Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-25
IM[AITuV nRnK[R
WLHLtHI UHUhIH
DECLARED INSANE
is QUICKLY TRIED AND COM.
MITTED TO ASYLUM
Thirst for Detailed knowledge Of
Every Kind Of Trade Said to Be
the Cause Of His Mental
Condition

Alexander Mueller. wealthy mining
man. icweer and former banker OF
Philadelphia, was yesterday committed
to the insane asylum at Patton by the
insanity commission IN Judge Gibbs
department OF tho superior court after
he had become violent and had tossed
several Of the sherin's deputies about
as though they we're children when
they tried to strap mum on him.
Mueller is a little above the average
size ana fair representation In build
OF "Tdlstaff." Yesterday when he vas
lcd into court he wore his hands care
FULLY encasod i'm the leather muffs and
his arms stra pped to his sides. He is
q powerful man and when the court
was informed Of that fact i'm Mueller's
hearing the defendant in q wheedling
tone begged to have his hands free
for Just q moment so that he could
show the court what was possible III
the way CT Juggling any six men who
necded some mild form Of exercise.
Tho court. however dcmurred.
Is Versatile
Mueller who lives with his family
at Fedora and West Pico streets, has
been acting strangely for a few weeks.
according to the evidence produced
Yesterday. Tho men is a genius of
rare abaility and during his lifetime,
IEtOlnlllE 10 FNiltiiNF. AAE1O lilbhit>N1
in nearly every trade known IN his
effort to learn more. This habit of
dabbliDg in every kind of business is
said to have overworked his brain.
He was born in New York. in Har-
lem, in 1868 and In 1875 moved with
his father to Philadelphia. where be
lived many years. receiving his educa-
tion as jewcler there. Fie was also
prominent in banking circles cfore he
can,c west 10 Los Angeles in 1905 and
decided TO live here. Last summer
Mueller was popular man at Coro-
nado because. of his ability to swim
in the ocean. no matter how rough.
Recently Mueller returned to Los
Angeles after q trip TO his mining in
terests in Nevada, and from that time
he has appeared mentally unbalanced.
lie assisted local banker in straight
ening out some. business and the strain
OF that work is said TO have fastened
the mental collapse.
Becomes Violent
Yesterday morning Mueller became
excited OF his home when one of his
sons attempted to pull down window
blind after his father ha d- ordered that
it be left UP for the light and air to
enter the room. When Mueller found
his orders disobeyed he tore the blinds
from their poles and threw them out
of the window.
lie then demanded TO be taken auto
mobile riding and Rev. John Schaefle
of the Pico Heights Congregational
church went with Mueller and his son.
As the party rode down Broadway
Mueller became violent and tho auto
mobile was driven up TO the county
jail while the minister went to the
county clerks office to swear 10 an
insanity complaint.
The minister wanted to swear out an
insanity complaint without alleging
cause. but the clerks refused and while
the minister was trying to straighten
out affairs Mueller in the automobile
started trouble and attracted the att
tention of a crowd and then started to
clean up the entire population. Four
or five deputies leaped at him and
Under Sheriff Yonkin received a clip
on the side of the head from the mans
first. The blow staggered the officer
but it gave the others chance to
close In and Mueller was strapped and
muffed and taken into court and tried.