James Dougherty's Obsession.

Mary Anderson was an acclaimed international stage actress in the late 1800s. Among her many fans was a young Brooklyn man named James M. Dougherty.  He worked as a telegraph lineman and studied science in his spare time. He dabbled in a little of everything until, after watching one of her plays, he became obsessed with Miss Anderson. 

His love for Mary Anderson became his sole controlling passion, and soon turned to delusion. Dougherty believed Mary Anderson loved him as well, but she was surrounded by a group of conspirators who worked to keep them apart. He began following her to every city where she performed. In 1889, his stalking came to the attention of the New York City Police. They declared him insane and sent him to King’s County Insane Asylum in Brooklyn.

As his condition appeared to improve and his obsession with Mary Anderson subsided, the doctors no longer considered Dougherty a threat. He was put to work on the asylum’s farm, and he took the opportunity to escape. In October 1890, Dougherty returned to the asylum with a loaded revolver and murdered Dr. Lloyd, one of the physicians who, he felt, mistreated him.

“I did it. I meant to kill him and would have killed ten more if I had the chance,” he told the police. “I am not crazy, but as sane as the sanest man that walks New York today.”

The court agreed that Dougherty was sane and sentenced him to life in Sing Sing Prison.

Read the full story here: Lunatic Dougherty.