The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-15
LIVED FIVE YEARS
ASBENTON,, REAL
NAME is CLARKE
Continued From First Pagc.)

been divided among his relatives "a
This is the course. he said ycster-
day, which lie would have preferred
inc courts to take, as he Is content
to live in Richmond. and shows little
desire to return to his native state
But friends called on him., and urged
him to declare himself. to inform his
family that he is still alive aud To
liaye his money returned. They be-
came SO persistent that late iii March
nc did return to New York and ihe-a
met his lawyers, who. afterwards. took
the necessary steps TO have him ne
elareu competent. He also visited his
Cancellation.
Mr- Benton regretted that the maj
ter had become public principally. he
said, on account OF his wife: but now
mat his friends and his family wero
bent upon having all his legal rights
restored to him he Is willing to face
attendant publicity.
Reached Here PcnniIcss.
Following his illness, his family
mad him placed In private sanatori,,n,
IN "nich he was under no restric-
IONS Being a man OF quick temper
however. he resented what he deemed
az Insult offered him by one OF tho al
tenoihg PHYSICIANS and one dnv val,
cd out of the hospital. He ,yont 800
new York. and from New Yors ~
went 10 philadelphia. from pbiladal-
fhia 10 Baltimore, and from Ba1t,p,oro.
ne came to Richmond.
re was practically penniless ana h.
MAD no friends in Richmond. SIR
20 Imleen years of age though, he said
ao,, u peen thrown OH his own re-
sources, and he had always been ,hia
70 make money. He FIRST sacm,as aoie
pioFnlent here In the Richmond branch
OF Inc American Locomotive worka
ne worked elsewhere, at odd fobs an,
Where that he could earn a salary H
saved MS money, and last year on a
~, 60 % YOU he organized the Chem,
zeal supply Company.
10 leave no shadow or dom,
70 MS mental competency: andunon
the advice, of his lawyers, Mr. Benton
went two years ago before DIR. r, r,
Hosher and DR. Beverly Tucker WIN
enen declared him sane. Later thew
pronounced him perfectly sane ana 81
:" nsi IN new YORK in March he was
examined by two of the best alienists
OF that city. who submitted him to
nj the tests known to medical science
hey. too. pronounced him to be ~
perfect mental balance and a court
record to that effect was subsequently
made. 80
He talked dispassionatcly yesterday
ana with absolute calmness.
First Consulted LAWYER
re is tail. we'll made, Intelligent and
self-possessed. He has never voted
In Richmond. though he now calls him.
self a Richmond citizen. lie consulted
lawyer before changing his name.
and was advised that he had a legal
right to change his name SO long as
1t was not TO be used with fraudulent
intent. i
And have never harmed any onen
ne said The only person ever
harmed was myself. NJ family did
what they thought best, and beaI
no grudee against any of them.
would have preferred to let the casa
drop ] didn't want my estate re-
turned TO me, I am doing we'll here.
and l like Richmond and Richmond
people owe no man. and have al
ways paid my debts. was placed in
this sanatorium on account of illness
brought on by my fault, but was
never placed under any restrictions. 1
became angry one day and left I
! have been back to New York since.
! have seen my lawyers, and have Wis
Tied the brother and sister who had