New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-04
SWAN FROM THE ASYLUM.
COURT THINKS NAN SINE.
Jesc Says Change Of Faith Kept
Him on Yards Island.

Hyman Epstein. twenty-three years old. con-
fined al The insane asylum on Wards isiahd
escaped from there yesterday morning. AFTER
breakfast while working in one OF the buildings
adjoining the main asylum. he eiuded the
guards left his hat ana coat behind, crept 70
the river bank and started TO swim to Man
haitian The distance across at this point If
about two miles. The curre1t carried him down
somewhat but he fought against it and reached
Mil Rock. about midsiream. A police patrol
boat WIS going up the river. The police saw the
swimmer and attempted 10 rescue him. bp-
stein tried 10 dodge the boat, but, seeing he was
caught gave himself up and told the ponce
without hesitation that he trying TO get
away from Wards Island. He seemed rational.
and WAS taken to the Harlem court
Magistrate Crane. after questioning him
closely. said: This man is TO more insane than
] am" Epstein told his story in apparently n
rational manner. he said;
am an eN-conyict. was sentenced in Feb
ruary. 1891 TO Sing Sing for two Years bg
Judge Foster. In July, 1862. they transferred
me 10 Auburn. While ] in prison j re
formed and converted TO the Christian
faith. AS you see. am Of Jewish birth When
ever any Christian minister came around III
sisted on standing VI. The prison autnorlues
thought ] wasn't in my right mind 10 90 TINS
rs they knew ] was n jew. ] had been reading
the Scriptures and ! found my conversion IN
the Book Of Revelations Dr. Geran, the phN .
stefan at Auburn. examined me, and said was
insane and / was aansfcrred 10 the insane nos
pital al Dannemora. That was IN july. 49,;
Later ] was transferred 20 the insane hospltal
on Wards Island.
several times my people. who live in one
ndred-and-sixteenth-st- near Park-aNe.
"a led 10 see me. Not being able 10 understand
nv conversion TO the Christian faith. they have
taken the doctors word rather than my own
and believe / am insane. At first the asylum
authorities were inclined TO treat me harshly'
but recently they have treated me better
Magistrate Crane listened to the recital Of Ep-
stems story intenty end then said:
Won look perfectly sane 10 me. You talk ra-
stonallv and I can't anything the matter
with YOU. ] am 81 the opinion you are SANE
and it's an outrage 20 keep a sane man IN an
insane asylum. There are just two ways OF looh-
ine al g. It's no crime for an insane man 70
attempt to escape from an asylum and oon
blame a sane man for trying 10 escape. III
going 10 DO what 1 can Tor you.
Magistrate crane told Patroiman Lewis to in
form the Wards Island authorities that the
court would hold Epstein in SITS custody for a
Jew davs rending an investigation OF the case
Epstein was taken 10 the Harlem court prison
and Magistrate crane gave orders that ne ne
treated well In the mean time Magistrate
Crane said, n investigation showed the man
was sane. he would issue a writ for Epstein
Late yesterday afternoon q physician from
the insane hospital went TO the Harlem Police
Court He said he personally had charge Of
Epstein and understood him thoroughly.
How do YOU know that this man is insane?
asked Magistrate crane.
Because he believes that he has seen Jesus
Christ n" the physician answered.
why that doesn't necessarily demonstrate
that tho man Is insane the court retorted. I
have seen religious persons who have contended
that they have seen Christ. and they were not
insane. either. u seems incredible TO me that
this man is insane and ! intend 10 get further
proof before taking any action IN his case
Magistrate crane said he would hold the man
until The superintendent Of the asylum was
hcard from. He said he convinced that Ep-
sAin was perfectly sane and he would see that
everything was Strengthened out.