The Washington times., 1905-07-25

Tells Strange Story of Being
kidnapped.
QUEENS DOCTORS GRANDSON
Once WelI-to- Do-Turned Possessions
Over TO Son-Nerves Unsettled
by Wife's Death.

over 10 SOu-NSlFcS SHSStLiSN
by Wife's Death.
Il would rather fight nv eight battles
and five skirmishes over again than
spend another week III the Government
Asylum for the Insane. That place is
next door to perdition,"
Thus spoke Alexander NJ, Willis. the
veteran volunteer soldier OF the war OF
lS6I-5. 10 Times reporter yesterday
evening.
Willis was released from the asylum
yesterday. by order of Justice Wright,
ON the ground that he had not been
properly committed. The ruling is re-
garded as most important. involving, as
II does, the cases of several hundred vet
Grams and soldiers committed under sim
liar circumstances.
Odd Tale He Tells.
The story told by Willis of his con-
fnernent in the asylum sounds like
romance-a tale of fiction. It is almost
incredible, and yet he claims every
word OF it can be verified. That he Is
free today is due to the persistent efforts
of Mrs. c. c. Goodrich. of 2l5 F'our-and-
a-half street northwest, in whose fiat he
is now staying.
According to the statement made by
Willis, his blood is of the bluest, his late
maternal grandfather being no less
parsonage than DR.. Alexander New, pri-
vate physician 10 the late Queen VIC
toria-
For forty-siX years l was connected
with the well-lInOWn firm of Arnold
Constable x Co, of New York. having
80 ffe sEaHH Wills
land ] was well-to-do, owning much
property in New York, which turned
over to my son on the promise that ne
would take care OF me and see thdt my
wants We're provided for. And now the
story OF nay incarceration.
Unsettled by Wife's Death.
In the fall of 1902 l lost my wife.
Her death proved great shock TO me
It completely unnerved me, So, leaving
my old home in Jersey City, where l had
lived for more than forty years, [ went
70 Philadelphia TO live with my son. IN
December. 1902, my son resigned his pro-
censorship in the Girard College and
went TO New York to accept position
in bank and ] Went along. We lived
in Brooklyn.
ION January /, 1903. I became dis
satisfied and still grieying over the
death OF my wife. I took the ferry FOR
Jersey CIty. intending TO go back TO my
old home. on the ferry boat a man
slapped me on the back, saying:
How do YOU do. Mr.. Wins, Don Don |
you remember me2 am Dr. ------; / We
known YOU for twenty years. What
seems 10 be the matter with you2
y told him about my great loss and
Why said the doctor. what you
need IS treatment for your shattered
nerves. There is q sanitarium just
opened in Princeton, and If you viii go
there for treatment for several weeks
You will soon be in good health.
Water Mixed With Drug.
when the boat reached Jersey City
gave the doctor money 70 buy a ticket
to Princeton When we boarded the car
and had taken q seat the doctor sug-
gested thar a glass of water would be
refreshing. and he gave me 4 glass of
water, putting a powder in the water.
/ thought it was all right and that the
doctor was giving me medicine for my
nerves.
And l never knew anything more, -
added Willis, until I woke up and found
myself in the Soldiers Home in MIL
Waukee, L WAS kept there against my
viii for nine months.
i was so insistent on leaving the
place that they finally promised 10 send
me 10 my home in Jersey City, And
when / took the cars in Milwaukee for
what l supposed was Jersey City ]
found that instead Of going there / had
been sent TO the Washington Asylum
for the Insane.
And / would have been there yet but
for the splendid work done by Mrs.
Goodrich. It is because OF the interest
she took in my case that I am a free
man today"
What Mrs Goodrich Did.
Mrs. C. c. Goodrieh's statement, in
brief. is that last summer On her regular
visit to the asylum she noticed Mr..
Willis sitting silent on a chair, taking
no interest in his surroundings. She
spoke TO him kindly and gradually drew
from him his story Of confinement. She
then set herself to work corresponding
with his son ana his married daughters
and friends. But she received only slight
encouragement. In fact, not one of them
seemed 10 take any interest whatever,
She says she wrote letters TO Willis
telling what she was doing to procure
his release, but only when she sent
registered letters did Willis receive them.
She received letters from Willis when he
could smuggle them out by the aid of a
Irusty. and when the trusty was caught
by the officials he was deprived Of ais
liberty ana the letters found oil him
We're destroyed,
Later" said Mrs. Goodrich. Il viii
have = statement TO make about the
conditions existing in the Government
Asylum for the Insane, which, II the
papers viii print. viii staFJle the coun-
try. / have the facts and viii give them
10 the public At the proper time"
Dr.. Keyburn Gratifed.
DR.. Robert Reyburn. Of the Medjco-
Legal Society. expressed today the
greatest qualification over the outcome
of the Willis case Dr. Reyburn was one
OF the physicians detailed by the society
10 make an examination OF Willis, but
was refused permission TO do so by
Superintendent White, OF St. EHzabeth's.
We are extremely graJifed over the
result of the case said DR.. ReyburD
this morning. Great good win come of
the courts decision. II is but the begin
ming. There VIII be no more raiIroading
OF men aud women to the asylum.
= am not authorized TO say at this
time what the society Will do next. We
VIII have a meeting soon and plan Of
action VIII then be determined
500 Harpers Ferry and Return, Thurs
day. July 2. account Y. NJ c. A Balti-
more and Ohio r, r. station S:25 q IN.
Returning from HaFpeTg Ferry $50 D. N.
same day.