New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-11
Miss Tnman, Haunted by
Phantom Bodies, Ad-
Judged Incompetent
HER MEMORY CLEAR;
KEEN IN BUSINESS
Helps Witnesses Answer
Questions at Trial of
Unique Case

Miss Willie Lee lnman, beneficiary
Of a 100000 trust fund created by her
father, the late William II. lnman, cot
ton broker, has been adjudged an in
competent by a SheriH's jury. She is
the owner Of much realty and personal
property.
Testimony by several alienists and
lay witnesses, before a commission APP
pointed by the Supreme Court, and con-
sisting of ex-Justice Edward +. Mccall,
DR.. William Sturgis Thomas and Talbot
ELEPHANT, was to the effect that Mis-
Tnman, who Is fifty years old, has an
hallucination that she sees dead bodies
everywhere.
In Halifax, Nova Scotia, last June,
Miss Inman was arrested and sent to
an institution because OF her peculiar
actions. She is now in the Rivercrest
Sanitorium, at Astoria, Long Island.
Strange Case to Decide
Miss Inman's case is one Of the
strangest that has come before a
Sherif's jury. The purpose of the pro-
ceedng was to legally declare her in
competent to manage her vast inter-
ests, that a committee might be APP
pointed by the court 70 look after
them.
Although undoubtedly erratic on the
subject Of the bodies, and sometimes
thinking that she is being prosecuted,
Miss lnmans mind on financial mat
ters is keen and her memory is good.
She insisted or being present at the
inquiry in the Sheriff's court. When
asked by Mr.. Mccall whether she un-
derstood the nature Of the proceedings
she gave an immediate and correct an
swer.
Seated just behind the witness chair,
within view o. the jury and the COM
missioners, Miss Inman interjected in
formation constantly. frequently inter-
rupting the testimony OF witnesses.
Also at times she would furnish an
swers to questions asked of a witness
on which the latter showed some doubt.
An alienist could not remember the
name of an island mentioned by Miss
Inman, off which she said she saw some
bodies floating. Jupiter Island" spoke
up the incompetent. meaning an island
near Palm Beach, Fla, where Miss In
man owns some property.
Quick to Make Replies
Again. when John T.. Taylor, attorney
for the Hotel Chelsea, in which prop
erty Miss Inman and her sisters have
financial interest. was being examined,
she gave answer to questions while the
lawyer was searching through some pa
pers for the desired information.
LET her tell about it and we will get
along quicker" said Clifford Boese, APP
pointed by the Supreme Court as
guardian for Miss Inman in the pro-
ceeding.
Miss Inman has two sisters. Mrs.
Margaret +. Davis, who lives in Viz
GINA, and Mrs. Jennie Inman Payne, OF
Paris. Each receives the income from
trust left by their father, which is
equal in amount to the one for Miss
Inman. Mrs. Davis testified that she
received on an average s2250O a year.
The hearing had hardly started when
Miss Inman objected to the presence Of
Mrs. Davis in the courtroom. This
woman claims a relationship to me-
she said, (which does not exist | in
sist that she leave the room"
So that the subject Of the inquiry
should not be excited, Mrs. Davis went
INTO another room, where she broke
down and wept. She deprecated the
necessity for the hearing and said that
she and her sister a-ways had been
close companions before Miss Inman's
affection.
From time to time during the in
ouiry Miss Inman would raise her
black gloved right hand high above her
head and hold il there, sometimes for
a full minute. She did this, DR.. Will
lam Z. Dold, of Rivercrest Sanitorium,
testified, as a protest.
DR.. Dold said that Miss lnman told
him President Wilson should have been
defeated az the last election because
he and his administration permitted
her persecution. The alienist pro-
nounced her case as one Of dementia
pracox, which Is incurable.
Woman Told of Malady
Suppose you tell me what that is"
spoke up the person thus described.
Mr. Mccall ruled that Miss Imam had
n right to have the explanation. DR..
Dold then told Miss Imam just what
allied her.
Several witnesses said that the in