The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-01


gers? Are you the Chandler that cor
ruptly conspired to establish bogus
Legislature in Louisiana in 1872?
Are you the Chandler that took a
fee Of three thousand dollars from
Kellogg? Are you the Chandler that con-
spired with the Returning Board, in 1876, to
throw out twelve thousand democratic
votes" These are specimens of a long
series of questions of the like tenor, and
which 60 to show that Chandler is the last
person in the country who should busy
himself with the exposure of election frauds
perpetrated in Louisiana. Without in
dorsing Burke impartial persons will be
apt to conclude that poor Chandler has
been pretty well snuffed out by a sharper
and checker man than himself
The Lord Hicks Case-A Strange
History.
We think all the doubts which have been
raised by his children respecting the sanity
and mental capacity Of Mr.. Thomas Lord
will be dispelled by the legal proceedings
and accompanying affidavits which we print
in another place. There are few persons
who will not be ready to say that this old
gentleman has evinced altogether more
soundness of judgment and clearness
Of intellect in these recent delicate affairs
than have been exhibited by any of his
children. He has remained in seclusion in
consequence of their threats made in
writing to Mrs. Lord just previous to her
marriage and since, not wishing his children
to disgrace themselves by unseemly acts of
violence in the execution of their repeated
written threats. He has selected legal
counsel with more judgment than woman
would be likely to do, and they have found
him client of more than ordi-
nary intelligence. By q proceeding be-
fore Judge Donohue, of the Supreme
been stayed and an order has been
issued requiring the petitioners to appear
before him on the 7th of February and
show cause why the order Of Judge Van
Brunt in the matter Of the alleged lunacy
should not be vacated and set aside. It is
shown by legal arguments that would seem
to be conclusive that the order of Judge
Van Brunt was irregular and without any
binding force. Examinations of the mental
condition Of Mr.. Lord have been
made by two of the most distin-
guished physicians of the city-Dr.
Austin Flint and DR.. Fordyce Barker-each
of whom gives it as his judgment, in
sworn statement, that Mr.. Lord is of per-
fectly sound mind and in good physical
health, excepting lameness caused by acct
dent It will be seen, therefore, that he has
gotten quite beforehand with his sons in
their attempted lunacy proceedings, and
that their case is likely to break down utterly
as soon as it can be brought to o final hear
ing before competent tribunal.
The conduct of Mr.. Lords sons, as re-
cited by him and corroborated by their ex-
traordinary letters, is painful and repul-
sive piece of domestic history. It is not
surprising that they should have been op-
posed to his marriage, but the means Of
prevention to which they had recourse are
such as self-respecting people could never
descend to unless under the infu-
ence Of dementing passions. Besides
the threatening letters which they SO
far forgot themselves as to send to
Mrs. Lord previous and subsequent to
her marriage they captured the former
legal counsel of their father, got them to
draft will and tried to make him sign it
but a short time before his disappearance.
If he was then sane enough to execute
will he was sane enough to make contract
of marriage. Mr.. Lord swears in his affida-
Wit that the contract to marry Mrs. Hicks
was entered into years ago, and that on the
31st Of December he merely fulfilled that
long standing engagement. 1t is to be
regretted that his children were hurried
by their excitement into acts by which
they must incur the censure Of the whole
community, and that they put their father
into such position as put it out of his
power to conceal their unreasonable and
unflial conduct. It would have been better
for all concerned if these unpleasant family
secrets could have been yelled from pub
licity, but the, strange conduct Of the chill
dren made that impossible.
PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE.