Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-18
CHA[0NER CUTS
OFF RELATIVES
Former Husband of Amelia Rives
Devises His Property to Edu-
cational Institutions.

Richmond, Va, July 15.-John Arm
strong Chaloner made public yesterday
the details of a deed. filed with Sterling
NJ Gary, clerk OF the superior court. Hall
fax county, N. c.. on May 10. 1912. by vir-
tue OF which he devises all of his prop
erty in this State and in New York, to
different institutions and charities. The
boards of visitors OF the University of
Virginia and of the University Of North
Carolina are made Chaloners residuary
legatees.
The deed disposes of property worth
hundreds of thousands Of dollars. and was
created according to Mr.. Chaloner, for
the express purpose Of preventing his
relatives from sharing In his estate in the
event OF his death.
John Armstrong Chaloner has figured
in court proceedings frequently In recent
years. He was ad1udged insane and COM
mitted to the Bloomingdale asylum in 1897
at the instance of several OF his near rela-
tives. In 1899 he escaped from the institu-
ton and made his way to Philadelphia.
where he voluntarily submitted to six
months observation treatment by promi-
nent alienists in that city. These physi-
clans pronounced him sane. Chaloner
then returned to his ancestral estate, The
Merry Mills, at Gotham, Va. and has
spent most OF his time there and In North
Carolina since.
A peculiar feature of Chaloner's case
lies In the fact that he Is legally luna
tic In New YORK state. but Is perfectly
sane and competent in every other state
In the union. In June. 1908. the superior
court Of North Carolina gave Mr. Chan
Ter permission TO change his last name to
Chaloner, by which he Is now known. He
changed the spelling of his name. he said
to escape the stigma which had become
identified with the name Of Chanler
owing to the court proceedings.
DEED EXECUTED IN MAY.
Mr.. Chaloner constantly refers to the
deed executed by him on May 13 last as
my last will and testament" and after
reciting in brief the details of the court
| proceedings to have him committed to
Bloominrdae, in 1897. states he has
taken the following means Of meeting
the undesirable condition which confronts
him. He then formally disposes OF the
different parcels of real estate. shares Of
stock and personal property.
MI Chaloner makes a provision to the
effect that he reserves full control OF all
the properties decided and the voting
power OF all securities bequeathed. as
well as the enjoyment of the income
thereof, for his life. He also reserves
the right to devise the proceeds Of the
income from his property to various edu-
cational institutions. specified as fol-
lows:
To the Paris prize fund, amounting to
*'b'0o and originated by Mr.. ChalOner.
certain percentage of the income OF
mis- estate, to be set aside annually. This
iuhd Is for the purpose OF bestowing
scholarships Of $500 each. for a five
year course OF study In Paris and other
european art centers. for art students OF
| both sexes
To Columbia University of New York
the sum OF Slo'UO is given. to be Invested
by that institution and the income there
OF to go to increasing the Chanler his
torical prize. founded by John Winthrop
| Chanler.
OTHER INSTITUTIONS BENEFITED
Other institutions to be benefited by
the terms OF Mr. Chaloner's will are the
Virginia Military Institute. 10000 to be
applied to scholarship. to ne described
In Mr.. Chaloner's last will and tesla
ment;" the Virginia Polytechnic Institute,
$4,000; the College Of Agricul, ire and Me-
rhanic Arts OF North Carolina. 80. 900;
1.-The town OF Roanoke Rapids. N. c..