The Detroit times., 1911-04-07
SAYS WIFE AND SON
RA|LROADED HIM
TO ASYLUM
William Champe Struggles Note Gu.
of Eloise To Attorney, New Hear
ing Is Held and Aged Mans
Release Ordered.
Attendant Who Carried Letter To
Lawyer Is Discharged-Dr Ives
In Case.

AdJudged insane on the petition or
his wife and son, supported by the
affidayits of TWO welLknown local ply
was placed in ward used only by
bedrldden imbeciles, where almost
any sane man would have lost his
reason in short time, and then re-
1 leased as result OF the kindness or
attendants-this is the experience of
/ William Champe, 60 years old aud
wealthy, of No 1894 Trumbull-ave.,
who was ordered released from the
asylum, last Tuesday, by Judge HUI
/ bert, OF the probate court.
! According TO attendants in the IL
! stitution and two physicians who
were later called in to examine the
man, he is not insane but merely SUI
fering from nervous prostration.
II Ten years ago, Champe had trouble
with his wife and obtained divorce.
Later, they became reconciled and re-
married.
! For some time the old man had
| been suffering from insomnia, as
result OF nervousness. His son
Silas, aged 80. law student here,
noticed his fathers condition, and
! filed petition TO have his father de-
clared insane and Drs. A. w. Ives and
+. p. Newton, certified that he WAS
mentally unbalanced. According 10
the affidayits filed by them Champe
would get lost in the neighborhoot
1 near his home, although he had lived
there a long time, and that he also
| threatened TO kill his wife.
The son reported in court that he
had personally served the necessary
papers on his father Without seeing
! Champe, and believing that the at
fdavits OF the two physicians could
be depended upon, Judge Hubert al
lowed the son to take his father ID
Eloise.
Upon the arrival of Champe there,
he was placed in the imbecile ward,
where he remained three days. The
attendants noticed that he did not
seem to be as insane as the other
inmates OF the ward. and recommend
ed that he be placed in the con
valescing ward"
Champe smuggled letter to his
attorney, Harold Mcintyre. in De-
troit, through a young attendant In
the asylum, who realized that the
nged man had apparently been placed
there without cause. Shortly after
wards this same attendant called at
McIntyre's office. He declared that
Champe was not insane but was suf-
fering only from nervousness.
Mr.. Mcintyre conferred with Judge
Hubert, who dictated a letter to DR..
Marker, the physician in charge or
the institution. reply was re-
ceived from DR.. Howell, who is next
In authority to DR.. Marker, stating
that Champe was not insane but was
suffering only from nervous prostra-
ton.
Another hearing was held before
Judge Hubert and Drs. Ives and New
ton were called TO the stand.
Y DIR. Newton testified that he had
made the affidavit regarding Champe's
mental condition on Information fur
nished by Champe's wife and son.
When DR.. Ives was called to the
stand, he was asked by Mr.. Mcintyre
whether he had ever known Champe
10 become lost
"Oh. yes" he answered. IL saw
him standing one day near my ONCE
but he did not know me. He told me
he was :.~t | directed him to q car
line near by"
But. didn't you go with him to the
car line?" he was asked
mo, he started of towards the car
line and guess he got there al
right"
DR.. Marker testified that Champe
showed no symptoms OF insanity.
Judge Hubert appointed Drs.
Hitchcock and Raymond to examine
Champe, and they reported TO the
court that he was not insane. Be
cause OF the aged mans nervous con.
dition. however. il was decided wise
TO name a guardian for him, so Judge
Hubert appointed Edward j. Minock.
The day following the attendants
last visit 10 Mr.. McIntyres office, DIT.
Howell telephoned the lawyer, asking
the attendants name
You see" declared Df howell. "it
Is strictly against the rules OF this In.
stitution for an attendant TO smuggle
any notes from inmates or carry mes
sages from inmates to outsiders, and
To maintain discipline | want you 70
give me the name OF the attendant.
Mr. Mcintyre refused TO reveal the
name
Very we'll, then, since an atten-
dant really did come TO see you. {
know who he is. replied the physi.
clan
Later this attendant was fired"
from his position but he testified In
the probate court regarding Champe's
sanityA
Champe is now in Jackson. Mich.
living with a sister
Or. A. w. Ives. VINO figures in the
case had u somewhat similar expert
ence i'm the case OF Mrs. Ross. wife OF
wel-known Detroit lumberman She
was committed 90 the asylum on DR.
Ives testimony. but her release was
later ordered. DR. Ives was an expert
witness for the prosecution in the
Boyajian case.