The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-22
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FLOUR.
VICTIM OF A ScHEMING LAWYER.
Story of ]. W. Dixon, Who Seeks Possession of
the Person and Property Of His Brother.

CHICAGO, March Ola proceeding, which
reads more like q story of fiction than an
action at law. was begun in the Circuit
Court to-day. IL was brought at the insti-
CATION Of James w. Dixon. of New York
city. who seeks the courts of Chicago to
wrest. As is claimed, the person and prop
erty of his brother. Henry W. Dixon, from
the fraudulent and undue possession of
ana control of Henry A. Root, New York
lawyer The recital of the complaint covers
period of eight years, during all of which
time 1t appears the weak minded and aged
Henry w. Dixon. who. at the outset, is said
to have been wealthy, was made the victim
of Roots hypnotics. Tangled within it all
Is q an, Mrs. T. d. Haywood. who. it is
claimed. made her home with Root in New
York.
After long train of events the remark
able story has still moro remarkable cul-
mination In this city. where go, 900 in col
laterals. the skeleton of the shattered
fortune, and which Is made the basis for
the action. ore In controversy. This
amount consists of two certificates of de-
posit, for $4,000 each which are now in
the vaults of the Central Safety Deposit
Company, where they were placed about
one year ago by Henry w. Dixon and
Henry A. Root. Since that time it is held
that Root attempted to get possession of
the securities but was refused by the COM
pany holding them, the latter holding the
agreement was when they were placed
there that Root and Henry w. Dixon could
only have access to the vault when each
was with the other, and in addition the
company had been notified in the mean
time OF the appointment of Jas. w. Dixon
commissioner In lunacy OF Henry w. Dixon,
at Flushing. N. Y. The complainant seeks
to have the courts restrain the deposit
company from delivering the collatersls to
any other than himself as commissioner In
lunacY, and also to compel the company to
allow him access to the vaults. Henry w.
Dixon was declared insane Jan. 30, 1872, in
Queens county, New York. but 1t IS held
that he has been of weak and unsound
mind since 1884, and incapable of manag-
ing his affairs. Up to 1884 he made his
home with his brother, the complainant,
when he left and took up his abode With
Henry w. Root, with whom he continued
to live until he was declared of unsOund
mind. At the time of taking MP his
residence with Root he was possessed, in
addition to other collateraIs, of a piece of
property in New York city at No. 55 Cedar
street, which yielded an annual income of
81, 900 above expenses and taxes This pro-
perty he was induced to mortgage for S10.-
00O, it is alleged. at the Instigatlon of Root,
who, it Is held. appropriated the amount to
his own use. In February, 1883, Dixon con-
veyed this property to the New York Nut
ual Life Insurance Company for $40 900.
which conveyance. it is held. was made at
the instance and under the coercion of
Root. 1t is stated further that Root re-
ceived the whole of the $4,000.
Until three years ago Henry A. Root
practiced law in New York city. In 1890 he
had IN office at No. 10 Wall street. When
he left there IL was understood that he had
fallen into fortune some W here in the West
and had gone to Montana. Since then his
friends in New York, so far as could be
learned this afternoon. have not heard from
Root, who then was lawyer of excellent
repute.