The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-04-21
FIST FIGHT IN COURT
lawyers in Millionaire Chase Case
~. Gene to Blows.
HAS BEEN DECLARED INSANE

When Young Chase Arrived at Lafay-
cite, ind, He Declared: II Am Not
Crazy" ara Riot Almost Ensued.
In Custody Of the Court.
Lafayette. Ind. April 17-There was
fist fight in the circuit court room
between Attorneys Dan Simms. repre-
senting Fred Chase. father OF Moses
Fowler Chase, and A. l.. Kumler. rep
resenting Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Duhme, of Cincinnati. who are strug-
Cling for the possession of the young
Chase. the millionaire. The attorneys
had met for a conference with the
Judge as to what should be done with
Moses Fowler Chase. pending the
hearing of the guardianship case. At
torney Kumler denounced the attor-
neys on the other side and also Chase's
father, and declared that Moses Fow-
Ter Chase had been brought to In
diana from France by force and
fraud
He had further asserted that the
unfortunate young man was put on
exhibition at the law offices OF
Chase's attorneys, when ex-Judge L.
P. Hammond shouted: That's an alb
solute falsehood."
Attorney Simms jumped from his
seat and approached kumler. VINO
tried to ward him of. Simms then
landed fierce right-hand swing on
Kumler's jaw, and followed it with
his left. Both blows landed, Kumler
protecting himself as best he could.
The court room was crowded, and
lawyers. court officials and spectators
sprang toward the combatants and
dragged them apart. The judge fined
Simms s25 for striking the first blow.
and this quoted matters.
Simms then apologized and Kumler
asked the court to remit the fine. as
he said he felt sure that Simms had
struck in a moment of temper. The
court RENTED the fine and directed
that Moses Fowler Chase remain in
the courts jurisdiction. with the IN
/ derstanding that Mr.. and Mrs. Duhme.
his aunt and uncle. are not to inter
fere with him They have the privi-
lege of applying to the court for au-
thOrity to see him, however.
The guardianship application served
on the young millionaire is returnable
April %. for which day the case is
set. Detective William Weinhart was
placed on guard at the Offices of
Chase's attorneys. and barred out
everybody but the sheriff. Neither
Mr.. nor Mrs. Duhme was at the train
as they wished to avoid a scene, but
Duhme's private secretary was there
10 look after their interests.
Young. Chase arrived here in COM
pany with his father. A big detail OF
policemen was at the station. Young
Chase declared piteously: Il am Just
as sane as any one; | am not crazy"
His father held one arm tightly and
a lawyer held the other, as they hur-
ried the young man to a carriage.
Let me go. let me go: I'm not crazy"
the young man pleaded. He recog-
nized several old friends in the crowd
and tried to stretch out his hands to
them. There was almost a riot when
two attorneys tried TO speak to young
Chase. Attorney Kumler pushed
the crowd from behind and said:
Moses. your aunt is here"
Take me TO my aunt; take me to
my aunt" pleaded Moses
Doctors NJ. NJ. Lacy. f. c. Davidson
and w. w. Ninnedge, OF Lafayette.
and DR.. c. c. Burr, of Flint, Mich,
examined young Chase and pronounc-
ed him insane. They declared that his
answers TO the most simple questions
were incoherent, although he appeared
perfectly sane when taken off the
train