The true Democrat., 1856-08-05

rovne yesterday, to ascertain whether eth SSiid woman of tie Witchitaw Mountains,'' ft some time past on exhibition in this city by Cap Northcote was sane or insane person. Sh was brougth into court by deputy sheriff Shat tnck. having walked from the jail in compan
 with her usual attendant, a woman named An Walters. The "wild woman" was dressed i a loose cotton wrapper, pinned in front; a lon leather strap was fastened round her waist. a end of which was held by the attendant, as sh led her from place to place. The wild stare c her eyes, and an unvarylng expression of sub dued terror, were the most peculiar features o notice in her appearance. She is decidedly rretty, if not handsome woman. Thougl invited to sit down, she seemed disposed to re main on her feet, as near to the wall as sh could get, where she rolled the dilated pupil of her dark eyes from object to object with al apprehension of her own security. Was she wild woman a maniac or an actor? Thes, Vte the ~peculations passing through the mind of a room full of spectators, including a larg, number of physicians who were present unde sablqna to testify in the case.
 Judge Burgoyne desired that the physicians should make such examination as they mioh deem proper, Tn order to form an opinion as tc the condition of her mind; and with this view rquested that all who were rot physician. should leave the room, (except reporters. J. Tn, order being carried out, Mrs. Walters was re1uested to state what she krew of the history oi the woman.
 She stated that the only knowledge she had W derrVed from Mir X Northcote, who said that al od Dian, in l847, had told him there wa. such q person in the mountains, and that some months since he (Northcote) was out hunting ad two o'clock in the morning this woman made her appearance; that he had told his fl ds what he had seen, and that party o e-ht men and thirteen dogs went in pursuit ot her, and that his own dogs caught her.
 Q.-How did he catch her?
 Ally the skin she were on her lees.
 Q-N asaany examination made to find the place of her retreat?
 A.-lle said he discovered cave in whicl there was comfortable bed, made of leave. and grass, and out side of it he found bones which he supposed to be those of female. Q-Dld he discover any implements with winch he supposed her clothing was made? A.-An old piece of a knife, with which she leiended herself in fighting with the dog; it vas while in this contest with the dog lasso was thrown over her.
 Q.-HaS she marks of any injuries on her person.
 A.-No; mostly washed her in the dark: could manage her better in the dark; she seems to be modest about it.
 Q.-Was she modest from the beginning? A-No; 1 learned her to be so.
 Q.-llave you ever struck her?
 A-Never
 Q.-Does she like music?
 A.-Very much.
 Q-What does she prefer to eat? A-Nuts and vegetables. She will eat a cabbage as quick as a cow will. It was then determined by the physicians that e loroiorm should be administered to her. lld while under its influence, she was examin- cd by the medical men present. Marks of vac cnaton were found on the left arm, and marks as of lancet on her arm; her ears show that sue had worn ear rings. There was scar on inc lme of her left brow, and on several parts 3t her body there were small scars. An i'm. lfeSSon seemed to prevail, during this exami- aJon, that she must at some time have been tually treated. After the influence of the clloroorm had passed and the expression of T countenance-cal I'm, pleasant even, and ,9eet-that Ot sane and healthy woman.- While the chlorotorm was being administered. 4e exclaimed, "Oh n.y." an expression which ne oi the doctors remarked was English at Il l-y rate.
 EXAMINATION OF MEDICAL WITNESSES. Dr. NJ. B. Wright examined: The evidence was sufficient to satisfy his mind that she once | ,AI | ,.a f S est been pregnant The marks on her arms I*oad indicate that she had been bled and her as showed she had worn earrings ln word Il was clear at once at any rate, she was not Ii wild woman." The fact that she had been lud ln the woods, was no evidence~that e Was not insane; and if the proof should be at she was taken in the woods by her cap- | tor, the question would be whether she escap- Iti under the influence of insanity He was n- It ed to the opinion that it was a case of tegn- e insanity.
 Dr. )andridge was of the opinion from the t-uulng that the woman was laboring under Is ne form of hySterlcal mania, which may have Heh alter her confinement, although there ITe ndcatious that might lead to the supposi- F that her actions were teigned. | Dr. Murphy inclined to the opinion that she r hsane-had probably puerpal mana-thas ke had been mother no doubt On the uues-
 ol insanity, however, he thought further tme would be required to determine the matter, h Aere was now suffic ent to raise a doubt upon subject. A to the story told about her be- wild Woman," it was in his mind the
 rest humbug. He thought her a fit subject "a iuuatic asylum.
 | Dr Il. Cox said that a serious shock on the frogS system, caused by the loss of child, t Y have caused her insanity and deprived her E eech. He hal no doubt she was raised in EvAzed society.
 \ Dr. MeuzieS was also satisfied that she had eu cultivated woman, and the mother of F lren; he believed her TOW to be insane | Dr. Nuscrolt believed she was not at all in Emdltlon 10 take care of herself, but that by M per care she could recover her health to some Esrce.
 Mr. Cox-(Prosecuting Attorney)-Do you FMose that public exhibitions are calculated
 benefit her condition?
 Dr. Nuscroft-Decidedy calculated to iniure F The lunatc asylum would be the proper Eaoe for her.
 or Hamilton supposed the case was one more
 ass of fegned insanity.
 Dr Moore supposed her insane. IT, Langdon was satisfied she had lived in
 arzed life to the present time; that she had
 Yen mother and was now insane and that E probable cause of her insanity was her con-
 sment or something attendant upon it. He
 l5ht she required seclusion from the public kze
 Ann Walters examined: :-Resided in Macon
 1ty Texas; better than three months ago
 pr Aorthcote called on her with this female,
 Ao was dressed in skins and had rope round lie stated he wished to travel with her
 aNlze her; that 1t was not his intention to
 Ike money of her; he agreed to give witness
 oO month to travel with her, but had not
 her cent to this time, though he had de-
 yea her expenses; witness made up her mind
 S.erday that she was not insane.
 l9-Why so?
 A--Because when the sheriff came she ex-
 Aaed; Lord of mercy, what are they going
 2-How long are you acquainted with
 ortbcote?
 A-WeI, he stopped at our house several
 V-Do you know whether he is any relation
 tns woman?