The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-25
VANDERBILT ALIENS CASE.
NOT tNHtPPI. tLTHOI On HE IS
yNDIR RESTRAINT.
Head ~ the westport Sanitarium Tells All
About the tase-Nr. Alien Registers
Al Ills Letters Has Written Freely
TO His Reln,i> cs-Sces a Reporter.


somewhat curtailrd at the Rutland sani-
tariIn AZ Wrstport. giving rise 10 reports
that he was RES riincd illegally and that
lie was sound mentally. These reports
were strengt hencl the other day when
Dr. Rutland, proprietor Of the institution,
was summoned to appear in New Rochelle
with his charge, 40 that further invests
CATION Of Mr.. Aliens condition might be
made. This was done and the patient
is now back again in his quarters in Vest
port.
According 10 the accounts published in
New York. MIR Allen was kidnapped from
Port Chester. \. Y, and had long been
confined in DR.. Ruland's house without
being permitted To- hold any communica-
tion with the outer world, M he was
perfectly sane and his detention was
an outrage. In order To investigate these
reports a reporter called at the institution
to-day and got a detailed statement of the
case from DR.. Rutland. who also introduced
him to Mr.. Allen.
This is Dr. Rulands version of the case:
~On Dec. II. 1895, Mr.. Allen was brought
20 my private hospital, suffering from
paranoia the commitment being signed
by DIR. Charles l.. Damn and DR.. Joseph
Collins. two of the most eminent specialists
In their lire in the country. Here Is the
document"
Dr. rutland handed to the reporter the
commitment. duly signed and sealed, and
saying that Mr. Allen was suffering from
Authorizations which led him to believe
that he was pursued by enemies, and that
mysterious Influences were at work 10
undermine his health and prevent his
sleeping.
He was Of unsound mind" said DR..
Rutland, and should not be allowed to
remain AT large. Upon the receipt of this
paper DR.. Damn, DIR. Collins and two Of
my attendants accompanied MIR. Allen
on the train. the patient Offering no oblec-
lions and indeed, appearing most willing
10 come up. In tn" car Immediately he
hind him was his sister, Mrs. James Is.
Ward accompanied 10y her husband.
The first steps II the proceedings had
been taken AT the instance of I. W. sutton
II Bloomfield, y J., an uncle of Mr.. Allen.
For few months after his arrival Mr..
Allen was installed in the second ward,
but after he had somewhat adapted himself
10 the rules Of the place, he was trans
ferped To better ward down stairs, having
exactly the same liberty and privileges
as the other patients.
After year or ~ he became 80 tractabe
that | put him on his parole, and gave him
half an acre If garden ground IN which To
amu-e himself 10y growing flowers or fruit
or whatever his fancy might suggest.
During all this time III correspondent freely
with his relatives and friends and IN this
feature of his idio>ynCrases was mani
Tested. He Is so suspicious of every one
that he insists upon all his letters being
registered. and II, he writes on an average
of fifty month hi, stamp account is quite
an item.
Like child with new toy. Mr. Allen
was contented for a long time with his
garden and his paint shop III the BAN, but
as his malady became worse he grew TO
be troublesome and | was obliged to re-
strict his privileges TO those enjoyed by
the other patients wit whom he ASSOC
ciated and with whom he exercised. Mr..
Allen il not locked in his room. as has been
said. and If YOU care 10 meet him will
introduce you
With that DR. Rutland led the reporter
through the hall into spaciois sitting
room, where dozen pat tents were smoking,
chatting and reading the newspapers and
books Mr. Allen came out and for ten
minutes chatted with the visitor, mani
Testing great interest in the Harvard
Yale football match and other topics of
the day. During this conversation Mr..
Allen referred jokingly to his trip To New
Rochelle and seemed on the best of terms
with DR., Rutland
One thing worried him. Was DR. Rulant
sure tnaI ns ndu registered me ltllef tla'
MIR Allen had written There was the
receipt, but even that failed tn content
him. and the question was repeated three
times. In the hands of the United States
Trust aud the Farmers Loan and Trust
Companies Of New York is OOOO, from
which Mr.. Allen draws about SLIGO a year
For years il has been his sisters custom
to send him n check for his signature,
which he would affiy and return. and up
10 couple of months ago they have been
duly honored
For some reason. however. one of the
companies recently wrote 10 DR.. rutland
inquiring as to MIR Aliens condition. and
upon being Informed declined to honor
his checks in the future, A. Ia Mr.. Aliens
present condition he IL as comfortable
and happy a. any one could possibly h.
under the circumstances.
NYACk, Nov. 2i-former Senator Clar-
ence bnNow, counsel for William 5. Van
derbllt Allen, was seen at his home here
that his friend, Allen. who has been in
~ nitarium az Wes,port Conn. for six
yes.rs. il sane Mr. lexow means. by
a thorough investigation, 10 determine
whether this = so or not
Il hay" not promised to make some
startling rovolaiiou-,' said Mr.. Icxow
as ha~ been ,aid IN some nowspa pcrs,
but mean TO see thai justice l. done this
man, whom ! have known for years.
had not heard from Mr. Allen for seven or
confinement in Sauitarium for six long
years. and | was very much aStouishsd
last saturday afternoon, while ON my way
10 a train To Mine ola, L. l.. to see in paper
held 10y "A fellow Passenger an article. with
large headlines. telling Of the case
IT'S my sincere belief that Mr. Alien il
all right mentally, and if 1t * 80 proven
by the present investigation N" shall he
treated a. such. | believe il j. possible
that man may have hallucinatiors and
illusions N times, and still not be insane
or subject TO such treatment al would
naturally be bestowed upon an insane
person. | do not say positively that this |
is SO in Mr.. Aliens case, for ! cannot know
until make an investigation a. his counsel
but | have never seen anything in Mr.
Allens actions during the time | la we
known him 10 indicate that he was not per-
feCtly lucid in every RESPECT.
Il received two letters from Mr.. Allen
this morning, one an ordinary letter, the
ct her a glstor'd letter. Both related
10 my acting % hls counsel in this matter
II Mr.. Allen il insau" and he is so adjudgcd,