The Detroit times., 1911-06-15
HUSBAND TRIED ID
RA|LR0AD HER 10
ASYLUM, SHE SAYS
Mrs. John J. Nelson Claims AttemI1
To Put Her Away Was Part
of Plan To Get Control
of Her Money.
Man, Arrested ON Abandonmen(
-Gharge, Admits Forging Wife
Name To Checks.

Back of the arrest of John j. Neleou
on q charge OF abandoning his wire
and child Is the story of an alleged
attempt on Nelson's part 70 get hie
wife out OF the way that he might BE-
free to help himself to the money she
had on deposit In the Wayne County
the conclusion his wife has drawn
from his actions, and her attorney.
Patrick j. Keleher, says Nelson a6
mitted to him that he had forged his
wife's name TO a number Of orders for
money drawn on her bank book. Mel
son is now In jail awaiting examines
tion before>Justice Jeffries, Friday, on
the abandonment charge.
Nelson was arrested In Cleveland
the first OF the week, at the request
of Attorney Keleher. He had been
missing from home since June I. Mel
son says he was suffering from a
temporary mental alteration and that
his mind was a blank from before he
left Detroit until he suddenly came to
his senses In Cleveland and found him
self penniless.
Mrs. Nelson and her attorney have
another explanation of his disappears
ance and II has nothing to do with any
mental lapses, except those artifc-
ally produced by the liberal applica-
ton of corn juice, Internally. His dis
appearance. they say. followed close
ly on the heels OF Mrs. Nelson's dis
covery that from Jan. to June 4,
Nelson had withdrawn over $500 from
her account In the bank, signing her
name, Bertha Nelson, to no less than
22 orders and leaving a balance or
only $107,63. The bank has these or
ders, Mr. Keleher says. and will be
.Sroduced IL they are ever required as
evidence.
Nelson Is 81 years old and the fam
lily residence is at No. 374 Parkview-
ave. Their present troubles date from
about year ago, when Mrs. Nelson
| received a gift OF 1000 from her ia
ther, Henry Robert, OF Ohio. With
$775, Mrs Nelson purchased q lot on
i Garland-ave., between Jefferson and
| Kerchevalaves., and. at Nelson's
urgent request, had the deed made
out to both of them. Thus It became
a joint title.
] Nelson, the wife claims, was drink
ing very heavily about this time and
| continued to do so. On Dec. IL. last.
Mrs. Nelson was surprised when her
husband appeared with two policemen
and ordered them to take her to st.
Mary's hospital. claiming that she was
out Of her mind. Mrs. Nelson protest
ed that she was not insane and that
she was not in need OF treatment and
the policemen left. A few hours later,
however, an ambulance came for her
and she was removed to the hospital
much against her will. From 81.
Mary,s hospital she was taken, In q
| few days, to the Vinewood hospital
and later 10 the state psycopathic hos
pital In Ann Arbor, where she remain'
ed until April 29.
In the meantime, Nelson retained
] possession of his wife's bank book and
entries In It, now that Mrs. Nelson
! has forced him to turn IL over. show
! that he withdrew sums varying from
$25 to $50 regularly about three on
four times a moth during her alb
sence.
Mrs. Nelson recalls that soon after
she was taken to the Ann Arbor hos
pital she gave her husband an order
! for $40 on the bank. This order was
never cashed, the first one being for
s25. Mrs. Nelson believes that the
request for the $40 was merely biHfi
TO get her signature. which, she be
lives, Nelson used as a model to copy
! from.
The records of the probate court
show that Nelson, on Jan. 20, filed
petition to have himself appointed
guardian OF his wife on the sround
that she was mentally incomretent.
So far as Mr.. Keleher has examircd
the files, they do not show tat the
petition was ever granted
Airs. Nelson admits that she was
nervous and was rendered 81 by her
husbands drinking habits, she claims,
but she does not believe that she was
out OF her mind at any time.
Since his arrest. Nelson appears to
be deeply penitent, and has offered
to make reparrtion In any way pos
sible, Attorney Keleher says. He
has already transferred to Ills wife
his interest in the lot on Garland.
ave. and Mr.. Keleher has tie deed.
Nelson will probably not be prosecut.
ed I'm connection with the alleged
forgeries. The law prevents & wife
from appearing against her husband
on such charge, and the 5lnk Il