Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-08
Friends Of Mrs. Hughes Make
Startling Discovery.
CASE TAKEN TO COURT
EDWARD g. NILES, A WASHING
TON LAWYER, INVOLVED.
Her Sanity Was Once Examined Hero
Dealings With Local Banks
and the Result.

yesterday, is matter of more than usual in
terest and comment among Washington
people today, particularly in legal and
banking circles. A great many of the cir
cumstances connected with the case oc-
Cured in this city, and Mrs. Hughes, as
well as Attorney Edward G. Niles. one of
the principals in yesterdays proceedings, Is
very well known here.
According to the reports from New York,
Mrs Hughes has been confined In private
insane asylum at Riverdale, N. Y, since
June of this year. As a result of habeas
corpus proceedings instituted by David NJ
Grassi, through Attorneys Blandy, Mooney
& Shipman of New York, Justice Hall of the
supreme court yesterday ordered that Mrs.
Hughes be released from the asylum, COM
menting on the case in forcible language as
follows:
1T seems almost impossible that a
wealthy woman could be brought from
Washington and be committed after being
but one day in Putnam county. This is
an absolutely summary action. She has
been committed without .due process OF
law. l will sustain this writ and order the
discharge of the woman immediately
Washington Lawyer Involved.
The proceedings involve Attorney Ed
ward G. Niles of this city in the case, the
story of which Is to the effect that early
in June Of this year Mr.. Niles took Mrs.
Hughes to New York. and later to the home
of a lady in Cold Spring, Putnam county,
New York state. At that place, it is stated,
two physicians examined Mrs. Hughes the
next day, and she was committed to the
private asylum of DR.. Kellogg. According
to statements made in the New York court,
Mr.. Niles, in the month of July, had him
self appointed a committee to look after
Mrs. Hughes affairs. Her friends did not
know of her whereabouts, and investigation
was begun with the result that she was
located in the sanitarium mentioned, and
proceedings were begun to secure her re-
lease.
Mrs. Hughes is the widow Of a wealthy
railroad man, who was at one time very
prominent in affairs in New York. She
made her home in this city for a number of
years at 2O14 r street, and, while she lived
a quiet and retired life, still had rather
large circle of acquaintances, who appre-
ciated her many remarkable qualities of
mind and character. After the death of an
only and dearly loved daughter, nearly
decade ago, she lived alone in her house.
which was filed with rare works of art and
curios, which she had collected during
years Of travel and life in various European
capitals
She was figure In Paris during the days
of Napoleon the Third, and counted among
her intimate friends many members of
royal families, as well as the most prom
fnent statesmen literary men and artists
held her in the highest esteem Among her
valued treasures was a remarkable coilec-
ton of autograph letters from famous -peo-
pie the world over written to her and her
daughter To her friends here she was
known as a delightful conversatfonalst,
and they found wealth of interest and in
formation in her "reminiscences of famous
people she had known. Then her mind was
very clear and her memory remarkable.
Financial Transactions Here.
Der of 1901. Messrs. w. H. Sholes and ]. j.
Darlington were attorneys for Mrs. Hughes
In November. 1901. it is stated. Mrs
Hughes selected Mr.. Niles as her lawyer
1t is stated that the lady was of a very
kindly disposition. and because of her ad-
vanced age it was not difficult matter to
gain her confidence. She Is reported
having a tendency to dispose of her money
in various gifts to servants and others,
and when her attorneys objected to this
proceeding she severed relations between
them and her. Mrs. Hughes is said to have
given an old colored woman a check for
So 0oG. and this action was objected to by
those having her affairs in charge.
Mrs. Hughes had her funds deposited in
several banks in Washington during her
stay here. While Messrs. Sholes and Darl-
ington were her attorneys she is said to
have had money deposited in the Riggs
National Bank, the Washington Loan and
Trust Company and in the American Sc
curity and Trust Company. The total
amount of these deposits is stated at some
thing over $4,000.
Shortly after Mrs. Hughes became dissat-
isfied with her former attorneys and en-
gagged Mr.. Niles it is stated that she
drew a check payable to MI Niles for her
balance, amounting to about sos, 900, then on
deposit In the Washington Loan and Trust
Company. Payment of the check was re-
fused when presented and a conference was
held between Mr.. R. Ross Perry, counsel
for the Riggs National Bank, and the presi-
dent of the institution and Mr.. Darlington
Mr.. A. 8. Worthington, Mr.. John B. Lar
ner counsel for the Washington Loan and
Trust Company, and the president Of that
company.
1t was decided by the attorneys and Off
GERS that it would be a mistake to pay Mrs.
Hughes checks until they had assurance
as to her sound mental condition. Mr.
Niles was informed of this decision.
He thereupon had Mrs. Hughes examined
by six prominent physicians of this city,
and they. made affidavit that Mrs. Hughes
was of thoroughly sound mind and perfect
ly competent to conduct her affairs, and
that there was reason why custodian
of her funds should not turn over the same
to her.
The physicians whose names are affixed
to this affidavit are Drs. A. b. Richa rds n,
j. w. Bovee d. K. Shute, II. S. Medford.
E. l.. Tompkins and D. Percy Hickling.
A second examination was made and the
OFFICIALS OF the washington Loan and trust
Company tEe-eupon decided that tn would
surrender the money on deposit in Mrs.
Hughes name, with the understanding that
it should be deposited to her credit in the
Second National Bank of this city. The
Second National Bank officials were in
formed Of the circumstances.
Previous to this time, however, accord
ing to statement made today to re-
porter for The Star by officers of that in
stitution, Mr.. Niles had come to them and
opened up an account In Mrs. Hughes
name. deposfting about $4,000. After
wards Mr. Niles came to the Second
National Bank with a check for something
like $4,000 from the Washington Loan and
Trust Company for deposit.
The cashier of the Second National Bank,
after having been informed Of the condi-
lions surrounding the case. agreed to ac-s
cept the deposit on conditions that Mrs
Hughes should not draw It out In any con-
siderable amounts and that the bulk of It
was to be invested in resiable securities for
the depositor. Only upon these conditions,
1t is stated would the bank consent to ac-
cept the money. This second deposit made
an aggregate amount of about $4,000 to
Mrs. Hughes credit in the Second National
1t is said that only short time after the
second deposit was made Mr.. Niles came 10
the bank with Mrs. Hughes check for
n