Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-12-23
wAIHALIA CAROLINA, MONDAY, 2s,
ASKS BLEAsE FOR BODY GUARD.
millionaire Chaloner, of New York,
Occupies Peculiar Position.

columbia Cor. News and Courier
John Armstrong Chaloner, the New
| York-Virginia millionaire, whose in
careeration In Bloomingdale Asylum,
in New York, on the charge of lu-
macy, and his subsequent escape to
| Virginia, and efforts to recover his
New York property, which had becn
turned over to a committee appoint
ed by the courts when he was sent to
! the asylum, brought into national
prominence by his fight on lunacy
, laws, has written Governor Blease
asking for safe conduct and body
guard during visit he wants to
make to Columbia. The letter was
received at the Governors office
along with lot Of newspaper clip
pings detailing the lectures Of Mr..
Chaloner on the lunacy laws.
Mr.. Chaloner, in his will, left
100000 to Virginia and North Car
olina universities and $4,000 to
South Cartlina colleges. He is con-
sidered sane in North Carolina, Vir-
ginia and So:th Carolina, and he
| takes refuge in the first two States.
AS things now are he is under the ban
In New York, where so much of his
property now exists.
TO Interview Or. Mitchell.
1t is, says Mr. Chaloner H. his let
ter to%the Governor, for the purpose
Of holding an interview with the
president Of the University of South
| Carolina, that he wants to come to
| Columbia, and he asks for safe con-
duct and body guard for the pur-
| pose. He says that he has willed
$a1G000 to the University Of South
| Carolina, $4,000 to the College of
Charleston, $4,000 to the Citadel
and $4,000 to Clemson. He wants
an interview with the Governor and
| asks that he send body guard to
Hamlet, N. c., to meet him there, and
he will come to Columbia, transact
his business here and return to Ham
| let the same night.
The Governor replied, through his
private secretary, that he did not
think Mr.. Chaloner needed a body
guard, and cited him to the fact that
he couldn't be arrested and taken
from this State without a reQuisi-
ton.
Mr.. ,Chaloner says that he has rel
| ativesH in, Charleston, who he fears
| would rush him off on yacht and
| have him returned to New York and
Bloomingdale Asylum.
His story of the origin Of the feud
between him and his family is that it
was while he was paying attention to
Miss Amelia Rives, the novelist,
! whom he later married, and who is
now Princess Troubestkoy, that her
novel, The Quick and the Dead" an
peared in magazine. His brother,
Winthrop Astor ChanIer, wrote
Sarcastic comments" on the margin
of copy and mailed it to him. AS a
result only one member Of the Chal-
oner family Of his seven brothers and
sisters was invited to his wedding at
Castle Hill, in Albemarle.
Wants Judge Impcachcd.
1t was Federal Judge Holt who
committed Chaloner to the asylum,
and he is trying to have the judge i'm
peached. He says that he has scat
tered petitions throughout Virginia,
North and South Carolina asking the
people to sign and forward them to
Congress for this purpose. He has
also addressed letter to President
Taft, asking for a safe conduct, SO
he can go to Washington and lay his
fight against the lunacy laws before
the judiciary committee of the House.
| Mr. Chaloner Is one Of the most
interesting figures before the country.
Born Of wealthy family in New
York and inheriting considerable
fortune, he fell out with his family,
who thought his doings so eccentric
that they applied for a writ to have
him palced in an insane asylum, and
his property to be managed by a
committee to be appointed by the
court He was pronounced insane
and committed to Bloomingdale
Asylum, from which he effected his
escape and went to Virginia, where
he had landed interests. From his
retreat there he conducted his fight
to have the New York courts declare
him sane and to return his property
to him. This he has not yet accom-
plshed, although he is held to be
sane In Virginia, North and South
Carolina, and New York cant get
him.
Changed His Name.
| When he went to Virginia he
changed his name to Chaloner, and
Is well known throughout that State.
His fight against the lunacy laws in
New York and other States has at
tracted nationwide attention, and
he Is to-day declared to be the best
authority on this subject in the
country. He has lectured throughout
Virginia and North Carolina, and Is
at present in Raleigh, N. c., the
guest OF Mr.. and Mrs. William j.
Andrews, and at large reception
given In his honor there last week
over $50 guests, including Governor
and Mrs. kitchin and Judge Walter
Clark, Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, attended
Mr.. Chaloner Is widely travelled