inthe know
Did you know?
A Dormont man had I
his father committed
for $30,000
f convoluted mysteries are your thing, then this case of
William Warne of Illinois Avenue is for you. William
Warne alleged in a court filing in the spring of 1951that
his son Melvin defrauded him of more than $30,000 worth
of property while Warne was in mourning over the 1945
loss of his wife. Disputed in the case were Warne’s second
home in Homestead, in which his son Melvin lived, several
cemetery plots in Jefferson Cemetery, savings bonds, stock
in several blue chip companies, paychecks and retirement
payments, including his Social Security income.
The reason behind Warne’s commitment to St. Francis
Hospital’s “Insane Ward” was that he had found a new
love and planned to marry Ms. Pauline Spragg. Melvin
gained possession over his father’s assets when his father
assigned Melvin to watch over his affairs. The move was a
matter of power of attorney granted to an heir of an aging
man. Warne alleged in court documents that his pending
marriage would require Melvin to inventory the assets,
which he stated were misappropriated by his son.
So rather than return his father’s valuables, the lawsuit
claims that Melvin allegedly told his father he had had a
heart attack and was in St. Francis Hospital. When Warne
rushed to the scene, he was involuntarily committed.
Fortunately for Warne, he was able to reach friends outside
of the hospital, who were able to vouch for him and he
received a court-ordered release.
Warne did marry Spragg, and the pair moved into
Warne’s Dormont residence.
In all, Warne spent two weeks in the “Insane Ward”
before his ordeal could be rectified. ■
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