From the August 21, 1902 Brooklyn Daily Eagle:

“John McArdle, the real estate man of 70 Varick Street, who on Tuesday night, while being examined in Bellevue Hospital as to his sanity, poked his eyes out, died this morning. McArdle was 40 years old and lived with his wife and daughter, at 7 West One Hundred and Sixth Street. He was taken to the hospital Tuesday afternoon in a coach and Dr. Gregory was making an examination of the man when he destroyed his eyesight with his thumbs.”