear on the ao-
journed day free from the effects of restraint
and confinement.
Mr.. Herman said that Mr. Lexow hao sus
gested that his client be placed in the care OF
away somewhere where he could rest ana oe
free from annoyance.
II have assented to this suggestion, salu
Mr. HERMAN, "and Mr.. Sutton is also slao to
cooperate with Nh. Lexow If anything can De
done to improve his nephew's condition
Mr.. Terney. chairman of the commission, ad-
journed the hearing to January 2S
After his release from the sanatorium Alien
came Immediately to this city. He was accom-
iaynr nf
torium They went to Mr.. Lexow's office Alien
said that he feared notorety. lest some of his
creditors would know he in town, seize him
and put him in jail Mr.. Lexow assured MIN
that he would be fully protected.
The artists uncle and his attorney say that
they are still convinced of Aliens insanity. his
main fear. they say, IS that some OF MS creu-
itors will get possession of his baby. Mr Harri-
man declared that ii was ridiculous for any one
to suppose that the proceedings were merely
to get the custody of the artists income 1t
amounts to only $1,000 a year" said he 1
have explained TO the commission how 1t VIII
be reduced to S7O0 in g year or two
How about his big barnful of paintings and
his $4,000 library at Rye" asked the reporter
Il wish you could find them he replied. We
can't Charles W. Dayton has been appointed
receiver for Allen. He is looking around to find
his possessions
Mr. LexoW, Aliens attorney, said:
For two weeks / have been making an in
vestigation. Representatives from my ONCE
have talked with Mr.. Allen, have sounded him
thoroughly on all subjects. and not one trace OF
mental deficiency has been discovered. l have
had doctors examine him, and they say that II
he is insane 80 per cent of all the persons in
New York are insane. He was committed mere
ly on the certificate OF two doctors, who were
with him only for few minutes. and said he
had a homicidal tendency: and yet, never once
during his six years incarceration. did he give
the slightest evidence of such tendency AS
to his so-caled hallucination that he was dunned
to death by creditors IL no alteration, but
a fact. 1t is setting bad example IL desire
pay ones debts is to be taken an evidence
of insanity. He is absolutely sane
The proceedings at New-Rochelle will not be
abandoned. We want them continued so that
Mr.. Allen may be declared formally sane
There will be disclosures or developments
TO indicate that Mr. Aliens Imprisonment
the result OF q plot conspiracy. l charge his
relatives with Interior purpose, but do
claim that he has been made the victim OF
grievous and outrageous mistake There was
too much haste and not a sufficient observance
of legal requirements in this case.
Mr. Allen was committed TO the sanatorium
on December H. 1896 an examination made
by DR.. Charles L. Dana and DR.. Joseph Collins,
of this city who said that he suffering
from paranoia.
,rrTnE nEED TEdD or n JTJJT