Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-21
.CHALONER MARKED SPOT
WHERE He KILLED MAN
Had Copper Star in Silver Circle
Placed In Wooden
Floor.
on STAND IN LIBEL SUIT
Author OF who's Looney Now" Tells
of Troubles Since Being Declared
Non CompOs Mcntis by New York
Courts.

NEW YORK, May 20.-Flashes OF
sharp wit and quaint humor ilumi-
mated the testimony Of John Armstrong
Chaloncr. under Discrimination to-
day IN his 500. 900 suit for libel against
the New York Evening Post. In the
course of the cross examination by
William NJ. Whcrry. Jr, Chaloner de-
livcrcd himself OF opinions upon .
multiplicity of subjects.
Since his sensational escape from
Bloomingdalc twenty years ago Chal-
oncr has made his home in Virginia.
Ills suit against the Evening Post is
based on an editorial in the paper con-
corning the killing of John Ciillard,
farm hand. whose wife had sought
refuge in the chaloner home after be-
ing beaten by her husband.
Gillard pursued the woman and at
tackled thaIoncr when the latter came
10 her rescue. In the struggle with
Chaloner he was shot dead. Chaloner
where Gillard was killed with cop
per star in "a silver circle embedded in
the wooden floor.
Sought to Snvc Details.
II did this to save myself trouble"
he explained. Il didn't want TO go con-
stanuy into details about this tragedy,
and conceived this idea as medium
10 explain things"
Although Chaloncr had occupied
prominent place in the public eye Cor
with the New York courts. he made
Z new bid for fame by sending the
famous IA I,2t teieiEram. Who's lo9ney now"
occasion OF the lattcr's marriage TO
Lima Cavalier
He changed his name from Chandler
TO Cha!Oncr because Of the efforts OF
his brothers to have him confined in
the insane asylum.
Acquired Profanity rs Defense.
Questioned regarding his use OF pro-
:anity, chaloner said he had acquired
ale.
Il found" he said. that the common
est form of insanity was religious
EXPRESSING, myself in profanity so that
they could not possibly class me IS
insane on that score
began to apply this method to nv
Keeper proposed 20 fight the devil
with fire. even If had TO use hell 10
90 So AZ the end OF two weeks the
tain that l was not a relig ious
Coming TO Chaloner's belief in his
in his books, Mr.. Wherry asked sew
eral quotations regarding subconscious
mental processes.
writcs Things He Doesn't Believe.
understood YOU TO say that your
subliminal self sometimes causes YOU
to write things that you yourself do
not believe. Is that corrert?"
Yes replied Chaloner. but he added
mat lie always eliminated these things
from his writings when he discovered
them.
These "subconscious periods" Chal-
oncr explained to the jury, are not
hypnotic in his case. and were not
the usual Indications OF trance state
When asked TO explain his friendly
relations with Or. Lyons, OF Bloom
lnsda!e, who once pronounced him a
paranoiac, Chaloner said.
Declares 1t Hard World.
He had TO testify that was
paranoiac. II he hadn't he would have
been turned loose He did ii because
of an obligation to his wife and chill
dren. don't blame him. It's d hard
world"
Replying to further questions Chal-
oner denied havin gsaid that DR..
Lyons perjured himself. He then told
OF the esta blishment OF friendly rela-
tons with DR.. Lyons through the me-
dunn Of published interview in
which the physician was quoted as
saying:
II wouldn't call Mr.. Chaloner crazy"
Chaloner said he took the hannibal
OATH when he became convinced that
the New York insanity laws were UNI
just and that many persons lin and
out of the 400 owned private mad
houses"