The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-27
he IS WE'LL KNOWN HERE.
Tho Story Of the New York Man
Who 10 Suing Henry A.
Root
Dixon Disappeared and Is Said to
Be Detained by Undue
Influence. r

II Il Alleged That Root HypnotIxcd thu
New Yorker and Assessed Him
In Various Amounts.
A proceeding which reads more like a
story Of fiction than an action at law has
been commenced in tho circuit court al
Chicago. 1t was briefly mentioned In q
Chicago dispatch q few days ago. II wnt
brought at the instigation Of James w,
Dixon. Of New York city, who asks the
courts OF Chicago to wrest the person and
property Of his brother. Henry w. Dixon,
from the control of Henry A. Root. a New
York lawyer. The recital covers a period
OF eight years. during all of which time the
weak-mindsd and aged Henry w. Dixon.
who at the outset ia said to have been
wealthy, was made the victim OF Roots
hypnotios. Tangled with it al Is q woman.
Mrs. F. d. Haywood, who. II 10 claimed.
made her home with Root in New York. In
Chicago are $40, 600 in collaterals. tho skel-
eton of the shattered fortune, which 10 the
basis for the action. This amount consists
Of two certificates Of deposit for $40. 900 each
now in the vaults of the Central Safety
Deposit company. where they were placed
about q year ago by Henry W. Dixon and
Henry A. Root. Since that time il IL held
that Root attempted to get possession Of
these securities. but was refused by the
company. the latter holding that the agree
ment was. when they we're placed there.
that Root and Henry W. Dixon should
only have access to the vault when each
was with the other. and. in addition, the
time of the appointment Of James v.
Dixon committee of lunacy of Henry w.
Dixon. at Flushing, N. Y.
The complainant seeks to have the courts
restroom the deposit company from deliver
ing the collaterals to any other than him
self as committee in lunaoy. and also TO
compel the company to allow him access TO
the vaults.
Henry w. Dixon was declared insane
Jan. 30, 1891, in Queens county. New York,
but ii is held that he has been of weak and
unsound mind since 1884, and incapable of
managing his Gffairs. 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 be continued
to live until he was declared of unsound
mind.
At the time Of his taking up his residences
with Root. he was possessed, in addition TO
other collaterals. of q piece of property in
New York city. at 55 Cedar street. which
yielded an annual income Of g., 600 above
expenses and taxes. This property. he was
induced to mortgage for $4,000. IL is al
legged. ut the instiQation of Root, who, IL 10
held. appropriated the mount to his own
use.
In February. 1883. Dixon conveyed this
property to the New York Mutual Life In
surancs company. for 10000, which con-
veyance, it 10 held. was a at the in
Root received the whole Of tho $40, 600.
II is alleged that during the winter of
1866, Root. In the exercise of his undue
influence over Dixon, caused him to 90, in
company with a Mrs; r. d: Haywood. who
eight street., to Cedar Keys. Fla, and that
Root, on tho pretexs of reimbursinR him
self for the journey, assessed Dixon $1,000.
In May. 1888. the complainant continues,
Root went to AK. France, and tool Dixon.
Mrs. Haywood and her son with him. For
this trip. II is alleged. he taxed Dixon ST.
500. promising to repay him At SOM future
time.
During the same month an aereement
was entered into between Root and Dixon
BY which the former was TO pay the latter
an annuity Of $1.5oo for ten years. or $125
q month. This arrangement, it is held,
was brought about only after the much ur-
gent opportunities Of Dixon's friends. who.
knowing his mental condition, interceded
In his behalf.
II is said further that Root complied with
reluctance and not until he saw there was
no alternative between that and exposure.
He was then required to make some sub
etantial guaranty Of good faith. and TO this
end Simon II. Stern was made trustee. IN
conjunction with Henry A. Root, to hold
$2b. 600 In trust, to be supplied by Root. to
make good his obligations to Dixon. The
Northwestern and Nashville. C~hatanooga
u 81. Louis railway stock.
Meanwhile Dixon continued to make his
homo with Root. Up to this time the
transactions between tho two men APP
esrty had vanished. from which q total Of
B70. 600 was derived. Dixon. il is admitted.
Expended the sum Of $12. 500 for q farm and
b. 600 for stock and house furnishings.
Dixon made his home on the farm for a
few weeks with Root. when he decided the
9 held that the grantee failed TO pay over
he purchase money. II 10 further held
hat Root, by his methods, converted other
money and property of Dixon to his own
1se.
Meanwhile Dixon was growing mentally
3MN VuybiCUily We6keIs ftOOC, IL ID SAID.
lid not pay him the monthly allowance as
agreed. but dribbled out to him small sums
bf money az he felt inclined. By this time
samuel II. Storm had tired OF the trust "a
eo-trustee with Root for Dixon, and vent
INTO court and asked to be relieved. This
being done. the RAILROAD stocks, which were
n Stern's custody, were placed in the
bands of Root, who was at that time nj
Helena. In . short time he had Dixon with
him. and tho " hypothecated the railroad
ltocks with Helena banks for the two
10000 certificates OF deposit, which arc
bow In box No. 5.24 of the Central Safety
Deposit company's vaults.
The last transaction between tho two of
Fhich record is made is the following;
AUDITORIUM Hotel, Jan, 2. 1892.
Q Henry A. Roo
Our accounts are settled and adjusted to this
ito. The balance due me by you is the surplus
Nashville d Chattanooga bonds and 100 shares
( Northwestern stuck. $1,000
In the event Of my death such balance and tho
10000 so deposit d, with interest. il your prop.
rty. henry W.. DIXON.
Root Ia alleged to lave written the above
mt and caused Dixon to copy and oign IL.
Whom Root left Chicago no left Dixon be-
lind. The latter made his way to New
ork and again went to the home of his
brother. He afterwatd disappeared. how
YER. and is said to be detained by tho un-
ne influence of Root.
The complainant prnYs that all persons
nnNaPned hO rarniraH IN allow,