Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-26
FREE FROM ASYLUM
Theodore Wright's Long Strug-
gle for Liberty Ends.
TEN YEARS IN A MADHOUSE
Once Prominent Business Man Now
Almost Forgotten.
MADE A PERSISTENT FIGHT
Will Not See His Wife and Son, Who
Instituted Proceedings Leading
to His Incarceration.
MADE A PERSISTENT FIGHT

PHILADELPHIA, December GA ten
years fight for freedom from an asylum
for the insane ended yesterday when the
doors of Burn Brae, in Delaware county,
closed behind Theodore Wright, once
prominent in business and social circles
here, now almost forgotten except by his
immediate family. That his release from
the institution where he was in daily con-
tact with insane persons should come on
Christmas was more coincidence than be-
cause Of sentimental reasons. i
The struggle to escape the life among
lunatics was long and sensational He Is
an old man now, and bowed with a weight
of sorrow The memory of that long fight
for freedom came to Mr.. Wright as he
paused yesterday before the grim walls Of
the asylum. Silent he stood while his sis
ter, Mrs. Frances Davis of Colorado laid
her hand gently upon his arm and said
Come away" Tears welled up in the old
mans eyes and dropped unheeded upon the
frozen ground
AS the carriage rumbled along toward
this city the various phases of his tragic
history surged through his brain. He still
could recall his feelings on the day that,
at the instance of his wife and son, he was
adjudged insane by two physicians and car
ried off to the Pennsylvania Asylum for the
Insane.
A Railroad President.
At the time he was president of the Wini-
fred Railroad and Coal Company of Vir-
ginia. His grandfather. Peter Wright, was
founder of the famous ship brokerage firm
of Peter Wright & Sons. Theodore had an
interest in the business. He was considered
wealthy. AS he neared the age of fifty
Mr.. Wright became subject to hallucina-
lions, his family say. They decided that
ne was dangerous man. Mrs. Wright
and their son, Minturn B., asked that an
inquiry be made into the husband and
fathers sanity. The physicians agreed
with the family that Mr.. Wright should be
confined in asylum.
After his incarceration Mr.. Wright wrote
In vain to hundreds of lawyers and jurists
IN this and other cities begging them to
take up his case and try to obtain his re-
lease He told them that it was all a hor
rible mistake; that he was perfectly sane,
and that his family had Numbered The let
tiers were written no crazy man could
have written. But the lawyers and jurists
did not go to the assistance of the man.
he wrote to every relative and friend he
had in the world. They supposed him in
sane, and turned deaf ear to his plead
ingS
Mr.. Wright's expenses at the institution
were paid from his estate, which had been
settled. Very little now remains of the
money that was in his name when he en-
tered the madhouse. He was allowed to
read the newspapers. One day he saw a
story which told how Thomas Earle White
and his law partner Joseph H. Tulane, had
obtained the release from an insane asylum
of John Thomas Lucas.
Lawyer Takes Up Case. Ia.
SAT last 1 have found lawyer who will
take up this fight for me- said Mr.. Wright.
So he wrote Mr.. White, giving him all the
details of his case, and imploring him in
the name of humanity to take it up. Mr..
Whites interest was aroused. He began an
investigation, and hope was born anew in
the breast of Mr.. Wright Last spring an
appeal was made to Judge Won Moschzisker,
w. King commissioner to examine Mr..
Wright in the presence of a jury Of six
men. This was done. Five of the jury de-
cided that the man was sane. The other
held to the contrary, and as a result the
effort to save Mr.. Wright fell through for a
time.
1t remained for the son, Minturn B.
father. He agreed to the liberation of
his parent on probation. and it was ar
ranged that the release should take place
on Christmas. The day itself had lost most
of it's significance to Mr.. Wright. Here
after, however it will have deeper mean
ing for him. 1t will call to mind bis re-
lease from what, he says, was a frightful
Mr.. Wright will not see his wife. She is
in California. Neither will he his
Minturn With his sister he will go west,
and in the heart of Colorado will try to
take I'D the current of his life that was
so rudely interrupted by those to whom
blood.
Mrs Davis will take her brother first to
Atlantic City and after a few days at the
seashore they will start westward.