New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-07
wendell CASE IN COURT HERE.
JUSTICE GILDERsLEEvE TO APPOINT COM
MISSION TO INQUIRE INTO RICH
wOMAN'S SANITY

The legal controversy which involves the liberty
Of Miss Georgiana Wendell an alleged incompe-
tent mas been transferred to the courts in this
City' IN the Supreme court yesterday Justice
1iiuersieeVe heard arguments order TO show
, cause why commission should not be appointed
70 inquire into Miss Wendel's mental condition.
! John q Wendell, brother OF the alleged incom-
petent. appears the petitioner in the action
brought IN this city. In his petition Mr.. Wendell
recites that his sister Ceorgana at present with
MS sister Rebecca Wendell at Irvington-on-th the
Hudson. He that Georgtana Wendell has
been incompetent for six years and that she has
been pronounced mentally unbalanced by DR.. Egg
bert Guernsey.
Mr. Wendell says that his sister has large prop
erty holdings, which by reason of her unbalanced
condition. she is unable TO look after properly. He
asserts that she owns about a3OOOO worth OF real
estate, has $1,000 interest in the estate Of her
father, the late John D. Wendell and that she has
$4,000 in personal property.
In an affidavit DR.. Guernsey asserts that he is
convinced that Miss Wendell is suffering from par
anoia. the result of a severe attack Of typhoid
fever contracted in Egypt several years ago. He
asserts that she has Authorizations; believes that
she controls the Police Department. and that her
brain is attached to a large electric battery.
Dr. Allen Fitch says that he examined Miss
Wendell on September 5 last. and found her in
bad way physically and mentally. Her converse
ton, says the Doctor wandered and was irrational
In the affidavit Dr.. Fitch declares that Miss Wen
q
state Don't speak TO DR.. Fitch, he speaks through
trained nurses She lights matches and throws
them on the floor one after another. have TO
stay awake all night to keep the house from burn
ing Up. So all good Catholics. I eat raw
corn because clergymen eat it
DR.. Fitch also says that Miss Wendell believes
that she IS being cruelty treated and that her sis
tiers are weak minded. She complained to him that
her stuck needles in her feet and that efforts
were made poison her while she in Bellevue
Hos al he ro1eo -Gar a76a
compared herself 10 Christ, and wanted TO go swim
ming in bathtub with her bicycle suit DR..
Austin Flint's affidavit corrohorates that OF Dr.
Fitch
In his argument for the appointment Of a COM
mission, George Gordon Battle. who appeared for
the petitioner said that Miss Wendell
doubtedly incompetent. John NJ. Digney, OF
pointrnent of a commission He denied that Miss
Wendell was insane. and said that her relatives
could ger control of her property. Mr.. Digney also
cs!teq me courts attention TO the tact mat pro
Westchester County, and that there a court
dTects that Miss Wendel be- prod a IN couTt
YESTERDAY. This order was the result OF ma oeas
corpus proceedings begun by Miss WendeIs friends.
Hepburn Mack friend Of Mss We8deI who had
called at her brothers house On ATgust p last and
was prevented from seeing her by her brother and
Justice Gidersleeve said he thought the best way
TO get Miss Wendell out If she sane would be
mental condition Mr. Dgney then raised a pre-
Iirninary objection to the motion the ground that
Miss Wendell was not resident of Network
County, and that the proceeding for a commission
could not be brought here. Continuing Mr.. Digney
said:
They say. she becomes insane twice a year at
stated periods. We have ahdavfts 20 show that
twice each year her brother John G. Wendell,
ceves the income Of certain property, and is then
ne says she is insane He first attempted to have
her declared insane in her home, Fifth-ave. and
y-ninth-st, because ne wanted her 10 sign a
certain paper, which she declined TO do. She re-
fused TO agree 20 the probate of her mothers will
because she believed her mother could never have
made maze a VII which was unjust TO her unless her
brother had Influenced her mother do So
Justice Gildersleeve said he would appoint com
mission and the only debatable question seemed 10
be as 70 Miss Wendels custody IN the mean time
Mr.. Battle said she was in the hands Of a COM
rnittee Of her person.
What said M Digney '~VVhAn uae that az,
pofntment Inade?'
Last night" replied Mr.. Battle. I'VE get an
oruer appointing Miss Mary Wendell committee OF G..
her person temporarily
Justice GiIdersleeve then took the papers and re-
served his decision.