The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-14
THINKS HE is NAPOLEON
HIS FRIENDS DENY THAT HE is
INSANE.
he IS CONFINED AGAINST HIS WILL
GhanIer Contends That His Commitment is
illeg,I--Was Kidnapped" From Virginia
to New York by WeIlmeaning But
Misinformed Friends.

HISiIlIOfiIl6u TficIluSs
New York. Oct. 13.-John Armstrong
Ghanler the divorced husband of Anne
La Rives and great-grandson of John
Jacob Aster, is reported to be insane
In the BlOomingdale asylum. Mr.. Chan
Ter left the city suddenly last spring and
IT was said by his friends that he had
gone to Europe. The fact has leaked out
that he is in Bloomingdale under treat
ment 1t is denied by his friends that
Mr.. CHAMBER is insane or that his mind
is affected in the least. He was taken
to Bloomingdale, these friends assert, TO
gain much needed rest and treatment
for nervous disorders. The affection of
his nerves and general physical break
down was due. they say, to overwork.
Harry Van Ness Philip, his law part
ner and closest friend, said of his i'll
ness today:
''The report of Mr. CHAMBERS insanity
is entirely unfounded / saw him yester-
day and conversed with him on business
matters and he conversed in a perfectly
rational manner. His mind is not affected
in the least.
"Mr. Chanler was simply broken
down in health and went to this retreat
for rest and treatment. He is now much
improved
1t was given out that he had gone TO
Europe in order that he might rest in
absolute quiet and retirement. Only
friends aud relatives who stood closest
TO him were aware of his whereabouts.
These have called upon him frequently
to relieve the monotony of his c0ntine-
ment.
Mr. Chanler inherited an income from
the Aston estate of more than $4,000 a
year. He was educated at Columbia and
Rugby and has spent much of his time
since attaining his majority in Europe.
He is a member of nearly all the promi--
nent clubs in New York. After leaving
college he entered the profession of law
in partnership with Harry Van Ness
Philip. He did not pay much attention
to business until recently and has al
lowed his partner to attend to the man
agement of the firms affairs He mar
ried Amelia Rives, the authoress, in
1883, and the couple spent a long time
abroad. They were divorced in 1895.
The Evening World today publishes
an article signed by Arthur Brisbin
which says in part:
Mr.. Chandler was confined against his
will on an order issued in the regular
way by the court. Mr.. CHAMBERS family
in committing him, acted upon the adj
vice of physicians, and especially upon
the advice of the doctor who had been
for many years Mr.. CHAMBERS regular
physician. They acted further upon the
advice of DR.. Starr, specialist in ment-
al disorders, and who signed the applica-
ton for Mr.. CHAMBERS commitment
Mr.. Chanler was committed not because
OF any overt act demonstrating insanity,
But because of the fear of his relatives
that his mental condition might result
at any moment in some violent outbreak.
He was committed to BlOomingdale
rather than to a more quiet private re-
sort because of the fear that man of
his determined character could be kept
in confinement only by the most rigorous
and systematic supervision.
Soon after Mr.. CHAMBERS commitment,
Senator David b. Hill, who has know
him for some time, paid his a visit at
Bloomingdale Senator Hill, after
long interview, decided that it would
be better not to interfere in the mat
ter.
Mr.. CHAMBER is not violent lunatic,
but, it is alleged is subject to hallucina-
tons. In the statements which formed
the basis for his commitment, his hal
fluctuations included the belief that he
had succeeded by will power in changing
the shape of his face and the color of
his eyes, believed himself to be the re-
incarnation of Napoleon, and that he
would make a great fortune by a sys-
tenn of play at the Monte Carlo gambling
tables. The affidavit upon which he
was committed averred that he was a
victim Of the Authorizations suggested
above, and Furthermore that there was
insanity in his family-an aunt having
at one time been insane.
Mr.. CHAMBERS main grievance and his
greatest objection to his commitment are
as follows:
He declares that he is a resident OF
Virginia, not of New York, and that his
commitment is illegal in that way. He
further alleges that he was lured to
New York from Virginia" kidnapped"
is the term he uses-although he admits
that it was done by we'll meaning but
misinformed friends
Mr.. Chambers relatives and friends en-
tertain a belief that he will soon be
removed from Bloomingdale, possibly to
go abroad in the hands of careful nurses
and physicians.