The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-23
YOUNG LAWYER INSANE
ANDREW j. SToTT WROTE MANY
LETTERS PROPOSING MARRIAGE.
of wealthy Men Annoyed
Admitted He AS "LOve Sick
He Was a Free ~SiIverite.

A commission headed by Magistrate
Nickerson made inquiry yesterday morning
as to the sanity of Andrew j. Stott, a
young lawyer well known about town, and
as a result of the inquest papers were
issued for the commitment Of Stott to the
Central Hospital for the Insane. Stott
came into the room after the papers had
been signed and demanded to know by
what authority such proceedings were had.
He left the room in company with his
brother, John Stott, of Princeton, and last
night was down town in the care of his
friends. His brother stated last night that
he was to be taken 10 the asylum this
morning.
Stott's case is a peculiar one, and there
is little in his family history or his own
physical condition to which the malady
might be traced. After graduating from
the law department of the University of In
dianapolis last spring he entered the office
of Flavius j. Van Vorhis, and was re-
garded as a very bright young man. He
became a strong free-silver man, and spent
a great deal of his time in argument on
this line. A short time after the campaign
he began to show indications of mental un-
balance. He called on DIR. j. T. McShane
for treatment, n the doctor saw that he
vas CA1A1A EtL kO0S ACAO h8A0 49, ASAAC
for which was quiet and rest. The young
man apparently gave little heed to his
physicians advice, and soon a hallucination
developed. The young lawyer was, as he
claimed, love sick. He had joined the Sec
ond Presbyterian Church shortly after
coming to this city, and after his malady
began to appear he annoyed young women
of the church by writing them letters pro-
posing marriage. In these cases he did not
even have an acquaintance with the young
women. Some of the letters We're incoher-
ent. The young man seemed possessed of
the idea that he must get married, IL dldnt
matter to whom, so long as the young
woman was wealthy. DIR. McShane tele-
graphed to Stott's brother and advised that
Some attention should be given TO the
young lawyer. The family held a consulta-
ton, and the brother was sent to this city
for the purpose of having the lawyer COM
mitted to the asylum, II 1t were deemed
advisable by his friends at indianapolis.
The proceedings yesterday were had at the
request of the brother, Frank j. Lahr ming
the affidavit.
Late Saturday night the lawyer called at
the home of a prominent member OF the
Second Presbyterian Church ana asked to
see the daughter of the house. He was re-
fused admission. Early the next morning
he again called at the house with the same
result This led the father of the young
lady to take steps to prevent a reoccur-
renee of the annoyance.
The landlady of the house at which he
boarded on North Illinois street was sum-
moned to appear before the commission,
but Stott received the summons and started
for the courthouse. When he reached there
the inquiry had been concluded. Upon
Stott's demand the papers were shown him.
He carefully examined them, and, turning
to DR.. McShane. said: Il cannot feel as
kindly toward you as I would like after
what you have done. l do rot agree with
you" Stott refused TO turn over the papers
to DIR. McShane, who wished TO hand them
TO the county clerk. but afterwards re-
turned them to the officials himself.
Among those who were examined as to
Stott's queer conduct were Drs. McShane
and Mcmahon, Thomas II. Spann and Chas.
+. SayleS.
The young man and his brother left the
courtroom together, and later in the after
noon the lawyer, alone, called on Or. Nc
Shane.
The young man shows no tendency
| toward homicidal mania. He was a gradu-
ate of Wabash College in 1893. and some
time ago published a book on football.