The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-20
FIGHT STFPMOTHER
TO RESCUE FATHER
Romantic Legal Battle Waqed
by Children of John Neal,
of kokomo, Ind.

KOKOM0, Ind, June 19-An inter
esting and romantic legal battle IS be-
ing Waged by Charles Neal and his
sisters, Miss Bessie Neal and Mrs.
Frank Howard, of this city, against
Mrs. Emma Neal, of Peru, the second
wife of their father, whom they aHege,
by indirectiop, has caused their father
10 be placed in an insane hospital at
Flint, Mich, with a view of sequeSter-
ing his property, estimated in value at
$25,OOO, to the impoverishment of his
children by first wife.
A mysterious box, with a missing
key, in a safety deposit vault in a bank
at Peru, figures in the case. This box
is believed to contain papers valued at
several thousand dollars, and life in
Surance policies aggregating $22, 900. 1t
cieS are drawn in favor of his children,
plaintiffs in the case.
1t is said by the children that their
Father is in Indifferent physical health,
but that he is sound mentally, and that
he was confined in the Michigan hos
pital as the result of a conspiracy con-
ceiVed by his wife. motion is pend
ing to have the commitment of Neal as
an insane person revoked, to reopen
the inquiry as to his mental condition,
and then, If it is found that he should
be placed under restraint, that he be
confined at a point nearer home, where
his children can visit him.
Meals Successful Career
Jack Neal was reared in Howard
county. in the vicinity Of CaSsyille.
From bOyhood he was ambitious and
industrious, and while still q young
man he had achieved success in (bHSi
ness, which made him a neighborhood
celebrity. The late Milton Shirk, mil
1ionaire of Peru, was attracted to him,
and he became Shirks protege, and he
was backed by Shirk in the grain ship
ping business at Peru and other Miami
county towns. Long before Mr.. Shirk
died Mr.. Neal had repaid, with interest,
every dollar advanced, and was on the
highway to fortune.
Ten years ago Neal was divorced
from his first wife, and she is a resi-
dent of this city, where three of her
four children are plaintiffs in the ac-
tion pending at Peru. The fourth
child, Paul Neal, is with the army In
the Philippines. Until two months ago
Neal was successfully conducting his
grain business. His physical health
was breaking, however, and it is as
serted by some that there were indica-
items of mental infirmity, although the
existence of the latter condition is not
accepted by all of his friends.
Taken to Sanitariuna
1T is represented that he was induced
to leave Peru under pretense of a hunt
ing trip in the Michigan woods, and
that, incidentally, he was to be exam
! ined by a specialist on stomach dis
eases in Chicago. The visit to the Chi
! Cago specialist was made, but upon
7 Meals arrival at Flint, Mich, he was
/ taken to the Oak Grove sanitafium. and
confined as person of unSound mind.
+ His children allege that it was sew
eral weeks before they were apprised Of
( their fathers condition; also, that
there was no formal inquiry by conn
mission, as the law requires, and that
no commitment was issued by any
court for his restraint in the Michigan
sanitarium. Three weeks ago Charles
discovered what had befallen his faith
er, and he went to Michigan to see
him. He now asserts that while his
father is physically i'll, there is little or
fnO indication of denentia. He also al
taeges that he is kept in close confine-
n1ent, in a cell adjoining that of raw
ling maniac, whose cries and inpreca-
itions are calculated to drive sane
man mad.
Says Father BIanaes Wife
! The son also alleges that his father
protested that he had been committed
through the Vaccinations of his second
wife, and he piteously pleaded that ac-
tiOn be taken looking to his release
before death or the worse fate threat
ened by his surroundings overlook
him.
Mrs. Neal, the second wife, who some
days ago procured her own appoint
ment as guardian of the imprisoned
man, and was placed in control Of his
property, insists that she is acting
clearly within her rights, and for the
best interests of all concerned. She
has influential friends who will stand
by her in the coming litigation, and
who assert that she has acted with
full warranty in all that has been done.