Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-07
cHALoNER's LONELY VIGIL.
John Gillard's Slayer Sat All Night b,
Dead Body.

O0a0 60oys
John Armstrong Chaloner, member
OF the New York family Of Astors,
who has been exonerated by a Jury in
Albemarle county, Va, OF the kill
ing Of John Gillard, whom Chaloner
shot accidentally in scuffle for the
possession of a revolver with which
Gillard was attempting to shoot his
wife, related remarkable story the
other day of his experience.
"This will do my case in New York
lot of good" said Mr.. Chaloner, who
is lawyer, while referring to his
fight to recover his fortune. The case
is now in the hands of the courts, be
being legally lunatic in New York,
although declared sane under the laws
Of Virginia and North Carolina. 81
will be glad to have my relatives
know, since I have killed man, that
the act was committed in defense of
a helpless woman This case should
prove more than any other one thing
that I am capable Of taking care OF
my own affairs"
All through the night following the
killing Chaloner sat as a guard over
the body. There was no other person
in the house.
81 did it to test my nerve" said
Chaloner. land to see whether I am
the insane man the New York courts
regard me. did not feel that I was
a murderer, although expected to be
taken to the Charlottesville Jail. there
to be tried for a crime conviction of
which would mean the electric chair
81 shall read and write night after
night in this ROOM" said Chaloner.
land shall realize all the time that in
this room l have killed man. not
brutally, but in Just cause, and 1t
will be great satisfaction to know
that he was more responsible for the
act than myself"
Chaloner has given instructions that
the blood spots which mark the scene
Of the tragedy in his library be pre-
served as memento He has ar
ranged to care for Gillard's family un-
til he can send them back to England
He says he has bought a piece of
ground, which he has dedicated to Gill
lard, and that he will erect hand.
some monument, on which he will
have inscribed:
John Gillard, March Is, 1909. He
died game"
Mr.. Chaloner is now devoting his
energies to demonstrating the danger
Of the lunacy laws. which, be says.
permit of sane man being clapped
into an asylum as lunatic. Prima-
rily his efforts are devoted to getting
back his estate and proving that he
never was insane, even If he did make
an exhaustive study Of psychic phe
nomena and Buddhism, even If he did
go into frances where his face as.
sumed likeness to the death mask
Of Napoleon Bonaparte, even If he
does claim to be able to write "auto-
matically" when in trance.
His life at the Merry Mills. his home
near Gotham, Va, is strikingly regu.
lar, each day being something Of a
repetition, except that his mind Is
travelling in new channels every hour.
The house is furnished sparsely with
articles Of historic value, but there is
evidence on all sides that Mr.. Chal-
oner expects to take long trip when
his legal fight is over.
Mr. Chaloner lives at the Merry
Mills practically alone with his col
ored man, George Chambers, who pre-
pares his meals, meets the mails at the
station and looks after the estate.
There are other hands on the payroll,
but George is perhaps the mainstay.
Mr.. Chaloners daily routine is differ
ent from that Of the average man in
that he contracted the habit of remain
ing up until or o'clock in the morn
ing while at Bloomingdale asylum, to
which he was committed a few years
ago. AS consequence of keeping late
hours Mr.. Chaloner sleeps late. AS a
usual thing he awakens about noon in
his room, which is fitted up as sort
Of combination bedroom and library.
He calls for George, takes light
breakfast, puts on his dressing gown
and reads the papers and his mail. AS
result of spinal trouble, which, Mr..
Chaloner says. he contracted at Bloom
ingdale, he does most Of his writing in
a reclining position. he therefore Of
ten answers letters or dispatches bust
ness matters before arising
Mr.. Chaloner then has his razors
brought him, chooses the one he prefers
and shaves himself. This apparently
Insignificant detail of Mr.. Chaloner's
toilet is considered important Every
time he shaves himself is in measure
a minute victory for Mr.. Chaloner over
| persons who said he was incompetent.
at the asylum it was said he could not
be trusted to shave himself. Mr.. Chal-
oner said he could. He now proves
that he was right at least in this de-
tail every other day.
Mr.. Chaloner's daily dress is gener-
ally a rough and ready riding suit,
with cape or overcoat thrown over
his shoulders if 1t is cold. This gives
| distinctly the appearance of cavalier.
| When ready for outdoor exercise Mr..
Chaloner has his favorite horse hitch
ed and, jumping into the saddle, takes
ride over the country roads or drops
In for call on bis secretary or on some
OF the reighbors. Invitations in his
case are not necessary. The country
people have standing invitation fol
Mr.. Chaloner to call at all times and