Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-05-08
is HE A WRECK !?
Fred n. Leonard Says He Is
Not Mentally Incompetent
He APPEALS FROM THE COURT
His Wealth Is in the Hands of the Mich
igan Trust Company. and Sis5,-
300 Is Involved.

On the i!tn day OF last February there
was filed in the probate court a petit
ton signed by Charles II. Leonard, the
senior member OF the firm OF II. Leon
ards Sons The petition alleged that
Fred II. Leonard. . brother, was
mentally incompetent and unable TO
properly attend to his business inter-
esis. The petition alleged further that
"he Is easily influenced by designing
persons and during the tendency OF
the appointment of . permanent guar.
dian ne may dispose Of his Interests
greatly 70 his disadvantage" On these
grounds. and IN compliance with the
prayer OF the petitioner. the Michigan
Trust company Was appointed tenn
porary guardian. On February 20 per-
sonal service was secured on Fred II.
Leonard. citing him to appear and
show cause, If any existed, why the
temporary guardian should not Be
made permanent. A trial day was Get
and 10 the absencs of Fred H. Leonard.
either in person or BY attorney, the fol.
lowing witnesses were examined by the
petitioners DR.. X. NJ. Luton and DR..
s. G.. Graves sWors substantially that
they had treated him for paralysis and
considered that his mind had become
20 affected by the disease as TO mentally
incapacitate him from properly trans
acting business.
Mrs. C. IL. Leonard swore that he had
been SICK for very long time
and bad given many evidences OF
being mentally incompetent. Charles
III. Leonard and Frank 4. Leonard
swors substantially to the same. On
this evidence and IN the absence of OPP
position, Judge Perkins made an order
appointing the Micigan Trust company
permanent guardians. On Msrcn 81
last or nearly one month after the ap-
pointsnsnt OF a permanent guardian,
Fred II. Leonard and Mary Rice, the
divorced wife Of DR.. John j. Rice, were
married IN Windsor, Ont, and are now
living together In this city.
Filed a. Appeal
Yesterday morning Fred II. Leonard
by his attorney N. p. Allen with Nc
Garry 4 Mcknight Of counsel flied an
appeal from the order of the probate
court. This takes the case to the Cir.
cut court, IN which 1t Will probably not
come up for trial before the October
term. The appeal sets forth tae fol-
loving reasons why . guardian should
not have been appointed:
First-Bccause the undersigned ie
not mentally incompetent to have the
charge and control Of his property.
Second-Because he 10 mentally COM
petent to have the charge aud control
Of his business.
Thud-Bscause the undersigned is
not now and never was mentally in
competent to prosecute his own busl-
ness affairs, but 10 now aud ever has
been of sound mind, and since attain
ing his majority mentally competent in
all respects TO have the care, custody
and control Of all his property.
Fourth--Bscause the said Judge OF
probate erred in decreeing and finding
that the said Fred III. Leonard WAS 4
mentally incompetent person, and In APP
pointing guardian of his person, and
estate, he, the said Fred H. Leonard
being at the time OF OF making said de-
cree and appointing said guardian,
mentally competent and not liable to
guardianship.
Fifth-Because the probate court had
no jurisdiction to make the order here
by appealed from.
Sixth-Becsuse the said probate court
had no Jurisdiction to appoint the
Michigan Trust company guardian of
said estate.
The property affected by these
proceedings, It is said, will az.
gregato about S225 600. The es-
tate inventoried. however, At on.
ly $l24,09l.65. Those familiar with
Fred II. Leonard before he was etr.ck.
en- with paralysis snd who have known
him since, agree IN saying that the
bright young man of SIX yeare ago whc
gave promise of SO much is but little
more than y wreck of his former self
From keen companlorable and &C.
quaintance he has deteriorated until j,
IL scarcely possible to believe him one
and the same individual. During these
six years he has visited Europe twice
tried the Hot Springs and went to Mt
Clemens, ia the hope that . per
manent cure might be effected.