The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-19
Lunacy Charge Brought
Against Rich Topeka Girl.
Wedding Announcement, But
No Fiance, 1t Is Charged.
PROVE PARENTAGE, is THREAT
Girl Said to Be Suffering With
~DelusiOn, Judge Hears.
Mother Brings Her Before Pro-
bate Court Today.

A few hours after the engagement
of Hedouine Hyatt, wealthy Topeka
girl. was announced. insanity charges
, were filed against her in the Shawnee
county probate court by her mother,
Mrs Mary c. Hyatt.
Tho lunacy affidavit was signed by
the girls mother shortly after IL
o'clock this morning.
A hearing was set for o'clock
this afternoon.
/ Probate Judge Ralph H. Cav stated
that attorneys for Mrs. Hyatt had
acted within their rights in demand
! ing a hearing such a short time after
the charges had been filed.
| No such man exists as Jacques
/ O. Brien, a wealthy Canadian, the pros
pective bridegroom mentioned in the
announcement. according TO informa-
! tion presented to Judge Cav by Mrs.
Hyatts attorneys. Information fur
nished to Judge Cav was to the
effect that the Sirl. who is only IS
years old is suffering with a delusion
that her parents are not DR.. Thomas
r. Hyatt and Mrs Mary C. Hyatt.
Prove Parentage.
Threats have been made by the
| girl to bring a suit to force her parents
to prove their parentage, the Judge
was informed. Miss Hyatt returned
a few days ago from visiting her
sister, Mrs. Aura Bacon at Toledo.
Ohio. Upon her return she refused to
send her baggage to her home. ac-
cording to information received by
! Judge Cav.
Mrs. Hyatt was accompanied to the
probate court this morning by her
son. Edouard Hyatt. former crony
of the late Jack London, the famous
novelist. Edouard figured in a SEN
sational case shortly after the draft
law was passed by congress when
! he returned from a hunting trip in
1 Virginia with bullet wound in his
foot. The story was sent abroad that
he had mutilated himself in order
1 to escape the draft
The young man returned to Topeka
/ few weeks ago. He denied that he
had mutilated himself, stated that ne
would soon be pressed into army SER
vice and was eagerly awaiting the op-
portunity to serve his country
The lads foot was encased in "a
| house slipper today as he hobbled
around in the court room. He seemed
to be greatly agitated and talked to his
mother and attorney in short. jerky
| sentences.
Doctor and Mrs. Hyatt figured in a
sensational divorce case in Topeka a
few years ago. The three children re-
ceived a large legacy running into five
| figures from distant relatives. He'd
ouine Hyatt received her apportion-
ment only a short time ago when she
reached the age of 8 years.
Her Companion at Trial
Miss Halle Phillips, a strikingiy
beautiful young woman. added to the
settings of the Hyatt case late this
afternoon when she went the pro-
bate court with DR.. Thomas r. Hyatt
and Miss Hedowyne Hyatt, the young
woman held under the insanity
charge. The appearance of Miss Phil
lips was was just one of a series of
events surrounding the formal OPEN
ing of the trial of the Topeka woman.
Miss Phillips told newspaper men she
came to Topeka from Columbia, MO.
and was here as a companion to Miss
Hyatt
1t is quite probable Miss Phillips
will go on the witness stand during
the hearing Further than to declare
she was companion to Miss Hyatt,
the young woman made no state-
ment.
Girl Faces Her Mother
Seemingly Miss Hyatt came to the
court house with her father without
knowledge of the mission. Not until
after her arrival at the court house
and while she was talking with her
brother Edouard Hyatt in a corri-
dor. was the young woman served
with a summons to appear in the in
sanity hearing. Miss Hyatt read the
summons in apparent calm. Suddenly
she turned to her brother.
who did this?" she demanded
The young woman was told her
mother had sworn to the complaint.
Miss Hyatt rushed to the hearing
room, where her mother was seated.
You did this. / know you did"
cried Miss Hyatt. as she shook a fist
in the mothers face. Miss Hyatt did
not seek to conceal her anger and
emotion and for several seconds mem
aced the mother who sat at the coun-
sells table in the probate court Court
room attendants forced Miss Hyatt 70
seat and relatives and friends
stopped the demonstration.
Turned Against Father
: DR. Hyatt the father. was the first
witness called. He declared he had
lost control of his daughter and that
during the last few months she has
turned against him.
According TO the father Miss Hy-
. att displayed mania for associations
with the opposite sex Once. several
years ago. the father said he took
the young woman to California in or
4 der to break up an infatuation with
a young Topekan, whom he did not
know While in California. DR. Hy-
] att testified. his daughter beca me
3 Of the hotels. The young woman's
: father testified. but Is uncomfortable
. Miss Phillips. DR.. Hyatt said was
e brought 70 Topeka as a professions.
4 Y,ss r,fcr m his dauUhfpr