The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-14
Ex-Husband of AmeIie Rives Report
ed to Have Been Committed to
BIOOmingdale Insane Asylum.
HIS MIND SAID TO WANDER
REPORTS OF HIS INSANITY DENIED
BY HIS LAW PARTNER.
A Great-GrandsOn of John Jacob As.
tor Who Married the Author of
the "QuicL or the Dead"

NEW YORK. Oct. 13-John Armstrong
Chanler, the divorced husband of Amelia
Rives, and a great-grandson of John Jacob
Astor, is reported to be insane in the Bloom
ingdale asylum. Mr.. Chanler 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 Blooming
dale under treatment. 1t is denied by his
friends that Mr.. Chanler is insane or that
his mind is affected in the least. He was
taken to Bloomingdale, these friends assert.
to gain a much-needed rest and treatment
for nervous disorders. The affection of his
nerves and a general physical breakdown
was due, they say. to overwork.
Harry Van Ness Philip, his law partner
and closest friend, said of his illness to-day:
THE report of Mr. Chanler's insanity is en-
tirely unfounded. / saw him yesterday and
conversed with him on business matters and
he conversed in a perfectly rational man.
ner. 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
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.. Chanler's
family, in committing him, acted on the ad-
vice of physicians and especially the
advice Of the doctor who had been for many
years Mr.. Chanler's regular physician. They
acted further the advice of DR.. Starr. a
specialist in mental disorders, and who
signed the application for Mr.. 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 moment in some violent out
break. He was committed to Bloomingdale
rather than to more quiet private resort
because of the fear that man of his deter
mined character could be kept in confine-
ment only by the most rigorous and sys-
tematic supervision.
Soon after Mr. Chanler's commitment
Senator David 3. Hill, who has known him
for some time, paid him a visit at Bloom
ingdale. Senator Hill, after a long inter-
view, decided that it would be better not to
interfere in the matter. Mr.. Chanler is not
a violent lunatic, but, it is alleged, is SUBJ
ject to hallucinations. In the statements
which formed the basis for his commitment
his hallucinations included the belief that
he succeeded by will power in changing the
shape Of his face and the color of his eyes,
believed himself to be the reincarnation of
Napoleon, and that he would make a great
fortune by 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 suggested
above and furthermore that there was in
sanity 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 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 well-meaning. but misinformed
friends Mr.. Chanler's relatives and friends
moved from Bloomingdale, possibly to go
abroad in the hands of careful nurses and
physicians"