The Washington times., 1902-05-14
MR. HALLEp KILBOURH'S
SANITY QUESTIONED
His Daughter States That He
IS Mentally Unsound.
INSANE ONCE FOR MONTHS
Papers Filed Yesterday State That He
Is of Homicidal and Otherwise Danger
GUS Tendencies - Famous Suit for
Damages Recalled.

The filing of n petition yesterday by his
daughter. asking that the mental condi-
tion of Mr.. llallet Kibourn be inquired
into. recalls his past life. when quarter
OF century ago he was awarded damages
in the sum of 100000 against Mr.. John G..
Thompson, Sergeant-at-Arms Of the
House of Representatives. for false arrest
and Imprisonment. During those days Mr..
Kilbourn was one of the largest real es-
tate brokers in the District, and 1t was his
connection with great real estate pool
which finally led to his suit for dana ges.
This was in 1876, and resolution was
passed by Congress appointing commit
tee to investigate the nature and history
of the real estate pool with which Mr.. Kill
bourn was connected. The investigation
was begun, and Mr.. Kilbourn was sum
moned to appear and bring certain books
and papers. and also to testify. He re-
fused TO produce the books and also to an
swer certain questions asked him. For
this he was adjudged to be in contempt.
and was ordered to be committed to the
United States Jail until such time as he
would purge himself of the contempt. Mr..
Kiibourn went to Jail and stayed there
for about six weeks, when his release was
ordered.
Filed Suit for Damages.
1t was Immediately after his release
from Jail that he filed suit for damages
in the sum of 500. 900 against Mr.. Thomp-
son. then Sergeant-at-Arms Of the House
of Representatives: Speaker NJ. C. Kerr.
and the members of the investigating
committee.
After a trial Mr.. Kiibourn was awarded
damages in the full amount asked-the
largest sum- it was stated, ever awarded
q person in the District on 4 personal ac-
count
When the trial was commenced the
names of all the defendants but that OF
Mr.. Thompson were stricken from the
docket and the proceedings were directed
against him alone. He secured new
trial. and this time Mr.. Kilbourn was
awarded $4,000. but against the verdict
was set aside as excessive, and a new
trial ordered.
At the third trial Mr.. Kilbourn was
awarded damages in the sum of s37,50O.
From this, too, the defendant sought to
take an appeal. The court ordered that
Mr.. Kilbourn deposit S17.500 with the reg
istrar of the court. This he did, and the
trial proceeded. the jury awarding him
10000 damages. This amount was after
ward paid him by Congress.
Committed to ST. Elizabeth's.
The proceedings instituted yesterday
are the second OF the kind which have
been instituted against Mr.. Kilbourn The
first were in the early part of January.
1898. and on the 21st of that month he was
tried: before a marshal's jury and ad-
judged to be insane. He protested against
being committed 20 st. Elizabeth's Hos
pitai for the Insane, and it was not until
two days after the verdict OF the Jury
was rendered that he was committed His
mental trouble was not very serious. and
after receiving treatment for several
months On September IS OF the same year
he was released as cured.
During the past two years. it is said, |
Mr.. Kilbourn has been devoting himself |
to literary wcrk-novel writing.
The petition filed yesterday asking that |
Mr.. Rilbourn's mental condition he in |
quired into was made by his daughter, |
Mrs. Bella X. Bourgeat. She states that |
her father is lunatic Of homicidal and |
otherwise dangerous tendencies. and has |
been so since January l last. She de- |
clares that II he Is permitted to be at |
large in the community tine rights OF per-
sons and property will be imperiled. Mrs. |
Bourgeat states that she does not know |
the cause OF her fathers present mental |
condition.
Besides the Kilbourn case. Justice Bar
1ard will on Friday hear testimony rela-
tive to the mental condition Of Grant |
Louis Bohs, William Il.
Hodges. Harriet Blunt. Fannie Darnall. |
and William Monroe.