New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-07
WOULD LEAVE ASYLUM
I. j. Bragdo1e Gets Order for Ne50
LanGcy Hearing.

Irving J. Bragdon formerly secretary Of the Mon
tauk Club of Brooklyn. and once a member OF the
Union League Club, of Brooklyn, declares that he.
though sane. is being kept prisoner in Blooming
dale Asylum. He appealed by letter to Justice
Keogh for hearing TO prove his sanity and yes
terday the justice appointed commission with
Sheriffs jury, to pass Bragdons sanity. Justice
Keogh assigned Incorporation Counsel Michael j.
Tierney, Of New-Rochelle, to look after Bragdons
interests at the trial Tterney obtained writ of
habeas corpus for the production OF Mr. Bragdon
in court yesterday, when the lunacy proceedings
were assigned
Bragdon was formerly a broker IN this city, and
one time he was prominent in political circles.
When Justice Gaynor ran for Office. Mr.. Bragdon
he stumped the judicial district In his behalf
He held political Office under ex-Mayor Schieren
Of Brooklyn. He says he has been confined in
Bloomingdale for nine years and. although he has
made many efforts, he. could get any one to
aid him IN obtaining his release. He commit
ted on December II. 1886. on the report of Drs
F. H. Cotton and John C. Shaw, of Brooklyn. Later
committee was appointed to take charge OF his
property.
1t was learned that Mr.. Bragdon's wife Is paving
his board the asylum and he says she wants to
keep him locked up there. She lives at No $40
West 57th-st.. Manhattan. Her husband says she
owns large interest In a New-York department
She was represented In court by a Mr.. Root,
Of NewYork, who will appear before the jury.
The Bragdons have son. William B. Brasdon.
who is an architect with Trowbridge g. Townsend,
at 5th-ave. and 3Sth-st
In his letters to Justice Keogh Mr.. Bragdon says
that there many other sane men in the asylum
In one of these letters he says:
have information that the asylum authorities
are trying to induce my wife to transfer me 10
some other asylum They fear my expose of their
iniqlity. If 1 once get the stand in the HANDS
of a good, bright lawyer who will put to me ques-
tions which Will lead up TO a rtghtful denounce--
rlent in such cases, will show them no mercy
have endured far too much persecution to nave
any leniency for them.
DR. Samuel B. Lyons superintendent Of Bloom
tngdaIe says that Bragdon is insane and not safe
person to be at large
Irving J. Brasdon a prominent inquire IN
BROOKLYN politics not many years ago. He Is only
ffty-two or ffty-three years old, his friends say
and was member Of Howell & Co. stock brokers'
He had a home in Hancock-st-, and was a member
of the Kings County Republican General Commit
tee and Of the Municipal Civil Service Commission
of the old city OF Brooklyn He retired from ousl-
ness in 1896 and went to Europe for few months
vacation The first intimation that his friends had
OF his indisposition peculiarly worded letter
written after he returned from this trip In NO.
vember of that year he went to the polls with
friend and is supposed to have acted strangely;
He was committed to an asylum In DECEMBER OF
that same year. He has been out several times
since under guard and for brief periods TWO years
ago he visited friends in Brooklyn and got away
from the keeper. He voluntarily returned 10 the
ASYLUM several days later, 1t is declared