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A Wealthy Man




Detroit Free Press, February 24, 1875



I know that I've come across another story of an insane man writing
million dollar checks but since I can't find the mention either on my
Portraits of Eloise blog or FB page it'll remain a mere rumor. Though
there is a mention of John Bradley who believed that he had been
transported to Heaven and offered a cop $200,000, if he wrote to a
certain address, for his release. He was sent to the Wayne Asylum



There's also, John Vanderwillie, an insane young man who was a master escape artist who offered $3.5 million
to the attendants at Emergecy Hospital for his freedom to no avail. He
also was expected to be sent to the asylum at Wayne. But no matter.




George Wison was another sort. He attempted to pass off $20,000 to
$30,000 checks between Chicago and Detroit and locations hither and
thither. A tall Canadian man who was believed to be a miner Wilson
believed that the Treasury had deposited large sums of money in his bank
account. Being that it was 1875 nobody in their right mind believed
him. Not even a banker.



Found on his person was a letter to Gen.
Ulysses S. Grant which asked that he send 10,000 troops to Chicago to
secure his protection from the banks which were withholding his money.
Application was expected for him to be sent to the Wayne Asylum.

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