The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-03
WHO IS KING I?
Identity Of the Millionaire Inmate
of Butler Asylum Questioned.

The case OF William ii. King, the insane
Newport millionaire, concerning the
custody OF whom there has been such
extensive legal fights in ssschusetts
and Rhode Island courts during the past
few years, took smother turn this morn
ing when brought before the appellate
division on a petition of Mrs. Il. A. Web
ster Ross to be joined in the
case as guardian ad Item,
or next of friend. Mrs. Ross is the
several attempts already to obtain custody
of w. III. King and who recently came
forward with the assertion that she was
a near relative OF Mrs. King.
The legal talent arrayed on either side
this morning was somewhat imposing. In
behalf Of George Gordsn King, guardian
OF the estate OF w. Il. King, appeared At
torneys Rocker of Providence, Sheffield
of Newport and Sweezy of the
firm of Glover, Sweexy d Glover
of New York. For the plaintiffs
appeared j. Tillinghast of Providence,
Jere M; Wilson Of New York and At
torney Wyman of Boston. very lengthy
affidavit OF Mrs. Ross was submitted this
morning and set forth the following:
John III. Glover and Elizabeth Carlisle,
who had made affidavits claiming that
Mrs. Ross interest in the case Was false,
are both pecuniarily interested in the es-
tate OF w. Ill. King, and are trying TO
keep him in restraint. Mrs. Ross deposes
that for years she had been in search OF
w. III. King, and had twice gone to Europe
to learn of his whereabout When at last
she learned of his confinement in
the Massac husetts asylum she examined
the three alleged copies of the writs OF
commitment issued by Chief Justice
Bradley and found that they all differed in
form. This first aroused her suspicion,
and proceedings of habeas corpus were in
stitnted by her in order to gain possession
of w. IL. King. This was in 1888 and the
matters was carried to the United States
courts.
Mrs. Ross further sets forth that w. II.
King was about to be married in Troy
when Edward King and DR.. David
King and wife appeared on the
scene and by illegal proceedings took
William III. King TO Massachusetts, where
he was illegally committed to the Nc
Lean Insane Asylum. Years elapsed be-
fore the petitioner found a trace of him.
When the ha beas corpus pro-
ceedings were pending in the
United States courts, George Gordon
King spirited the incarcersted man away
to Provide nee, where he was confined in
Butler Asylum before an order of the
court authorizing his confinement had
been made. Ii is further asserted that
George Gordon King is not the heir
at-law of the incarcerated man. She
Mrs. Ross) Is the only next of kin. The
sire TO keep w. III. King incarcerated until
they get his estate and that the demented
man was sound of mind when confined,
but under his treatment he has gradually
lost his faculties. He has not had
proper attention during his confine-
ment. Mrs. Ross states that her motives
in the case are those of humanity, duty
and affection. She asks that the guardian
snip OF George Gordon King be dissolved
and that the order of he court prevent
ing the taking OF testimony be revoked.
Lawyer Roelker in reply said hat every
declaration made by the complainants
wss false. w. II. King was the son of
David King of Newport, and well known
by many reputable citizens. He urged
that the woman who asserted that she
was next of kin should show
by her affidavit what her real
position was before she could expect the
court TO made any order appointing her
guardian al litem or joining her in any
way in the suit. MIR. Wilson said that
the question was one OF identity.
The defendants claimed that the
insane man was one person
while they asserted that he was
another, They wished an opportunity to
see MIR. King in order that they might de-
termine in regard to the presenting of
their facts to stsblsh the claim that Mrs.
Ross was the next OF kin. This the court
allowed and an order WAS drawn mp Civ
ing tue cotnplalnants PERMISSION 10 see
Mr.. King under proper restrictions.
Court came in at 2:45 O'Clock D. M,
and Lawyer Rocker stated that
Mr.. King is subject to fits and
must be kept quiet and that according
the rules of Buffers Asylum he ought not
to be subjected to Inconvenience by re-
peated calls of persons to identify him.
Judge Wilson did not wish MIR. King to
be subjected to any surveillance and
he did not care TO put Superin-
tendent Carton to any trouble
but he thought il unfair for the defend
ant to be "shut up so long"
The court stated that under supervision
of DIR. Carton visits might be made at
proper times and the case
was continued till January A.
with permission for Mrs. Ross and others
TO visit the Asylum until Dec, II, to get
interviews and Information.