The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-02
The Lord Matter as II stands.

AS had been cOnjccturcd in these columns,
Mr. THOMAS LORD found sufficient reason
for tarrying so long In conccalmcnt in the
unfricndly conduct of his own sons. The
hostile attitude assumed by one of these
sons toward Mrs. Hicks, going TO the ex-
trenc OF threat to kill her, would have
warranted more than mere conccalment
from him. The son might very properly
have been put under heavy bonds TO keep
the peace.
The certificates of the two physicians who
have examined Mr. LORD make very
strong case In his favor. DR.. FoBDYCE
BARKER and DR.. AUSTIN FLINT are
very high authority In their profess
sion, and according TO their statements
Mr. LoID would appear 20 be brighter more
clear-hoaded, and more competent TO man
age his affairs than most men of the same
age Dr. FLINT mentions particulars show
ing Mr. LoRD's memory to be exceptionally
good, and he declares him mot lunatic.
not of unsound mind, and possessed OF the
requisite mental capacity to manage his
own affairs" Il have had occasion. says
DR.. BARKER, during my professional OK
pcrience, to know and to examine profess
sionally many old men; but I have never
met one of his age who seemed to retain his
mental powers in every respect, proportion
ate to his age, with more vigor and less
impairment than Mr.. LORD"
If the estimate made by these two experts
OF Nr. LoRDs mental condition and capac-
ity be correct, the issue to be determined in
his case seems to include the broad question
whether every ordinary man is to be ad-
judged incapable to manage his own bust
ness, and is to be put under a guardian or
committee merely because he has reached
the age Of 81 years II is an old saying that
whom the gods love die young; Mr.. LORDS
experience goes TO show that who gets rich
and lives TO be old his sons hate. 1t would
hardly be fair, however, to draw general
inference from their example.
Mr.. LORDS case Is even stronger than we
have stated. DR.. BARKER does not even
leave him in the category of average, sound
men at his age "Whatever his mental
powers may have been in the past" says
DR.. BARKrR che impressed me, for his age
rs man Of remarkably strong and clear
mind entirely conscious of all his acts, and
capable of forming "a correct Judgment in
relation thereto"
Questions of sanity may still linger in the
| Nh0's bhb ~ 'hhlN W Uult' ~
party. Many persons consider suicide as In
itself proof of a deranged mind An inquiry
would not bc out of place whether the man
though not 81 years OF agc-who threatened
10 kill not only Mrs, HICKS, but also himself
and his children, is quite sound in his inter
| lcct.
The reasons assigned by Mr. LORD for his
marriage are emincntly sensible He be
lieved it afforded the best means to assure
comfort and happiness to his declining
| years" Wise mani He thus assured him
self with one whom experience had proved
more to bc depended on than the average
life assurance companies. Who can gain
say his choice2 lie might well prefer to
put his trust in one, altogether lovely, beau
tiful and highly accomplished, whose fidel-
ity and devotion as a wife had already been
tested, rather than in IA son so unnatural as
| to threaten his own life and the life of his
children because he was vcXcd about money.