New-York tribune., 1872-09-03
A CASE OF MASSACHUSETTS INJUSTICE.
N Il z L. Trih

TO the EdttOT or IHe IFtObHes
SIR: Your admirable exposure Of the abuses
Of the Boomingdae Lunatic Asylum, and the inefficient
protection to alleged patients is gaining the gratitude
Of the entire nation. Such powerful advocacy may ac-
compsh reform which many have struggled for in van
Permit to mention hagrant instance OF false i'm
prsonment in an asylum of Massachusetts. ! do not
give names, except in confidence to you.
Many years since LADY of highly cultivated intellect
was committed to a private Insane Asylum by her hus
band her alleged insanity being simply belief that he
was unathful to her. The husband and his father
physicians IL does not appear that the lady was exam
ned by any other After repeated threats by her hus-
band-whO had various occasions brutally beaten
and maltreated hera carriage brought unexpect-
edly one morning, while she sewing for her children
and the physician attached TO the asylum, after
feeling her pulse directed four to force her into the
carriage. In vain she demonstrated, struggled, and
begged, at least 10 see her children She was taken
direct to the Asylum and received without any exam
nation form, or question. Her friends and neighbors
who called TO her were refused admittance
One who asked the superintendent If she was really
insane received his answer that he "could not tell
under at least nine or ten months" This lady was
closely imprisoned for year and half. She then man.
aged to make her escape from the hands Of her perez
cutors and came 10 NewYOrk having been Joined by
her daughter, gIl Of II. They brought TO me
strangers and thrown helpless on my care Satisfied
that the lady was not insane, helped her 10 Philade
under an assumed name. The lady supported herself
and her child by making army shirts at nine cents apiece
while her husband enjoyed an income of $4,000 year
He had detectives searching for his Wife found her at
last kidnapped the daughter when going TO church, and
watched for the mother. She telegTaphed TO me-
went and took her to the city where her home was
recommending her to seek legal redress. But the re-
spectabity Of the Asylum and the provisions OF the
law were against her. The husband, afraid to act
openly set detectives on my track, had some
one personating me calling on the witnesses
to find out. what they would say against him,
and after my return home tried TO capture his wife Sc
crety, having uvde arrangements to Imprson her in
madbnuse in Vermont She escaped from his agent
however and her friends obtained an injunction re-
straning her husband from mOesng her for the time.
Since then s6D she bas been compelled to support her.
self by daily labor and has been deprived of the society
OF her children. Her friends know her to be sane and
she cannot be charged with insanity while living In
their midst but her life is made burdensome. Her case
is one of many have been prosecuted by her husband
for taking her part though under the fullest conviction
that she was fOully wrOnged If Will publish this
brief outline it will to confirm what you say OF the
necessity OF jury trial for unfortunates accused OF
lunacy. LOVER VI JVsiIVh'
clyde. N. T., Aug. 81. -.,.