New-York tribune., 1919-07-16
Chaloner Sane:
Wins Right to
Handle Estate
Supreme Justice Ford Holds
Author of ssWho's Looney
Now?'' Is Competent, but
Will Rule Officially Later

John Armstrong Chaloner yesterday
won his twenty-year fight to have him.
self adjudged sane and competent by
the courts OF New York State. After
listening to arguments by Chaloner's
lawyers, who urged that he be declared
MT to manage his own estate, Supreme
Court Justice Ford announced that he
would decide the author OF the "Who's
Looney Now?" letter to be competent
. Justice Ford explained that before
he would render his formal opinion he
would first look over the papers in the
! case. His statement that he would
hnd Chaloner competent however, Writ
ually brings to an end the long battle
Chaloner has waged since he was COM
mltted to Bloomingdale Asylum in
, 1899.
The legal action which brought
/, Chaloner's fight to a climax was his
application to have his property turned
over to him by Thomas r. Sherman
who has served as committee of his
estate. Morris Streusand appeared for
Chaloner. Herbert ]. Bckford an.
peared for Mr.. Sherman
Counsel for Chaloner rehearsed his
career since he was committed to
Bloomingdale as an incompetent. in
Guiding his flight from that institution
in 1900, and his jump to Albemarle
County. Virginia, where the Virginia
courts IN 1901 adjudged him sane and
| competent. Chaloner's Virginia estate
is known as Merry Mills. The con-
flict of the courts led Chaloner to call
himself geographical lunatic."
No Opposition Made
nor opposed the motion for the re-
moval of the committee and the resto-
ration Of the petitioners estate He
mentioned that the income from Chal-
oner's property was $4,000 Tor the
year 1918.
Chaloner's contention that his fam
lily was anxious to see him restored to
his rights was indorsed when Howard
Taylor, an attorney and friend of
Chaloner's family, declared, "In the
language of common sense, everybody
knows that he (Chaloner) is compe-
tent"
Taylor introduced Chaloner, who was
in the courtroom, to Justice Ford, and
asked the latter to put to the peti-
toner any questions that might help
the court in rendering a decision. JUS
tice Ford replied that this was un-
necessary, as he had already formed
a fairly clear opinion on the merits of
the case.
An application to have Chaloner ad-
judged competent was denied in 1907
by Justice Tierney on the grounds that
all persons interested had not been
served with notification of the pro-
ceedings. Chaloner was recently
awarded a verdict against "The New
York Evening Post" for libel. The
United States Supreme Court in 1917
declined to interfere with the proceed
ings in the New York courts.
Chaloner declined TO make any state
ment on his successful fight.
Coined Famous Phrase
John Armstrong Chanler, as he was
known before Virginia court author
lied him to call himself Chaloner. is
the son of John Winthrop Chanler. q
descendant Of the first Governor of
Massachusetts,, brother of Lewis
Stuyvesant Chanler. one time Lieuten-
ant Governor of New York, and cousin
of the Astors. He is the divorced
husband of Amelie Rives, the novelist
Following his commitment to Bloom
ingdale in 1893, when his brothers
Lewis S. and Winthrop Chanler, al
legged that he had been manifesting
symptoms Of insanity since 1897
Chaloner fed the institution on
Thanksgiving Eve, 1900.