The evening times., 1899-01-31
VAN buren, DIXON
OF UNSOUND MIND
Verdict of the Jury on the
Frederick Dentist.
Declared Not Capable of Taking
Care of His Property.
Has Over $4,000 on Deposit I'm
Hank-ReIatives SoIicitOus
for Him.

de lunatico inquirendo in the case of DR..
Van Buren, Dixon, dentist, after hearing
testimony. yesterday rendered verdict
TO the effect that Dixon was of unsonnd
mind and not capable of taking care of his
property"
The lunacy proceedings were instituted
by William H. Pearre, a cousin of DR..
Dixon, through his counsel, E. Y. Colds
borough.
DR.. Dixon was not present at the hear
ing. Milton G. Urner who represented the
nearer members of the doctors family,
was present to see that fair and impair
tial inquisition was had. Dixon himself
was committed TO Montevue Hospital jan
uary by Justice Biser, when il was dis
covered by bank book in his old clothing
that he had on deposit in bank over $500
in cash.
The lunacy proceedings were conducted
before the sheriff, who, according to law,
presides over all such enquiries. The jury
in the case was composed of the follow
ing:
Hamilton B. Snowman, Charles d. Doll
Alvin C. Doering, George Phoebus, Capt
p. l.. Hiteshew, J. r. Marken, John J.
Bielfeld, Andrew Bable, George A. Gill
bert, Thomas Q. Eyler, John w. Rhine
hart. Christian L. Albaugn.
Milton A. Woodward testified to having
known DR.. Dixon for thirty years, and did
not consider him capable at present of
managing his affairs or taking care Of
himself.
Petition to Arrest Dixon.
Edward Houck, owner of the Eagle Ho-
TEL said he had petitoned the authorities
to arrest Dixon, so he could recover pos
session of his property, which had become
vacated by the landlady. Dixon lived on
the premises and refused to leave. Mr.
Houck said: Il believed Dixon was liy-
ing in an unhealthy condition and after
he was arrested forced open his room door
and found it to be in ae filthy condition.
The air in the room was so foul that Mr.
Solomon Stern, who stood in front of it,
was made sick He and Mr.. c. ID. Doll ac-
companied me TO see how Dixon lived.
The walls were all defaced with incoherent
sentences, and the dirt on the floor was
fully six inches deep in many places. He
had no stove in his room, and had few
horse blankets for his bed
Oscar Burucker said that since Mrs
Stewart left the Eagle Hotel, December
20, Dixon had bought two loaves of bread
from him every other day and carried a
pitcher of water away with him.
House, said DR.. Dixon came there about
fifteen years ago. well dressed and of pleas
ant manners. Some three or four years
ago the witness noticed a change that
seemed to indicate he was of unsound mind.
The walls in his rooms were all defaced
with incoherent sentences and the wood
work badly Clipped.
For His Own Protection.
William II. Pearre of Unionville, Fred
erick county, cousin Of DR.. Dixon, who
filed the petition for inquiry into the sanity
of DR.. Dixon, said he did so in order to
protect the man from himself. He said DR.
Dixon's mother and his aunt We're of un-
sound mind and that his mother acted
in a similar manner to the doctor the in
sanity taking the nature of melancholy.
The aunt had come TO the house when in
this condition and spent some time there.
The witness did not know that Dixon had
all the money until he saw it in the papers.
John H. Witter said Dixon had two sis
ters, Mrs. Caroline Barrick. Des Moines,
Iowa, and Mrs. Eliza Pearre, a half sister
in Rosseau, Ohio, and two others who are
dead Mr.. Writer'S wife is niece of DR..
Dixon, and he has number of other neph-
ews and neces in Frederick county who
are prominently connected. The witness
considered DIR. Dixon incompetent TO man
age his affairs, and of late tried to engage
him in conversation without avail Dixon's
sister came here in 1889 and called on
him, but he refused to see her.
Wilbur II. Duval, cashier of the Farmers
and Mechanics Bank, of Frederick, said:
''Dr. Dixon became & customer of the bank
in 1887 when he deposited $4,000. Later
On he made minor deposits, and in March,
1891, deposited S3.6S0; January, 1895, ST.
S14, and August, 1895, s., 5,S60.''
superintendent Ricc's Testimony.
Fuller B. Rice, superintendent of Mon
tevue Hospital, said: Il have given the
patient close attention, as requested since
his commitment to my care, and frequent
ly held conversation with him. He an
swered all my questions with perfectly ra-
tional replies. and said he wanted contr,l
of his property. From my observations of
his actions and conditions | cannot say
that he is insane
Warden Nicodemus testified as 20 The pa
TENTS arrival at the institution His head
and feet were somewhat dirty, but his
body was clean. The warden also testified
to the finding Of the book of deposit with
the Farmers and Mechanics Bank show
ing balance of SIG, ,3S6.S1 to his credit
Continuing his testimony. the warden said.
When l asked him how he made so much
money, Dixon said by dentistry and other
things What other things? said l. That
is going little bit too far replied Dixon.
l frequently held conversations with him
and from all my intercourse with him l
cannot say he is of unsound mind. asked
him what was the best way to maze mon
ey. He said, Work for it, -
DIR. Fahrney's Testimony.
DR.. Harry P. Fahrney, physician to the
Montevue, testified that while in his opin-
ion he did not consider Dr. Dixon insane.
yet he had eccentricities that would nat
urally become more pronounced as he grew
older, and he considered 1t for Dixons
best interest that a trustee should be ap-
pointed for him.
DR.. S. S. Maynard said he would con-
slider the patient of unsound mind from
the evidence adduced. DR.. w. A. Long
said he considered him of unsound mind
from his peculiar actions.
Superintendent Rice said tonight that
they had not informed Dixon of the ver-
dict, as they feared he would not be able
to sleep, but intended to apprise him of
the result in the morning. The jury de-
liberated on the case about an hour They
stood eight to four for the verdict, then
eleven to one, and finally it was agreed to
by all as rendered.
1t is expected the court will take the
case up in a few days and appoint trus-
tee.