New-York tribune., 1912-02-23
LAWYERS Agree to Postpone
Naming of Committee.
LOOKS UP NURSES RECORD
J. B. Lord Said To Be Making In
ouiry in Philadelphia as to Al
Iered Arrest of Decker.

Rv mutual consent Of counsel the near
inc set for to-day before Judge Fawcett, IN
the Kings County Court, on the applca-
ton Of relatives for the appointment Oh
committee Of the person ana properly oi
Samuel e Haslett. the aged brooklyn re-
cIuse, will be put over until MONDAY
stanwood Menken. counsel Tor the petl-
TONERS. declared last night that the ah-
iournment would be taken solely as n mat
tor of convenience to the lawyers in the
case.
Pursuant to the reports OF tho alienists'
Drs. Butler and Wilson, who examined MI
aaslett and found him OF unsound mino'
Mr. Menken said the relatives would lnslsI
Monday that a committee be appointed.
The sworn reports of the alienists were
delivered to DR.. II. B. Mi4on, attending
physician to Mr.. Haslctt. last night Or.
Minton in turn sent them to John b. Loru'
who has been Hasetts counsel for many
years. The reports are to the erect that
Haslett is suffering from senile dementla
and is incompetent to take care OF himseit
or manage his large estate.
Mr.. Lord went to Philadelphia yester-
day to attend the dinner of the Society OF
the Cincinnati at the Bellevue-Strattoru
Hotel last night He will return TINS
morning. While in Philadelphia he III
tended, It was said to investigate matter
which pertained to the record Of the nurse
George Decker, who was arrested Win
Frank ]. Gardner, former State Senator
ON a charge Of conspiracy to defraud Mr.
Haslett out OF his property. A Philauei-
-, caused
er's arrest on a serious charge. The COM
plaint was not prosecuted, II was salu'
when Decker promised TO leave the city.
Mr.. Lord said yesterday that ne ulu hot
intend TO stop with the reports OF the t"o
alienists who have examined Haslett' Out
would ask the court 10 appoint announcer
alienist to examine his old client. lie
could not consent, he said, 30 have his old
friend legally declared insane ana COM
mitted 10 an institution without MAKING
the proof absolute that II was necessary
Though he had agreed with counsel LOT Ii'e
petitioning relatives TO abide by the oe-
cision OF Drs Butler and Wilson, he said
he did not anticipate any opposition 10 the
reouest for a third expert TO pass upon
Hasletts mental condition. Dr. Minton
said Yesterday that while he agreed with
the aIienIsts that his patient was In Il
senre condition, he believed there was
son,e room TO doubt his absolute insanity.
Robert p. Vldaud. Of No 16l Joralemon
street. who has been ono OF the closest
friends OF Mr. Haslett for the last twenty
five years said yesterday that the insihua-
lions coming from Gardner or any one else
that Mr.. Hasletts friends had wiliuHS
neglected him were uuwarranted
"NIr. Haslett has been eccentric for a
number OF years. and moro recently mas IN
sisted upon living alone In hts big Remseh
street house and getting his own meals
there. Frequently Mr. Lord or myselt
would drop I'm and spend some time with
MIN in the evening, and We had tried re-
peatedly 10 have him heat the house prop
erlv and have some one there 10 look after
his needs but he would not listen to U.S.
and we had TO humor him. | don't think
ony OF his relatives had visited him In
years until recently. lie had none nearer
than second cousins and often expressed
himself as not caring for them.
1T was not until he was actually taken
III. following the death OF his sister, on
February 8, and Was unable TO help hiTu-
self that we could provide tho comforts
and attention for him that We had wanted
10 give him for "A long time. First we called
I'm DR. Minton and nurse. and then mad
tho house properly heated and lighted ana
cleaned up. Everything was being done Tor
Mr.. Haslett that could he done.
unfortunately, We trusted Decker as the
night nurse We had no suspicion OF his
midnight scheming Since he was arrested
and got ont Of tho house altogether there
has been a decided improvement In Mr'
Hasletts condition"