New-York tribune., 1912-02-21
Committee Will Care for Wealthy
Brooklyn ReCIuse, Under
Agreement of Counsel.
MORE ARRESTS EXPECTED
Gardner Investigation Continues
and May Reach Grand Jury
Before Magistrate Holds
Examination.

| centre In the controversy raised between
lawyers relatives and the public authorities,
growing out Of the charge of conspiracy TO
defraud the old man out Of his large estate
brought against Frank J. Gardner, former
| state Senator, was declared yesterday by
slienists to be mentally incompetent to care
for himself or his property.
| After a conference between Hasletts
| counsel, John E. Lord and s Stanwood
| Menkeu Of the firm of Philbn, Beekman.
/ Menken & Griscom. Of No. 81 William
| street. II was agreed to accept the alienlsts'
verdict az final in go far as IL would affect
| the petition pending before Judge Fawcett
of the Kings County Court. for the appoint
| ment of a committed for the old mans per-
son and property. made in behalf OF the
relatives through the Philbin firm.
| This latest move in tho case Is expected
to clarity the legal tangle which has
arisen over the old mans condition and
affairs and pave the way for the appoint
ment Of a committee by the court without
| objection when tho matter comes before
| Judge Fawcett on Friday. There will be
no need of the appointment of a commits
| sion TO examine. into Hasetts sanity,
| which was also sought in the petition.
The powers of attorney recently oh
| tanned from Haslett by both Lord and
Gardner and the two Wills which the old
man Is alleged to have executed for CARD
ner will he legally invalidated i'm the light
Of the aienists report. IL was said
More Arrests Are Expected.
The move however. does not affect
any future criminal proceedings against
Gardner or the nurse. George Decker. who
was arrested with him on the conspiracy
charge. The District Attorneys Office I'm
Brooklyn started an exhaustive eXamina-
ton of the case yesterday with the view
OF presenting the matter 20 the grand
Jury. II Is expected that other persons
besides Gardner and the nurse who have
been Interested in the old mans affairs
will tS apprehendcd as a result Of the Dis
trict Attorneys investigation.
Dr William Morris Butler. OF No. tD7
Clinton avenue. Brooklyn, and DR.. John
T.. Wilson. OF No. GIG Madison avenue. Man
haitian. were the two aliensts who exam
incd Haslett. They were called into .he
case by DR. Henry r. Mtnton. the Brook
lyn physician who has been attending the
old man, and Mr.. Lord. They examined
him for several hours yesterday and the
day before at the big dust-rlddon mansion
az No. I3s Remsen street. where the old
man lived the life OF hermit for many
years until his condition was brought 10
light by the Gardner episode. In regard TO
! their report TO DR.. Ninton last night Dr
| Butler said:
''Mr. Haslett Is undoubtedly suffering
from senlc d meut;a and is entirely in-
competent 10 care for himself or manage
his business affairs Dr. Wilson and myself
reached that conclusion after an exhaustive
| examination OF tho old man lasting several
hours. both to-day and yesterday lie ex-
hibits total lapse OF memory from one
day to the othor. and Is IN hopeless con
ditlon as far as his mental state Is soI-
ccrned, II means gradual deterioration
" the brain forces"
Dr. Butler said that tho mental condi-
tion OF the old recluse was such a. might
deceive Iaynan who talked with him.
lie said that he might sign papers one
day. and apparently understand what he
was doing. ana forget all about II the next
day.
The doctor said that he forgot yesterday
that he had signed a revocation OF the
power Of attorney given to Gardner at the
request OF Mr. Lord. though ~ was signed
the day before In the presence OF both
| alionists, and the old man declared that lie
! understood exactly what the instrument
was.
Thinks johnson is President.
Among the questions asked him by tho
United States?' The old man replied that
Andrew Johnson. who succeeded Lincoln,
was stlll IN the White House
Prior TO the conference OF lawyers aud
the decision OF the allenists yesterday. Mr.
Lord declared that he would probably VIC.
orously oppose the appointment OF q COM
! mittee for the old man. lie and Dr. Mlntni
both said that Hasletts condition had
greatly improved IN ,hc last day or two
and that earlier reports from the atenists
indicated that he was perfectly sane.
Alr. Lord corrected some statements
which had been credited to him IN tho
papers In regard 10 the old reciuse and his
property. He admitted thot he had said
that Hasletts estate would probably not
amount to more than s2O0.O0O, but declare
that he was merely Speaking Of his per-
scnal property a: that time. The total es-
| tate. he said, would probably be in excess
| OF $4,000 Others have estimated II AT
more than 100000.
Mr.. Lord said that tho old man had been
at him for several weeks recently 10 draw
a Will, but that he had kept putting IL OF
| not thinking me would be taken sick. lie
| drew will for him eight years ago. he
| said but a subsequent Will was drawn by
| Henry W. Beebe, a Brooklyn lawyer, about
year after that which now is probabl
the only will IN good standing
Mr.. Becbe would not discuss the will he
| drew yesterday. Mr.. Lord said that he had
not realized tho present condition of Mr.
Tlaslett until February s. when he hap
rened 10 70 To the house on routine legal
matters. and had called in Or. Minton and
the nurse Decker AT that time lie said
the old man had never been sick before in
his life, and had not spent sos on doctors
tills IN the last fifteen years, since he had
been his sttorncy.
Haslett Would Sign Anything.
lie admitted that Hsslett would Sign
anything he asked hin, TO. but that had
been his custom for several years, he said,
In regard 10 certain legal matters which hn
had attended TO for him.
Asked how the aged recluse felt about
the sensation his case had caused, Mr..
Lord said that the old man read the papers
for the first time yesterday, and was great
ly amused over tho reference some OF them
made 10 him as the hermit" so an, the
hermit. am I?' no asked. "Well, that Is
"a good one"
Marcus B. Campbell. lawyer. who was
designated by Judge Fawcett 10 accept SER