Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-07-13
THE ARGUMENTS HEARD.
Is Herbert A. Steele Capable of Conduct
 ing His Own Affairs?

Is Herbert A. Steele Capable of Conduct
 ing His Own Affairs?
 The application of Minnie A. Steele for the appointment of a conservator over her husband, Herbert A. Steele, on the ground that he was incompetent to manage his own affairs, was heard before Judge Gill lette this morning. Mrs Sarah H. Steele, mother of Herbert, testified that her son was 32 years old, had been in various bus had spent thousands of dollars. His prop erty was now ortgaged to the extent of $17,3O0.
 Dr Castle, Herbert's formerly physician, said he attended him last winter Steele was run down nervously and was troubled with indigestion. These troubles had eff fected his mind so he did not use good judgment. Steele imagined he was trou- bled with diabetes (sugar in the urine), an incurable disease. Witness thought Steele was not in his right mind, since he used to consult five or six physicians a day. One Sunday he put on pair of rub Der boots and carried 8 water pail full of what he supposed was evidence of the dis ease to the doctors office. Heused to get the folks up in the middle of the night and send them for doctor. George l.. Lilly, brother -in-law of Steele said that Steele's share of his fathers estate was about $30, ,000. His indebtedness to the estate at the time of the settlement was $27, ,0OO. At present he had an equity in the South Main street property but had mortgaged the Cole street property for more than it was worth. Steele was one of the ex- ecutors of his brothers will, to which the heirs were his sister and himself. He had never settled up the estate but had turned over to his sister fifteen shares of tele- phone stock and few hundred dollars. The $27 ,00O which Steele lost or did away with, was lost through gross negligence | and business incapacity. He said that Steele had been in the coal and wood, butter and egg, tea and coffee, flour, grain and feed business within the last six years, and staid about six months in each. Judge Cowell said he did not think Steele | competent to manage any affair. He had indulged in wildcat speculations and lost a great deal of money. MT Terry asked if 8 good many men did not buy wildcat stock, mine stock, and Bunker Hill oil | stock in which Dr Platt sank $10,O00. "Yes said the judge, I myself have ! been caught, bought stocks in the Meri- den and Waterbury railroad" Qaughter). | s. P. Williams thought the same as Judge | Cowen. MT Terry asked if the reason was l that Steele had leased to him the South Main street property on the terms he did. MT Williams did not think it was on that account alone. Burton G. Bryan and E. T. Turner thought Steele was incompetent | on account of his drinking habits. Min. nie W. Steele, wife of Herbert, detailed their life since they were married. Her husband, she said, embarked in all sorts of reckless schemes and gave them up as soon as he took them up. She wished some provision to be made for their child, and for this reason brought the applica- tion. She admitted that she had author. ized her lawyer to say to her husband that if he would pay off the $6, 900 mortgage on house which he conveyed to her she would withdraw proceedings. Dr White
 more, of New Haven, said Steele had ( morbid fear of some terrible disease but that he had been reasoned out of that and had stopped drinking.