Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-10-14
DIVORCED HUSBAND OF AMELIE
RIvES IN AN ASYLUM.
A VICTIM Or HALLUCINATl0NS.
HIS FRIENDS, HOWEVER, DECLARE
HE IS NOT CRAZY.
Mr.. Chnnler Believes Himself the Re.
inca nrnntion Of Napoleon and That
He Can Win u Fortune by
Gambling ut Monte
Carlo.

New York. Oct. 13.-John Armstrong
ChaEler, the divorced husband of Amelie
Rives and great grandson of John Jacob
Astor, Is reported to be insane in the
Bloomingdale asylum. Mr.. Chanler left
the city suddenly last spring and II Was
said by his friends that he had gone to
Europe. The fact has leaked out that he
is in Bioomingdale under treatment.
1t is denied by his friends that Mr.. Cham
ler is insane. or that his mind is affected in
the least. He was taken TO BtoomingGa!e.
these friends assert. to gain much need
ed rest and treatment for nervous disor-
ders, due to oyerwork.
Harry VanNess Phillips. his law partner
and closest friend. said of his Illness to-
day: The report of Mr.. CHAMBERS insan-
ity is entirely unfounded- ! saw him yes
tcrday and conversed with him on business
matters and he conversed in Il perfectly
rational manner. His mind is not affected
in the least. Mr.. Chanler was simply brok-
en down in health and went to this retreat
for rest and treatment. He is now much
improved"
Mr.. Chanler inherited an income from
the Astor estate of more than s30,o00 Il
year. lie 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 of New York.
! He married Amelia Rives. the authoress.
in 1883 and the couple spent long time
abroad. They We're divorced in 1895.
| The Evening World to-day publishes an
article signed by Arthur Brisbin. which
says, in part:
"Mr Chanler was confined against his
will on an order issued in the regular way
| by the court. Mr.. Chanlers family. in
| 1roift cd ha aIx-ic Of
physicians. and especially upon the ad-
vice of the doctor who had been for many
years Mr.. Chanler's regular physician.
! They acted further upon the advice of DIR.
/ Starr. a specialist in mental disorders.
and who signed the application for MIR.
Chanler's 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 time in some
violent outbreak. He was committed to
-Bloomingdale rather than to more quiet
| private resort. because of the fear that
man of his determined character could be
| kept in confinement only by the most rig
orous and systematic supervision.
| Soon after Mr.: CHAMBERS commitment
Senator David B. HILL who has known him
| for some time, pal him u visit at Bloom
| ingdale. Senator Hill. after a long inter-
| view, decided that 1t would be better not "a
| interfere in the matter.
Mr.. Chanler is not a violent lunatic,
| but, it is alleged, is subject TO hallucina-
! tions. In the statements which formed the
| basis of his commitment his hailucinations
| 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 reincarnation of Napo-
| leon. and that he would make great for
tune by a system Of play at the Monte
! Carlo gambling tables. The affidavit upon
which he was committed averred that he
was a victim of the hallucinations sug-
| gested 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 fol-
| lows: He declares that he Is al resident of
| Virginia. not of New York, and that his
| commitment Is Illegal in that way. He fur
| ther alleges that he was lured to New York
| from Virginia-kidnaped' is the term he
uses-although he admits that 1t was done
| by well meaning, but mislnformed. friends.
| "Mr. Chambers relatives and friends en-
| tertain a belief that he will soon be re-
| moved from Bloomingdale. possibly to go
| abroad In the hands of careful nurses and
| physicians"