The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1902-10-20

mere was an interesting legal battle
on IN Judge McClcruan's court this morn.
ing between the brother and sister Of
John Galena and the members of th.
Ancient Order of llbcrnians and the Rob-
ert Emmett society. all Of whom con.
tested lor the appointment OF guardian
for Galena.
Johi talena was adjudged insane Nav
II, iS)o, and was sent TO the asvlum a,
warm Springs. Some months ouo bc
was released OH parole at the instance Of
members of the two orders he belonped
to and returned to Butte, where he was
at his request, cared for by Thomas Cur.
tis.
IL developed that before being adiudped
insane, Galcna had deposited the sum of
$500 in the DAILY bank and had then
turned over the certificate Of deposit 10
ID. J. Henncssy
Upon his release from the asvlum
Galcna improved in health. but as bis
strength of body increased, his mind re-
lapsed until it became dangerous again
ior him 10 be at large and the two So
c'etics had him returned 10 the ASYLUM.
6alena wanted TO he sent TO pcnnsyl-
van'a. but owing to his mental condition
the certificate Of deposit would not he
surrendered until the court had appoint
ed a proper guardian.
Name Guardian.
The societies united on Thomas Curtis
friend OF 10 years standing, and an
plied to the court for his appointment.
stating III the petition that to the hest
oi their knowledge there were 40 rcla-
tives in the county
Margaret Galena OF Anaconda appeared
with an objection TO the petition and filed
counter application asking that she be
appointed guardian. ~
county Treasurer Con Maher. Thomas
curtis and other society brothers of The
unfortunate man opposed the appointment
oi the sister on the ground that she also
was OF an erratic disposition aud possibly
Of unsound mind.
In court this morning there were sey-
eral unlocked for developments. Mar
gnrct Galena brought rs one of her char
aeter witnesses, Attorney ]. II. Duffy of
Anaconda, who testified to her being men
tally sound and a fit and proper person
to care for the brother. Miss Galena
testified that there were two other broth
ers, Michael and Peter, and another Sis
ter. Michael Galcna was present in court
and testified that he came all the way
from Pennsylvania to take charge OF his
brother and sister and was willing 10 as
sumc the responsibility although his non
residence barred him from the coveted
guardianship.
His Aged Sister.
The sister, who is an aged woman with
and I,,.,,t a
6alena had more property than was ac-
counted for and that he had always told
her that he had some $4,000 in the Hi
hernia bank in San Francisco. She also
insisted that papers had been taken from
his valise which represented property in
tcrcsts belonging to the insane man.
County Treasurer Mahcr testified again
to the effect that Galena was laboring un-
der illusions in regard to his money and
always insisted that he had money in other
banks which investigation proved to be
merely mental alterations.
Mr. Maher also testified that he thought
the sister was unsound mentally and related
circumstances where he was forced to get
away from the woman who pestercd him
and denounced the Miners Union and the
secret societies as "lot Of blackmaicrs."
Other Witnesses.
There were other witnesses from Ana
conda to testify to the character and gen.
eral good standing of the sister and after
Michael Galena, the brother, had testi-
fed, Judge McClcrnan ruled in favor OF
the sisters application
The court stated that he always believed
in allowing the blood relations to have
charge of such cases and therefore ap.
pointed Miss Margaret Galena as guardian.
The bond was fixed at $4,000 and the
visions Of untold wealth which harassed
the minds of the insane man and his
relatives faded away with the judicial
disapproval of the stories circulated as
to his property interests.