I have a legal query relating specifically to New York State, but since
Virginians seem to know everything, I'd like to post it here as well. I
posted this already to the NY-HIST list.
My wife is completing a book on the well-known lunacy case of John
Armstrong Chanler (aka John Armstrong Chaloner). A native of NY, Chanler
married the fiery author Amélie Rives of Albemarle County in 1888.
In 1899 a Sheriff's Jury in New York declared Chanler mentally
incompetent, and removed his property from his control, in a proceeding
under the aegis of the New York Supreme Court. The question is: What is a
"Sheriff's Jury"? Chanler had no attorney representing him at the
hearing. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Henry Wiencek
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