The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-01-30
Shocking Case or Domestic Cru.
city.

The most remarkable case of persecution
that has perhaps been known within the
past century, has just received a whole
some ventilation before the Hon. G. r.
Starr, on an application Of Mrs. E. p. w.
Packard, OF Manteno, in this county, to be
discharged, on a writ Of habeds corpus,
from the illegal Imprisonment in her own
house by her husband, Rev. Theophilus
Packard.
About four years since the Rev. Packard
commenced a system Of prosecutions to-
ward his wife. while he was officiating as
the minister Of the Presbyterian Chuach at
Manteno, for the purpose, as alleged, of
suppressing her free discussion of religious
tenets which were at variance with the or
thodox views o. the Presbyterian Church.
And because doctrines on religion thus ad
vanced and maintained by her were new
to the Rev. Packard and the three deacons
Of the church-aithough maintained by
some Of the most eminent scholars of both
Europe and America-they pronounced
her insane, and TO be rid Of her influence
in the church, and that the Rev. Packard
might be rid of her company at home, he
formed the most Infamous plot Of incarcer
ating her in the Asylum for the Insane
With this end in view he pronounced her
insane, refused her access and intercourse
with her friends, gcaded and tormented
her into excitement upon the subject of
religion, refused her attendance to the Sab
bath school and Bible class, and finally to
| the church; tore her children from her on
the plea that she was insane and incapable
Of caring for them, and on every occasion
gave out that she was hopelessly insane!-
He appointed spies over her-distorted and
preiudiced minds, who would construe ev-
| cry act on the theory that she was insane;
and after a violent tumult and controversy
with her on religion, had it arranged TO
call in a physician to give an opinion as to
her sanity or insanity, and while in that
state of mind Packard obtained certifi-
cate Of mental excitement upon the subject
Of religion from a well-known' physician Of
this city.
In June, 1860, he actually Kidnapped his
own wife, with the aid Of one woman, two
men, and three hundred dollars, put her
on the cars and took herto Jacksonville, to
the State Hospital, where she remained
until last June, when she was discharged.
She plead hard that she was not insane, and
begged for the form of a trial by jury, in
conformity with the dictates of reason and
humanity, but the Rev. Packard would
close the ears of those who would be her
friends, by telling them they were the ap-
peals OF a raving maniac. The Rev. Pack
ard imposed upon DR.. Mcfarland, Of the
Hospital, or else DR.. Mcfarland became
willing tool to aid in this nefarious scheme.
There are many facts which lead to this last
conclusion, and which need ventilation.
Kew. PACKARD 1S man OF ABOUT sixty
years Of age, faithful type Of the bigot;
cold, selfish, illberal, with a small modi-
cum Of brain, physiognomy innocent of
expression; who was educated in the Cal
whistle faith, and is faithful representa-
tive Of the total depravity of mankind
One hundred mules are in his head, and
his stubbornness is only exceeded by his
ignorance. The animal largely predomi-
mates.
Mrs. Packard is a lady Of about forty
five, of fine mental endowments, and blest
with liberal education. She is an Origi-
nal, vigorous, masculine thinker, and was
it not for her superior Judgment, combined
with native modesty, she would rank as a
''strong- minded woman" AS it is, she
COMFORTS her conduct strictly to the sphere
usually occupied by woman. She dislikes-
parade or show Of any kind. Her conf
dence that Right will prevail leads her to
too tamely submit to wrongs. She was
educated in the same religious belief of her
husband, and during the first twenty years
OF married life his labors in the parish and
in the pulpit were greatly relieved by the
willing hand and able intellect Of the wife.
There are six children Of their inter-
marriage; the youngest was eighteen
months old when she was kidnapped and
transferred to Jacksonville. The older
children have maintained a firm position
against the abuse and persecution toward
their mother, but were of too tender age TO
render her any material assistance.
The question Of her sanity or insanity
was tried by a Jury, ordered by the Judge.
and every opportunity was offered to pro-