The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-14
THINKS HIMSELF NAPOLEON.
A HALLUCINATION OF AMELIE
RIVEs' DIVORCED HUSBAND.

John Armstrong ChnnIer, a New
York Lawyer, Confined at Bloom
ingdRIe AsyIum-His COmmitment
Directed by Friends in Hope OF
WRrding OF Hopeless Insanity.
MIR. CbanIcr Claims His Incarcera-
tIOn Illegal and Brought by Miss
informed Friends.
New York, oct. 13-John Armstrong
Chanler, the divorced husband Of Amelia
Rives, and great-grandson OF John Jacob
Astor, is reported to be insane in the
Bloomngdale 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 Bloomingdale un-
der treatment. 1t is denied by his friends
that Mr.. Chanler Is insane or that his
mind Is affected in the least. He was TAX.
en- to Bloomngdale, these friends assert.
to gain a much-needed rest and treatment
for nervous disorders.
The affection OF his nerves. and a gems
eral physical breakdown, was due, they
say, to overwork.
Henry Van Ness Philip, his law part-
ner and closest friend said Of his illness
to-day: "rhe report Of MIR. Chanler's in~
sanity is entirely unfounded. / saw him
yesterday and conversed with him on
business matters. and he conversed in a
perfectly rational manner. His mind ID
not affected in the least. Mr.. ChanIer
was simply broken down in health, and
went 10 this retreat for rest and treat-
ment. He is now much improved.
It was given out that he had gone ia
Europe In order that he might rest in abb
solute quiet and retirement Only friends
and relatives, who stood closest to him,
were aware of his whereabouts. These
have called upon him frequently to relieve
the monotony of his confinement.
Mr. Chanler inherited an income from
the Astor estate of more than $4,000 q
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 prominent
clubs of New York. After leaving colleges
he entered the profession of law In part-
nership with Harry Van Ness Philip. He
did not pay much attention to business
until recently and has allowed his partner
TO attend to the management OF the firms
| affairs. He married AmeHe Rives, the
| authoress, In 1888, and the couple spent
| long time abroad. They were divorced In
| 1880.
The Evening World to-day publishes an
article signed by Arthur Brisbane, 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 committing him, acted upon the
advice of physicians, and especially upon
| the advice of the DOCTOR who had been
for many years Mr.. Chanler's regular ply
| sician. They acted further upon the adj
| vice of DR.. Starr, a specialist in mental
| disorders and who signed the application
| for Mr. Chanler's commitment. Mr.. Cham
| Ter was committed not because OF any
| overt act demonstrating insanity, but be-
cause Of the fear of his relatives that his
! mental condition might result at any mo-
ment in some violent outbreak. He was
| committed to Bloomngdale rather than to
a more quiet private resort, 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.. Chanlers
| commitment Senator David B. Hill, who
| has known him for some time, paid him
visit at Bloomingdale. Senator Hill,
| after long interview, decided that ID
would be better not to interfere In the mat
/ ter.
| Mr.. Chanler Is not violent lunatic, but.
| II is alleged, is subject TO hallucinations.
| In the statements which formed the ba@
| sis for his commitment his hallucinations
| .llcluueu the Dbnef that ne had succeeded
| by will power IN changing the shape OF
| his face and the color of his eyes, believ-
| ed himself to be the reincarnation Of Ma
| poleon, and that he would make a great
fortune by a system of play al the Monte
| Carlo gambling tables. The affidavit upon
which he was committed averred that he
was victim of the hallucinations sug-
! gested above, and furthermore, that there
was insanity in his family--an aunt hav-
| ing at one time been insane.
Mr.. Chanler's 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. Hd
! further alleges that he was lured to New
| York from Virginia, kidnapped" is the
! term he uses. although he admits that ID
was done by well meaning. but misinforms
| ed friends.
Mr.. Chanlers relatives and friends en-.
tertain a. belief that he will soon be re-
moved from Bloomingdale, possibly to 90
abroad in the hands of careful nurses ana
| physicians.