Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-02
'Ehe E,OrsI.EFiclKs Case.

MIR. Thos. lord and his wife have announced
in q, decided but quiet way, that they are home,
| and the iute;d to remain at home and that they
defy any orc TO interrupt their peace. Early yes
teria2 Mrs. Hicks Lords house, Which hitherto
has been 50 gloomy in appearance, underwent
sudden c:iarga-shutters were thrown back
and abaut noon two handsome South American
flags were hroHu to the breeze from the second
story window. Little later two police officers
took uoa station ia front Of the house as a
spccial guard having been detailed, at the re.
quest Ct Mr. Lord, to prevent Intrusion and
molestatioo. Yesterday evening the house was
brilliantly Illuminated from basement to roof, not
for the reception Of iiords, bu! As : kind Of
open hearted way Ct Discovering auy further
conoeamcuS.
the Nv York Herald says:-
We think sill the doubts which have been
raised by his children respecting the sanity and
mcutal capacity Of Mr.. Thouas Lord will be
dispced by the legal proceedings. There are
few pefspns who will not be ready to say that
this CID gentleman has e7lnced altogether more
sound1css Of judgment and clcarness OF Intellect
in these rccoDt delicate affairs than have been
exhibited by any Of his children. lie has re
manned 10 secusion IN consequence OF their
threats made 10 writing to Mrs Lord just pre-
vieus to her marriage and sirce, not wishing
his children to disgrace themselves by unseen
Iy acts Of violence 10 the execution OF their re-
heated written threats. lie has selected legal
counsel with more Judgment than woman
would DO likely TO do, and they have found
him client Of moro than ordinary int llgence.
BY proceeding before Judge Donohue, Of tho
Supreme Court, the proceedings in lunacy have
been stayed and an order has been issued re.
During the petitioners to appear beloro him ON
the iii Of February and show csuao why tho
order of Judge Van Brunt in the matter of the
alleged lunacy should not be vacated and set
aside 1t il shown by legal arguments that
would saom TO be conclusive that the order OF
Judge Van Brunt was irregular and without
any binding force. Exam nations Of the mental
condsion Of Mr.. Lord have been made by two
of the most distinguished physicians of the city,
DIR. Austin Flint and DR.. Fordyco Barker, each
statement, that Mr.. Lord is of perfectly sound
mind and in good physical health, excepting a
lamoneas caused by accident. II will be seen,
therefore, thst no has Cotton quite beforehand
with his sons in their attempted lunacy proceed
ings, .sEd that their case IS .llkoly 10 break
down utterly as soon IS it can bo brought to
final hearing before competent tribunal. The
conduct Of MIR. Lords sons as recite1 by him
and corroborstcd by their extraordinary letters,
is painful ard repulsive piece Of domestic bis.
tory. 1t is not surprising that they should have
been opposed to his marriage, but the means of
prevention to which they had recourse are such
Is self respecting people could never descend to
unless under the influence Of dementing passions.
Btsides the threatening letters which they go far
forgot themselves as TO send to Mrs. Lord pre-
vous and subsequent to her marriage they cap
turcd the former legal counsel Of their father,
got ther to draft will and tried to make him
sign it but short time before his disappearance.
ii he was then sane enough to execute will he
was Sane enought TO make contract of marriage
Mr.. Lord swesrs in his affidavit that tho con-
tract to marry Mrs Hicks was entered into
wear: ago and that on the 3lst Of December he
merely fulfilled that long standing engagement