Evening star., 1899-03-01
SANITY QUESTIONED
Mental Capacity Of Eugene Peters
Subject Of Inquiry.
RESTRAINING ORDER ALSO DEMANDED
Certain Banks Where Peters Has
Deposits Made Defendants.
ACTION OF THE COURT

The case of Eugene Peters, member of a
well-known local business firm, whose ac-
tions of late at Hot Springs, Ark, and
other places have gained for him consider
able notorety, was today called to the at
tention of the Supreme Court of the Dis
trfct of Columbia in two ways. The first
notice was through the medium of an ap-
plication for writ de lunatico fnquirendo.
Justice Cox, in Equity Court No. 1, to
whom the petition was presented. directed
that the writ issue as prayed, returnable
the 7th instant.
The other proceeding instituted is suit
in equity for an injunction. In addition to
Eugene Peters, the Citizens National Bank,
the Central National Bank and the Wash
ington Safe Deposit Company Of the Dis
trict of Columbia are mentioned as defend
ants. The complainant is E. Annie Hannum,
and she Is represented by Attorneys Jere
NJ. Wilson and A. A. Hoehing, jr.
1t is set forth in the petition that Eugene
Peters has neither father mother, brother,
nor sister living, and that Mrs. Hannum,
the complainant, is one of his nearest blood
relatives, being an aunt on the side of his
mother.
Amount of His Deposit.
After reciting that proceedings in lunacy
have been instituted against Eugene Peters
Mrs. Hannum explains in her bill that he
has large sums of money, aggregating sew
eral thousands of dollars, on deposit in
each of the banks mentioned, in addition to
bonds and securities of the value of $780,,
600 or 100000. with the safe deposit COM
pany Continuing, Mrs. Hannum sets forth
that Mr.. Peters is of unsound mind and in
capable of managing and properly taking
care of himself, his property or estate
that In his condition of mental infirmity
and irresponsibility he has, during the past
few weeks, squandered large sums of
money, amounting to several thousands of
dollars, and that in addition thereto he has
made repeated applications to others for
the purpose of raising large sums of money
one such request having recently been
made by him upon the Citizens National
Bank by telegram, requesting letter of
credit in his favor for $4,000.
These expenditures and the request for
credit it is declared, were not necessary
for any proper needs. maintenance or sup
port of Mr. Peters, nor were they necessary
for the protection or increase of his estate
The further statement is made that during
the past few weeks Mr.. Peters has been
associating with gamblers and other dis
reputable persons, and under such infiu-
encas has been dssipating and wasting
large sums of money.
Unless Mr.. Peters Is restrained by the
court. says Mrs Hannum, there is danger
that he will withdraw the money from the
banks and the securities from the safe de-
posit company. all of which, 1t Is stated,
would be to his irreparable loss and dam
age.
Banks Temporarily Restrained.
1t is asked that the banks be restrained
from paying out any moneys to order of
Mr.. Peters; that the safe deposit company
be restrained from surrendering the Sc
curities, and that upon the final hearing of
the lunacy proceedings the moneys and Sc
curities be held by the institutions in ques-
ton, subject to the order of the court.
JnStice Cox iSSna6 a
ing order, returnable the 18th instant.
In view Of the proceedings in the case
taken in the Supreme Court of the 2istrict
OF Columbia, the warrant under which Mr.
Peters was arrested yesterday, charging