The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-14
John Armstrong ehanIer Confined In an
Asylum For the Insane.
TROUBLED With HALLUCIAAIIOnS
His Friends Deny IhntHlG IN Crnzy
ana say He Is Talking Much
Needed Rest Hut He IL Kept iu
CfOao Confinement FINDER Rigorous
and Systematic C Supervision.
New York. Oct. 1a. 1897.

grandson of John Jacob Astor. Is re-
ported ITO be INSANE in yhe Buom:ng-
dale asylum. Mr.. Chanlcr left the city
suddenly lass spring, and 1t was said
by his friends that he had gone TO lI,r-
rope. The fact has leaked out that he
Is In BloOm!ngyiale under trca;mcnt 1t
is denied by his friends that Mr. Chan
Ter Is insane or that rhLs mind is affected
IN The least. He was taken Ito Bloom
inSdale. these friends assert 20 gain n
much needed rest and treatment for
nervous disorders. The affection of his
nerves and II general physical break
down was due. they say, to over work
Harry Van Ness Philip. his law part
ner and closest friend, said of his i'll
ness to-day:
THE report Of Mr.. Chanlcrs s. insanity
is entirely unfounded. saw him ycs-
terday and ] converscd with him on
business matters and he cunvCrsed in n
perfectly rational manner His mind Is
MT affected in the least.
Mr.. Chanler was simply broken down
In hcalth and went to this retreat for
resi- ana trGU.ment lie Is now much
Improved.
1T was given out that he had gone
10 Europe II order that he might res;
In absolute quiet and retirement Only
friends and relatives who stood Closes
10 nlln were aware OF his whereabouts
THESE have called upon him frequently
to. relieve the monotCny Of his cuutnn-
mcnt."
Mr. Chahler inherited an income from
She Ast1r estate of more than $4,000 a
year. He waE educated at Columbia
ana Rugby, and has spent much Of his
time since attaining his majority in Eu-
rope. lie is a member Of nearly MI the
prominent clubs of New York. After.
leaving. college he entered the profess
sion OF law in partnership with Harry
van Ness Philip. He diu not pay much
attention TO business until recently, and
mas alp:wcd his partner 10 ATTEND to
the management OF the firms business.
He married Amelia Rivcs. the author
ess. in 1SSS. and the couple synnt n long
time abroad. They We're divorced in
1895.
The Evening World to-day publishes
an article signed by Arthur Iirisbin,
which says in part:
MIR. Chanlcr was confined against his
Will on an order issued in the regular
way by the court. Alr. Chanler's fami-
~ In committing him, acted upon the
advice of physicians. and especially
uli1n the advice of the doctor who had
been for many years Mr. Chanler's reg
uiar physician. They acted further
upon she advice of Dr. Starr, 81 special
.st in mental disorders. and who signed
the application for MIR. Chanler,s com
nrltmen:. Mr. Chanlcr was committed
not because of any overt act demon
Strat!ng insanity, but because of the.
fear OF his relatives that his mental
condition might result at any moment
In some violent outbreak. He was com
mirted 10 liloomingdaic rather than DO n
more private resort because of the fear
'"hat n man Of his determined t.harc-t ar
could he kept in confinement only bv
the m'i:t rigorous and systematic SUI
pcrvlsion.
Soon after Mr.. Chanler's commitment
senator David I5. Hin. who has known
hlnl Tor some time, paid vis.t TO
Bloomingdale. Senator Hill, after q
long Interview, decided 'ahat It would
lie better MT TO Interfere in the mai
ter.
Mr.. Chanler is not n violent lunatic
but. it Is alleged is subject to hallucj
nani@nS In thc statements which form
ed ihe basis for his commitment, his
hallucnntions included the belief thai
he had succeeded by will power in
changing the shape Of his face and the
color OF his eyes believed himself to
he the reincarnation OF Napoleon, ana
mat he would make a great fortune hv
n system Of play at the Monte Carlo
gambling tables. The affidavit upon
which he was committed averred that
!lc was Il victim Of hallucinations sur
gcStcd above, and furthermore that
Jherc was insanity In his family-,an
aunt having at one tirnc been insane.
Mr.. Chambers main grievance and
his greatest objection 70 his comuft
ment follows:
He declares shat he f.; n resident nf
Virginia. no! of Nuw York, and that
his commitment is Illegal IN that way.
He :urthcr alleged that he was lurcd 10
New York from Virginia: "kidnappcd"
is the term he uses. although he admits
THAT ii was done 10y we'll meaning. but
misinfurmcd friends
Mr. Chlnlcr's relatives ana friends
entertain u belief THAT he will soon be
removed from Room!nedaic possibly
10 so abroad in the hands Of careful
nurses ana physicians