National Republican., 1885-05-12
MIR. SANDS, DISPUTED. SANITY.

mhs SANOS' DIST UIED' SANlI1s
The Object OF the Proceedings Said 60
He 70 Gain Possession of Ills Prop
erty.
The inquiry as to the sanity of Timothy
Sands and his inability to attend to his
business affairs seems to grow in interest,
and attracts considerable notice as the in
vestigation progresses. A vigorous con-
test is being made, and it is tho first
instance known here for many years
where an inquiry do lunatico was not
entirely ex parte. IL seems that Mr..
Sands, who is ~ years Of age, sold out his
property in Wisconsin In 1883 aud came
to this city, bringing with him about
$4,000, which he proceeded to invest In
real estate. At that timo no made his
homo with his son-in.law and daughter,
Mr.. and Mrs. John ID. Croissaut, of the
Holly Tree" on Ninth street. In the
spring of 1854 no had a severe attack Of
malaria, and II was thought would not
survive, but ho recovered, only to ex-
perionce another illness the ensuing
fall. 1t 10 claimed by tho family
that after the first sickness MIR.
Sands showed q weakness of mind, wan
derod in his conversation, and gave evil
| dences of his inability TO attend to his
business and look after his property,
which consisted of Eve houses bringing In
good income.
On the other side it is insisted that Mr..
Sands was unable to live in harmony with
his son n.in.law, and decided to 20 and
mako his homo with a son residing in
Kansas. On one of the houses there re-
mained trust for 5000. He saw no way
OF releasing the mortgage by q payment Of
cash in hand. as he had not that amount
of roady money, SO he proposed to sell the
least valuable Of tho houses and the one
requiring the most repair and lift the deed
Of trust out Of the proceeds Of tine sale. II
is contended by Sands's friends that Mr..
Croissant desired to get the property un-
der his control, and handle the same Ia
suit himself, and If tho old gentlemen
was permitted to 20 to his son In Kansas
such an object could not be accom- plished
Mr.. Croissant denies this to be the fact
but on the contrary declares his object "a
have been and to bo to place the property
under such charge as will protect it and
keep Mr.. Sands from becoming imposed
upon and viotimized. In order that thi.
might be accomplished in the proper
way Mr.. Sands's daughter, Mrs. Mary T.
s. Davis, petitioned the court for com
mission to inquire into his mental con.
dition.
In the petition Mrs. Davis states that
in consequence of advanced life and TO.
peated and severe attacks OF sickness
occurring during the last five years Mr.
Sands's mind has become seriously i'm.
paired to an extent which renders him
incapable Of transacting business, exc
cutting contracts, or taking proper care OF
his person and estate; that ho is the
owner Of houses Nos. 907, 900, and 9ll
Third street northwest, No. 1927 Il street
northeast, and 1876 A street southeast
The petition, after asking for inquiry to
bo made as to the soundness Of Mr.
Sandss mind, asks the appointment oi
some ono to take charge of his person
and estate. Upon this application the
marshal was directed TO select o jury and
make an inquiry. This Marshal Nc
Michael proceeded to do and last Satur
day the investigation was entered upor
before him and the jury, tho law TO
quiring that he should preside over suol
a sitting. Col. William A. Cook appearet
for the petitioner, and Messrs. Hazeltor
and Willard for Mr.. Sands. Thus far th,
only witnesses examined have been il
behalf Of the petitioner, and the testi
mony produced have been for the purpos
of showing that since the spring sicknes
of 1884 Mr.. Sands's mind has become yer,
much weakened, his onversations no
intelligent, and his incapacity to atten'
to business apparent. The testimony re
ceived 10 somewhat contradictory, an,
some of the witnesses declined to admi
that they think Mr.. Sands of unsoun
mind, not going further than to expres
belief that he is incompetent to atten
to business whore. considerable money
involved.
The testimony for the petit oner ha
not been concluded when the hearing "a
. o'clock) was adjourned until this morn
ing.