The Nankin Township Historical Society

The Buffalo Commercial , February 2, 1878 The history of the Wayne County Asylum at Eloise was beleaguered with incidents of cured but not cured . That is, patients who were released as mentally fit only to commit acts of violence against others or self-immolation. Mrs. Jane Howard, a wife of a Dover, Michigan physician D. M. Howard, seemingly had an ideal station in life but it was for naught. For whatever reasons she was incarcerated at the Wayne Asylum on multiple occasions. A month there in late 1877, which, weaved into the new years didn't cure her hurts. She fatally jumped down a well on her husband's farm near Adrian on the last day of January, 1878. She was 36-years-old.

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 mill ion 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. Be...

Detroit Free Press , July 16, 1898 John Vanderwillie was the richest man in the world according to his own faulty faculties. He could escape from any bindings but not from the Emergency hospital where he was being held until he was sent to the asylum. Even an offer of $3.5 million from his vast fabricated fortune couldn't secure his release.