The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-05-19
JUDGE H0RD INSANE.
The Sad Affection Which Has BefaIlsn In
diana'S Attorney General.
AssiduOus Application Results i'm Disease
and Restraint Becomes Necessary
Full History of the UnfOrtu-
nate Circumstances of
the Case.

The announcement is made with regret
this morning that Hon. Francis T. Hord,
Attorney General of the State, has been
declared insane by lunacy commission and
transferred to the State Asylum for treat
ment. The steps looking to his confinement
were taken with the knowledge and consent
of his family and friends, but only when his
mania had developed homlcidal tendency
and it was feared that his liberty might en-
danger the life of another. Those who have
known Judge Hord in his business and social
relations will be surprised to learn that such
a step was necessary, and indeed the an
nouncement will be received in all quarters
| of the State with amazement. On all ques-
tons affecting his business, Judge Hord's
mind was apparently as clear as
ever and during the past few
weeks he has made some very elaborate argu
ments before the Supreme Court, there being
nothing to indicate that his mind had los
anything of that penetrating acumen which
was one of his distinguishing characteristics
! as lawyer. But for more than year past
his family and immediate friends have re-
cognized the fact that he was not altogether
responsible, and recently he has been grow
|
study and the inordinate use of tobacco
wrought upon his naturally nervous temper
ament and had much to do with bringing
about his present condition. The circum-
stances are deplorable indeed, for the mind
/ which is now beclouded was one of the finest
in the State and its possessor in every respect
a cultured, honorable and estimable gentle
| man.
The strangeness of conduct which has re-
Gently become so marked was first noticed
last summer, but his friends believed the
! sufferer would be completely restored by
| rest and the application of mild remedies,
and he finally consented to go to sani-
ar:um at CINCINNATI, but he remained there
nut short time, the restraint proving irk-
ONE, and, for this reason, improvement be-
ng retarded. 1t was then decided that he
,hould go abroad, and he left fo- Europe to
'e absent one year. Instead of protracting
lis stay. however, he returned after three
months absence and again entered upon
bat assiduous study which had characterized
is labors before his brief rest. He was
ouch benefited by the trip abroad, and had
e been willing to take more recreation
light have been permanently restored. This
refused to do, and the peculiar halluci-
alton with which he was afflicted returned
it'll stronger force he applied himself to
is duties. While his duties have been
tended to as usual, he has shown
'aIked restlessness, and this was increased
/ lion would have afforded relief. On some
/ ccasions at night he has been known to go
oOut the city, frequently in disguise armed
18th a revolver and threatening to kill
Omebody. This made it the imperative
/ uty OF his family to see that he was placed
shere he would do no harm, and they be-
eve that with proper rest and treatment
is mental vigor will soon be restored.
The affidavit upon which was based the
unacy proceedings was filed by DIR. Lyndon
| N. ComStOck, the dentist. The document
states in effect that the afiant has reason to
believe that Judge Hord is insane; that he is
nervous and agitated, and has frequently
threatened the life of the affiant, having
assaulted him on two occasions, on the last
pursuing him with a revolver; that
the public safety demanded that be
be placed under restraint and thus prevented
from doing the affiant bodily harm. The
document further states that Judge Hord is
ffty-one years of age, having been born in
| Maysvilie, KY, has been married twenty
seven years and has five children. A formal
finding was made by the Justices composing
the commission, and the papers served upon
| Judge Hord at his Office. He gave no evil
dence of surprise, but read the papers care
| fully and for awhile appeared to be studying
their contents. He then asked if he
would be permitted to see his brother,
O. b. Hord, and upon receiving
an affirmative answer, was accompanied to
/
brothers had a few minutes conversation.
Judge Hord rightly OWNED that his brother
was cogniZant OF the proceedings, and APP
| peared very much excited as he asked why
be had permitted such thing. Oscar Hord
was visibly affected, and ii was some time
before he could reply that, under the cir
cumstances, he believed he had acted best,
and counselled his brother to submit with
patience to a restraint which he hoped would
be but temporary.
oscar, would rather have been shot dead
than to have been subjected to this treat
ment" said the Attorney General eXcitedly.
And /, Frank, would rather have lost my
right arm than for such necessity TO exist T"
was the reply.
He then stated that his friends had resorted
to this mode, believing it was the best under
ali the circumstances; that by rest from
study the Attorney General would be re-
lieved from his present condition, and he
| hoped fully restored to his wonted vigor of
mind Naturally, both OF the gentlemen were
very much distressed, and though the meeting
was OF short duration its painful nature can
barely be appreciated by the public. Before
leaving the Office the Attorney General de-
clared he would bring habeas corpus pro-
ceeiings for his release, but his brother
calmly advised him to do nothing hastily,
assuring him that everything necessary to
his comfort would be provided, and that he
could expect to regain his lost energy OF
sion to his surroundings. Mr.. Hord was
then taken in hack to the Insane Hospital,
where he called for all the papers in the
case and studied them carefully. Dur
ing the day he was very
much excited, but in conversation
with Superintendent Fletcher. he was ad.
vised to be content and assured that be
must remain at the hospital until perma
nently cured, an event which he thought
was not necessarily far distant, The distress
Of the family on account of the peculiar al.
Fiction which has overtaken the husband
and father will be deeply sympathized with
by their 4 any friends in the city, and in
deed throughout the State.
Francis Il. Hord, the victim of the peculiar
hallucination which leads to confinement in
the Hospital for the Insane, has been resi-
dent of Indiana for many years having located
at Columbus in the practice of law, when
quite young man. He has always been a
devotee to his profession, and has taken
great pride in probing to the bottom every
question of law in which he was any way
interested. He is brilliant speaker, logi-
cal reasoner, and possesses many of the traits
of the true orator. Until his candidacy for
the Office of Attorney General he rarely took
much interest in State politics, though he
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