Evening journal., 1898-05-20

EFFORT TO ESTABLISH HIS SAN
ITY BEING MADE BEFORE A
JURY.
All Of yesterday faternoon and to-
day there has been a fierce legal battle
going on over the mind of George
Loney, an inmate Of the Delaware
State Hospital at Farnhurst.
Horace c. Knowles and Robert G..
Harman. representing former neigh
bors OF Loney, are endeavoring To Sc
cure his release from the institution,
claiming that he Is not insane, and
asking the jury Of inquiry to declare
that his mental faculties are not inn
paired.
His daughters, who had him placed
in the hospital, are represented by
James H. Hoffecker. Jr., and Lilburu
Chandler. William S. Hllles Is also i'm
the case As the defender of the asylum.
Several witnesse have already been eN-
amined. Loney is present at the hear
ings.
The first witness was Miss Elizabeth
Conner, OF Philadelphia. who stated
that she visited the family very often,
and that on her last visit George
Ioney was there and in the kitchen.
and after dinner he walked TO the door
Of the dining room and deliberately
threw a knife and fork at his daughter,
and she thought that was a strange
thing for him to do.
The witness also stated that the
girls had a few callers and that about
| 10 o'clock the father would wander
| about the house, and when the fellows
went home he would go into the din
ing-room and look at the clock which
was also a strange thing for him to do.
Rev Charles r. Murray, OF St. An
drews Church, was the next witness,
| and he stated that he had known the
family for about sixteen years and Of
ten called on them. After the death Of
Mrs Loney the daughters called on the
witness for advice in regard to their
father, who was acting very STRANGELY.
DR. Murray advised them to call on
DR.. Swithln Chandler to examine their
fathers condition, which they did.
William ConnOr of Philadelphia,
stated that he had known George
I.oney for about forty years, and had
often visited the house, and during one
Of his last visits Loney talked TO him
in regard to selling his house, and
Connor advised him to employ a law.
p yer to draw up the papers, and Loney
+ said no. he could do It himself. VIII
liam Conner thought at that time
; Lopcy was out of his mind.
Miss Maria Loney. who is principa
OF school No. H. and a daughter o
3 George Lonoy, was the next witness
d She stated about four years ago he
father attended Harrison Street Churcl
, and he had severe pain In th
b head and felt very dizzy. On the mex
y day he was taken sick at his work an
d was carried to his home. AT anothe
r time when he was working at the Dia
d mOnd State Iorn Company he fell an
1t cut his head, and was taken to hi
Us home In a cab. on the way home h
D. broke the glass In the cabdOOr with hi
id hand, and ever since that time he ha
Nc acted In a strange manner. On on
occasion he threatened to get her i'm
ut corner and strangle her, and throw he
30 ! down stairs
Mt lie always arose about o'clock /
at the morning. and was always In a ba
1t temper. and would go 30 the door OF HI
IN daughters room and bang and han
nd mer and threaten TO so down the ce
ri lar, get an axe and break the door ii
nm When he would leave 10 go down stail
the girls would get up, 80 down tt
~ front stairs in their bare feet and PR
DIP | nare breakfast