The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-14

LAR REvELATIOH OF THE NURSE-THK WILD WO-
MAN COMMITTED TO PRIsON-EsCAPE OF THE SHOW
From the Cincinnati Columbian, July III
Who Is meant by "the wild woman" the newspaper
this city from Texas by Captain Norhcote, who says
he caught her with laaso and dogs in the Wachitaw
Mountains. She is young and good looking, but has
unparalleled eyes. The dark portion Is as large as
ring Of white around the large circle; the flesh be-
meath is of dark color and the face pale the hair
is disheyelled, and the hands lie lstiessy by the
figure the fingers as istlessly turned towards the
palm of the hand. Description, however, gives no
idea Of this strange Pythoness, struck dumb while
the strange glare Of inspiration the features,
but after the fire had He'd. as she stood on the
table, she glanced round with her wonderful eyes
quickly from side to side, as the bird does when sit
ting watchfnlly on its perch.
The object in bringing her before the Probate
Court yesterday, was to ascertain whether she was
woman Of sane mind, or whether she required con-
scIibed in the testimony, which we publish at con-
siderable length, and we need but remark that after
obtaining the rative OF the woman attendant,
complete medical examination was made. The w0-
man exhibited much modest reluctance toward the
inspection, OF which she was the object. Her ears
had borne rings; she had mark as If vaccinated,
and she bad evidently been bled in both arms at
some period
As test experiment, chloroform was given, with
what effect the testimony will show.
After the medical examination was over, Judge
Burgoyne desired the professional gentlemen to be
swon that they might testify to such facts would
satisfy the mind of the public as to the circumstan-
ces OF the and supply basis for the protection
Of the woman, II it should appear she required the
interference of legal authority.
County Prosecuting Attorney Cox then proceeded
to examine the following witnesses -
DIR. b. NJ Right depOsed-The woman before US
has been mother at least she has been pregnant;
if the birth was premature, it was near the full
term she has had ear rings in her ears there are
clear evidences that she was once, at least in state
of civilization she may have been caught in The
woods, to which she had escaped in state r1n9an
ity though she does not speak now, it Is evident
she has spoken some time or other; my opinion is
that it is o case of feigned insanity.
DR.. cambridge stated 81 saw this woman the day
she arrived she would not let me get very close to
her said at that time believed her to be wo-
man bereft Of reason and only fit for lunatic asy
lum /; still think she is lab0ring under insanity !;
the cause may have originated in childbirth she
ought to be in confinement; she may have held the
relation of a mother and experienced the loss OF
her child think her Is upset. yet there are
indications that she feigns.
DR.. Hiram Cox said-I saw this woman for the
first time last Sabbath; she w.uld not let nae get
who have testified though it is but speculation, that
her condition is result Of puerperal arrangement
there may also have been the loss of child; if she
found in The woods, 1t is possible she had been
and the condition in which we see her have ensued
che is no natural idiot; she has been bled marks
in both her arms show; bleeding is one OF the usual
remedies in puerperal disease she has all the pecu
liar marks which show that o woman has been
mother.
DR.. Menzies corroborated previous testimony; the
woman had perhaps been mother more than
once; she may have been violated by the Indians;
consider her insane at the present time.
Dr. Muscroft stated-This woman is not capable Of
taking care OF herself agree with the view OF the
case taken by DIR. cambridge.
All the Witnesses hitherto examined, who believed
her insaDe, in reply to question, concurred in ex.
pressing Their opinion that the public exhibition Of
the woman was calculated to iDjure her.
DIR. Hamilton was next examined-He was OF
opinien that with some degree Of insanity, there
was more or less Of feigning.
Dr.. Moore considered the woman evidently in.
sane.
she should be excluded from public gaze; being ex-
hibited is injurious to her.
At this stage of the eedings it was announced
that the nurse who had attended 1.-The Wild woman"
ed her belief that the whole affair was humbug
This caused considerable sensation, and desire
expressed 10 have her examined at once. The pro-
scouting attorney however desired FIRST to ask afew
more questions OF DIR. NJ. 3. Wright, who, being re-
called, said:-I was from early period of opinion
hat there was feigning had suspected the nurse,
who, observed, dressed and undressed the woman
in the dark; think the woman was but family un-
der the influence OF the choroform she resisted its
action; the manner in which she has remained on
he present OCCASION fixed in her position, gaze and
tuded aspect gives me the impression that she Is
ieigning.
Ann Walters, the attendant Of the wild woman
was then sworn. She Is q middle aged woman Of
motherly appearance, with much shrewdness In her
manner she said My home Is In Mason county,
Texas have husband and ten children Captain
Northcote and John Donnegan brought this woman
to our house we keep tavern she was tied her
clothing was Of skins with leggngs. kind Of apron
before her and piece round the waist am no
Judge in skins, and cannot tell how old they were
Ivo ,u uvhara har huf fo -
inhabitants
The woman was brought late in the evening one
day in April last Northcote and Donnegan said
they had caught her the in mountains with dogs and
lasso the Captain said an old Indian had told him
about her nine years ago.
was engaged 10 travel with Northcote and the
girl Northcote said be wanted to civilize her and
return her TO society was to have $3.50 q month,
or 81 900 until next Christmas, II would not stay
longer than that time Northcote has paid my board
but have not received one cent OF money have
sometimes got Betty, as we call her, TO say few
words yesterday evening aiter me arrest, as we
me, what are they going to do with meT l then
thought she not insane; she never talked before
except few words which and Captain Northcote
had taught her she could say pretty, and boat
sleep in the same bed with her. she sleeps short
sleeps and gets up II there any noise when North
cote was in our neighborhood, i believe he was
limiting gold and trapping in the neighboring wa
woman TO be any relation Of his; he always treats
her kindly, but she seemed TO regard him with In
difference, except when he brought her fruit or
nuts: she seemed TO care for nobody bat me; her
food has been principally vegetables and nuts; the
vegetables were cabbage, onions, and % on, and
these she eat raw; she generally showed signs OF
being hungry at morning and evening; when first
she came she would sleep on the naked floor; first
put clothing on her, instead OF the skins at Little
Rock, In Arkansas; she liked the skins best, and
tore the things put on above and at the skirts;
we stopped her before she exposed her person; we
had afterwards 70 keep her hands tied; she always
seemed TO have o sort OF modesty about her which
made her DESTROYS OF conceang her person. abe eats
like monkey, and drinks on al fours; abe mus be
very hungry 70 eat meat; she does not take 1t raw;
she Garnet bear salt or sugar; she must be very
thirsty to drink water from lumber; when l first
put her in bed she would throw the clothes on and
get mp and be on the floor she has not been closely
watched, but could have escaped fshe chose have
sometimes looked through the keyhole when she
alone, but she acted just the same "a at other
times; she likes music very much; soft music
~eems 70 please her best: she prefers standing