The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-05

Examination as to Her Sanity Before Judge
Leonard, Of the supreme Court Of the Doc
tors Upon Whose Certificates She Was
Sent to the Lunatic Asylum.

The examination before Judge Leonard, of the
Supreme Court, touching the sanity or insanity Of
Miss McCabe, the nun known In her religious order
as Sister Mary Of Stanislaus, was resumed at ten
A. NJ. yesterday. AS on the previous day, there
was large attendance in the court room. Many
came, doubtless, to see Miss McCabe and Judge for
themselves whether she seemed u suitable subject
to keep confined in a unatc asylum. She was not
present. however, till late in the day. the under
standing being that, as her own examination was
concluded, she would not be put to the trouble OF
coming from the Lunatic Asylum ON Blackwell's
Island, where she is still confined, to the court
room unless her presence was absolutely necessary
Mr.. John d. Townsend, her counsel, was aided by
Mr.. John W. Weed Mr. McKeon appeared for Miss
McCabe's sister and Mr.. Smith for the Commits
sioners of Charities and Correction. The whole day
was occupied with examining the doctors who
signed the certificate upon which Miss McCabe was
consigned to the Bl0omingdale Lunatic Asylum.
THE MEDICAL TESTIMONY.
DR.. Theodore Dwight Bradford whose examina-
ton was commenced on Tuesday, was recalled by
Mr. KcKeon. He said that In 1871, when he called
to see Miss McCabe, she showed him some powders,
which were poison, that had been left her to take.
O. Whom did she say the powders came rom9
A. She said she thought the authorities of the
church had sent a physician there to poison her;
prescribed some ionide of potassium to allay her
nervous excitement; her chief complaint was that
she had not slept for several nights; saw her
three times.
q. Were you one of the physicians who signed the
certificate upon which she was sent to blooming
daleH A. l signed the certificate; on my second
visit found table against the door of the room;
asked why she had the table there; she said
priest or some church authority wished to deprive
her OF her title; she said further that she had pa
pers giving her q
RIGHT TO BE A NUN,
and showed them to me; she was afraid
some one would come and take them
from her; some one mad been sent there
to take them, she said, and for this reason she
placed the chair there she alluded to her sister
and said the latter was very cruel and would not
provide her with the necessaries of life; on another
visit she had her hand bound up; she said her
sister had bitten her; asked her to let me look at
the hand, but saw no mark on IT, did not read
@. Who paid you for you services? A. Miss Nc
Cabe's sister; advised her sister that she should
that she might be sent to some quiet place; never
saw any priest or any authorities OF the Church
ABOUT her case; acted solely upon my own pro-
CROss-EXAMINED BY MR.. TOWNSEND.
e. How long have you been practising ,I physl,
Commitment on tie 18th Of March, 1871; had at,
tended previous to this time patients in the house
where Miss McCabe was; 1t was a tenement house;
=
derstood that Miss .Mctabe was boarding with
would not have her IN the room she first occupied,
and she was obliged to change rooms; she made 50
much disturbance that the parties with whom she
first lived put her out: in determining
TIE QUESTION CT MISS MCABE's INSANITY
! think must have asked the nature Of the dis
turbance she made, but do not remember; i do
not recoect who introduced me to Miss McCabe,
but some one must have done so; had never
heard of her before In any shape or manner; had
u
sent for me; l do not remember how long
the certificate of her insanity; two or three days
before signing the certificate l saw DR.. Burdick,
the n with notified Dr.
had not seen Miss McCabe prior to my notification !;
merely asked him to come and see patient
whom suspected to be insane; he went with me
to see Miss McCabe; this was the last time saw
| her; on my first visit remained with her some
twenty minutes; there was lady, and, possibly,
the first and second visits; remained about as
long on the second visit; she talked necessarily,
were present then, but do not know who they
were; it was three days between the second ard
on the third visit Miss McCabe's sister present,
and she was present also when DR.. Burdick went
with me; at the fourth visit when had deter.
mined that she was insane her sister told me she
would he responsible for paying my bill
Q, Had you ever signed, previous to this certif-
Gates of insanity ? A. Yes; while was in Belle
vue Hospital transferred many patients to the Lu-
matte Asylum; we called it
TRANSFERRING PATIENTS;
have also transferred from the Charity Hospital
and signed certificates of lunacy in my private
practice; was one of the resident physicians In
Bellevue Hospital for two years; the transfer has
to receive other names; could not transfer my
own responsibility.
q. What is the process of transferring patients
from Bellevue Hospital to the Lunatic Asylum
Mr. Mckeon objected to this as irrelevant.
Mr.. Townsend pressed the question, and was sus-
taned by the Court.
A. do not remember; cannot give the names
OF any person in my private practice for whom
have signed certificates Of insanity; think have
a record, but am not positive OF that; my name
will appear on the commitments.
q. Have you made the subject OF insanity q
speciality A. No. sir; l have treated cases OF
puerpural mania; Miss McCabe was very polite
when first called to see her; was very much
pleased with her; her pOliteness was TO me no
evidence of her insanity; noticed that she had a
nervous temperament; | did not know the purpose
for which was sent to see her; her sleeplessness
would have explained her nervousness; she had an
anxious look.
Q. Was putting the table against the door
evidence OF insanity9 A. No.
O. Did not the sister speak Of
POISONING THE FOOD?
A. 1t could not be possible; was there when her
sister brought in food; think 1t was on the third
visit; in her nervous condition, and believing her
story to be true 1t is no wonder that SHE suspected
poison In her powder and food; doubted her
whole story.
DR.. Bradford was further cross. examined at
great length, but nothing new OF importance was
ELECTED.
DIR. BuRDICK'S TESTIMONY.
Dr. stephen 7. Burdck was next called. He tes
titled that he had been practiCing physician In
this city for the last twelve years.