The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-31
REFUSED TO IMMURE
SINCLAIR IN AN ASYLUM
JUDGE HALL DECLARES HIM
SELF EMPHATICALLY.
Delivers a Searching Lecture to Those
Concerned-Hints That OBJ
stacles Are Being In
terposed.
Oakland Office San Francisco Can,
MlN Rrnnlu-nnr Inn On


90S Broadway, Jan. 30.
Superior Judge Hall to-day refused TO
direct David Sinclair to place his brother
ward, Thompson w. Sinclair in a local
home for the cure OF inebriates and Incl
dentally delivered n scorchng lecture to
the president of the home In question
also Attorney Il. ]. Bennett and the lag
cure" as well.
Recently David Sinclair was appointed
guardian OF his brother. Thompson w.
Sinclair, who. Il few weeks ago, volun-
tarily had himself arrested and placed in
the County Jail so as TO keep out OF the
reach OF liquor, While In Jail Attorneys
+. w. Sawyer and h. ]. Bennett visited
the unfortunate man and agreed In unit
ing 10 get him out OF jail and secure for
him his share In his mothers estate. 1t
is said. in fact, that he assigned his whole
interest 10 the attorneys for its better
protection
Last week the ward petitioned Judge
Han 70 direct his guardian to place him
IN local home, where. II is claimed the
liquor habit can be cured at "A cost OF S225
including board for four weeks.
The guardian bitterly opposed this ap-
plication and was represented by NJ c.
Chapman. \ number OF witnesses were
examined, among them DIT. A. h. Barnes.
president OF the home I'm question. Thomp-
son W. Sinclair also took the stand and
told remarkable story. He denied first
that he had ever been committed to the
insane asylum at Grand Rapids, Mich, and
said he went there voluntarily, remaining
there about four months; that he had
fought the liquor habit for twenty wears:
that he had acquired an Unsuitable appe-
lite FOR alcoholic drink from the fact that
when hoy he was sick for several wears
and during his sickness was unable TO
partake OF any food except whisky and
occasionally mush He begged 10 be
placed In AN Institution where he might
be cured, Notwithstanding that he failed
TO he cured on several previous OCCASIONS
Attorney Bennett charged that an effort
was being made 10 railroad his client 10
an asylum at San Bernardino, but Judge
Hall quickly interrupted, saying:
Il have read the contract between the
attorneys and this man and have my
idea OF the attorneys interests. You can
readily ohViate all this trouble by de-
stroying that contract.
III this man hadn't fallen into the hands
Of the attorneys his brother would prob
ably have had him sent TO some good in
stltution. There seems 10 be DISPOSE
ton 70 throw obstacles into the guar
dian 5 path.
Judging from Dr. A h. Barnes. on the
stand, / would not put this unfortunate
man under his care, II | were his guard
ian. Though Barnes has conducted this
institution for a year, he gives a list OF a
few names OF those who he has cured.
The last name is that OF Thompson w
Sinclair, and two others have relapsed
There Is one name, Il. Richmond, who has
been in the institution but six days, and
who Is in n condition that IL he were out
he would make break for the first sa-
loon.
IL have no confidence In IL. If / were
the guardian l would consider that this
man cannot be cured, unless he is kept
away from Il constantly. Attorney Ben.
nett is not justified in assuming that the
guardian viii not do anything for Thomp-
SON w. Sinclair"
Guardian Sinclair now proposes 10 bring
suit against Attorneys Sawyer and Ben,
nett for the purpose OF resembling the con.
tract existing between these attorneys
and his brother.