New-York tribune., 1881-12-16
DEFENDING HIS SANITY.
THE CASE OF d. d. CHAMBERLAIN.
WRIT OF HABEAs CORPUS IN HIS FAVOR AGAINST

WHIT OF IABEAs CORPUS IN HIS FAVOR AGAINST
THOSE VINO TREAT HIM As INSANE.
Justice Lawrence in the Supreme Court Chambers,
granted yesterday writ of habeas corpus in favor
OF Daniel ID. Chamberlain, directed to the Su-
perlntendent of the Boomingdale Lunatic Asy-
Iun ana others The writ is made rcturnable
to-day. Mr.. Chamberlain in hiss petition
declares that he is unlawfully restrained of his lib
erty by his wife, Emma W. Chamberlain, Ambrose
RYDER Thomas d. Stillman and the superintendent
OF the asylum Mrs. Chamberlain it Is asserted. had
begun legal proceedings against him. and an inn
properly constituted commission had pronounced
MN insane" On Wednesday last, as he was
ascending the steps of his house at No. 206
west forty-SeCOnd-st., he was seized by
thrce men and thrown into carriage,
despite his struggles and cries for help The men
represented themselves as private detectives, and
conducted him to the Bloomingdale Lunatc
Asylum" where he has since been confined, al
though as he asserts he is perfectly and cap
able of managing his affairs.
- Mr. Chamberlain, who is q grandson Of Daniel
Drew, made q fortune in Wall Street about fourteen
years ago. AS soon he became a rich man he
married Miss Emma Williams, music teacher in
ihe Drew Seminary at Carmel. Two children were
porn, grl and I bOr, who are now eleven and thlr-
lern years of age. At the time of his marriage Alr.
Chamberlain settled S7J,O00 upon his wife. -Four
months ago he had will drawn mp by Judge Ryder
ol arlntl, leaving the rest of his fortune, nearly
100000, tO his children.
The stories ofthe interested persons vary from this
point The attorney for Mr. Chamberlain Rufus
r. Andr VS. asserts that as soon as Mrs. Chamber
lam became aware of the nature OF the will, she i'm
mediat'ly began proceedings to have her husband
declared lunauc praying the court
that the property be gwen into her charge
Twelve OF the jurymen out of the eighteen ap-
pointed a commission pronounced Mr. Chamber
lain insane. Exceptions taken to the verdict
aud to several points in the testimony, and the
finally came up before County Judge Wright, 70 be
heard as to the confirmation of the report to the
appointing ot a COMMITTEES OF the personand of the
property. Additional counsel was called III TO argue
the case before Judge Wright, who, however,
confirmed the report and appointed Mrs. Chamber
lain a committee OF her husbands person. and the
Central Trust Company committee of the prop
erty Application was then made by MIR. Chamber
laiu's counsel, before Judge Pratt, for a
stay OF al proceedings. Inc result was that
Judge Pratt decided against MIR. Chamberlain
but allowed his counsel liberty TO renew the
Application, provided the bonds and mortgages to
the value of $4,000 were handed over 10 the
Genital Trust Company. That was on Tuesday,
and the case was TO have been heard Tomorrow
discovered that he had been carried to the house
of Mr. Norris in brooklyn, one of Mrs. Chamber
lain's attorneys, writ OF haDras corpus was sled
ont and made rcturnablc before Judge Lawrence
today, at 1880.
Tie amount Of property involved in the affair Is
about Sg8IUOU. When the litigation BEGAN tins
pro er,y which is IN bonds ana mortgages, was in
a safe under the stock Exchange. and the ccmblna-
ton ot tie lock was refused 10 Ar 1hdmbeTlah
secured lie services OF an expert from the
sale company, and the expert looking al tue
key, but without seeing the lock, told MT.
Chamberlain how TO opon the door. The bonds
wcr, then taken out by Alr Cham Dcrlan, and until
yesterday heir place Of deposit WAS unknown 10
Mrs. Chamberlain.
Counsel for Mr. Chamberlain assert that under
the coercion of the detectives ana ON promise OF pro-
tectIon lIpm further trouble Nh. Chamberlain sur
rendered ms property yesterday.
Thomas Al. Hubbard. o. Batter, Silllmln u mud
baTu, tAr counsel Tor the Trust Company, tOld =
lEmUNE reporter last evening that @Z2O,UOO had
been recovered by the company.
Walter ". Briggs, keeper OF livery stable I'M
media civ upuu, L. 40 200 West foIty-sccUud-st.,
where Nj thamurTiau had been boarding toT some
time va, an cy.-WItucs, OF hIs alleged unlawful
seizure. I1 q TRIBUNE reporter last night hc tOId
the following story:
Three or four days ago two men came to me ahd
said they wanted to occupy . ruou over my sldDc
Tor icN DAYS to watch Tor man
wIo bad escaped from the Bloomlngdaie
Insane A,,lgm, and who was living Ia No. 2Oj.
Imut.ugi. nat thy tyrr' officers OF the law rented
the room and they kept watch Yesterday sa"
ti,-. mru seize Nr Chamberlain and iorOc him INTO
"a c.rf.4gc. which thcu drove rapidly away. III
surprised mr very much. because | knew Mr..
Cham ,TlaiH well aud never -" any thiug wrong
about uIIu.
" 70, he hrrrrdly scizcdf {"
Nhy ulc-, YOU; you never saw n man put into
carriage as QuIrFIY g~ hr was. A!tcr the carnage
started he leaned lqrNId %, n 10 call ont 10 me,
bat was quickly torCcl back. and IN moment the
carriage Wa, out p' sl-ht.
At the house Nu. 700. u was said that Mr. CHAM
bcriaIu', lurnus kuo" uu.uhR about ti.' -cIirr OF
hun until Wednesday evening. when lrtud ol MS
becoming aiarIuc. bis absence without ms over
coat went out to search FOR hln and found OUT "ud'
had h.uyturl.