Bryan Morning Eagle

In Piteous Tones the Millionaire Declared That He Is a Rational Being, but Doctors Hold to the Contrary.

Lafayette, Ind., April 17. - There was a fist fight in the circuit courtroom Thursday afternoon between Attorneys Dan Simms, representing Fred Chase, father of Moses Fowler Chase, the millionaire, and A. L. Kumler, representing Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Duhme of Cincinnati, who are asking for the possession of young Chase.

The attorneys had met for a conference with the judge as to what should be done with Moses Fowler Chase pending the pending of the guardianship case. Kumler denounced the attorneys on the other side and also Chase's father, and declared that Moses Fowler Chase had been brought to Indiana from France by force and fraud.

He had further asserted that the unfortunate young man was put on exhibition at the law offices of Chase's attorney, when former Judge E. P. Hammond shouted: "That's an abrupt falsehood!"

Attorney Simms jumped up from his seat and assaulted Kumler, who tried to ward him off. Simms then landed a fierce right hand swing on Kumler's jaw, and followed with a smash with his left. Both blows landed. Kumler protecting himself as best he could.

The courtroom was crowded and lawyers, court officials and spectators sprang toward the combatants and dragged them apart.

The Judge fined Simms $25 for striking the first blow, and this quieted matters. Simms then apologized and Kumler asked the court to remit the fine, as, he said, he felt sure that Simms struck in a moment of temper.

The court remitted the fine and directed that Moses Fowler remain in this court's jurisdiction with the understanding that Mr. and Mrs. Duhme, who are his aunt and uncle, are not to interfere with him. They have the privilege of applying to court for authority to see him, however.

The guardianship application served on the young millionaire is returnable April 27, for which day the case is set.

Drs. M. M. Fairy, E. C. Davidson and W. W. Vinnedge of Lafayette, and Dr. C. B. Burr of Flint, Mich., examined young Chase that morning and pronounced him insane. They declared that his answers to the most simple questions were incoherent, although he appeared perfectly sane when taken off the train.

Dr. Fairy said: "I asked the boy if he had had his dinner, and he mumbled out a lot of disjointed words. The result was the same when I asked him whether he had been in Paris where he is now and a lot of other things just as simple. It was just as if he had picked a lot of words at random from various parts of a dictionary."

Moses Fowler Chase arrived here at 1 o'clock Thursday in company with his father. A big detail of policemen was at the station. Young Chase declared piteously: "I am just as sane as any one; I am not crazy."

His father held one arm tightly and a lawyer held the other as they hurried the young man to a carriage waiting.

"Let me go; let me go; I'm not crazy," the young man pleaded. He recognized old friends in the crowd and tried to stretch out his hands to them. There was almost a riot when two attorneys tried to speak to young Chase.

Attorney Kumler pushed through the crowd from behind and said, "Moses, your aunt is here."

"Take me to my aunt; take me to my aunt," pleaded Moses and the young man was finally taken to a law office.