The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-08
CHANLER IS
ADJUDCED SANE
Court Finds Him Competent 10
Manage His Affairs.
WILL NOW SEEK HIS ESTATE.
Expert AllsnIsts Testify In Mr. ChanIsr's
Favor and Say His Msstal pscuIiahtIss
Are Normal.
WILL NOW SEEK HIS ESTATE.

Charlottesville. Va, Nov. S--John Arm
strong Chanler, formerly the husband Of
Amelte Rives, now Princess Trolbetskay,
was Yesterday declared by the Albemarle
county court 20 be sane and competent
10 manage his AFFAIRS and estate.
The hearing In the case was begun at
half-psst ten. Many ladies occupied seats
and hundred students from tho Unlycr-
sity OF Virginia we're Interested listeners.
Mr. chanler was a picture OF physical
health Ills testimony was given in a
clear. concise and decisive manner. and
his bearing was one of quiet dignity and
close attention. ilis statement covered
his movements from the day he escaped
from Bloemingdale. in November 1870. up
to the present time. aud contained little
tha has not already appeared i'm print
Opinions of NJ. chanlers case signed
Dy Dr. H. &. Wood OF Philadelphia and
iroi. Joseph Jastrow. professor of psy-
rholoey AZ the University OF Wisconsin,
attesfinK Mr.. chaniers sanity were read
~ referring 10 form Of automatic ac-
uNltN, known as automatic writing. which
ar. rhanler claims 90 exercise. Prof.
Jasirqw says.
n I'm of the opinion that the phenom-
ens OF automatic writing. exhibited by
MT. thsnlPr, are not only consistent with,
but, IN the form exhibited by him, not
prstudicial 10 a mental endowment and
capacity, and fan within the range of
individual variations ordinarily Included
under the normal: that this power is 20
be looked upon as mental peculiarly
which. like many other peculiaritieS en-
ters into the Fundamental differences in
ORGANIZATIONS between individuals.
That this and allied kinds OF automat-
ISM particularly in their marked and ex-
aeserated forms, occur most character
istcally IN hysteria and other nervous
disorders IL made clear By survey of
tne hterature of the topic.
nnd Mr.. chanlers attitude toward
me psychological phenomena which he
has observed i'm himself 90 be in its gen
eral outlines a thoughtful and plausible
one. J have no hesitation i'm pronouncing
his opinions 10 fall well within the ordi-
nary and normal range OF diversity of
opinion current In such topics.
Nor do find Tn his attitude toward his
opinions any eharsoeristics which could
not readily be duplicated among a miscel-
laneous group OF normal intelligent per-
sons OF training, education aud attain
ments comparable to those which Mr..
DR.. VI. n. Darlington, OF Concordville.
Ia, and DIR. j. Madison Taylor. a distin-
guished neurologist. of Philadelphia, to
whom Mr.. Chanler went from Blooming
dale, contributed expert testimony. which
was very favorable To Mr.. Chanie
The remainder OF the day was devoted
TO hearing the testimony or twenty or
more witnesses from this and Louisa
countess. All declared that IN their opin-
ion Mr.. Chsnler was perfectly safe and
When Judge White announced his de-
cision there was an ovation.
IL was said In September that II the
action In the Albemarle county court
proved successful. IL would be followed by
an effort 20 have Mr.. Chanler gain con-
troll OF his estate.
According 10 papers now I'm the hands Of
Mr.. Chanler's counsel. he was committed
10 BloominKdale asylum on the applica-
tion of his brothers. w. a. and l.. A.
Chsnler. and his cousin. A. A. Carey. The
commitment was signed by Judge Glider
sleeve OF the supreme court. Mr.. Chan
Ter was confined in the BloomingdsIe ssy-
lum for two years before any inquiry was
made TO determine his sanity. At the
time OF his commitment Or. NJ Allen
Starr and Or. Eugene Fuller examined
Mr.. Chanler and declared him TO be suf-
fering from parsnota. or systematized de-
lusiored insanity.