The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-07
SUPREME COURT CHAMBERS.

The Habe as Corpus Case OF Miss MacCabe
an Alleged manifestation Chnr~es
Against the Manager of the Bloom ~
dale Lunatic Asylum.
Before Judge Pratt.
On Saturday last writ OF habeas corpus was
granted by Judge Pratt, returnable yesterday
morning before Judge Barrett, recurring Dr.,
Brown, superintendent of the BlOomiuQdale
Lunatic Asylum, to produce one of the inmates, q
lady named Miss MacCabe. Mr.. John D. Townsend.
who applied for the writ, is counsel for Mr.. J. r.
Van Week. banker formerly of the firm OF Van
Week. Reed Herson), who was confined in the
asylum until recently and takes deep interest In
the case of Miss Mary MacCabe, whom he believes to
be perfectly sane. It is claimed that she never
showed any signs of insanity, and that being
taken from 1t and confined as unatic on her COM
planning chat priest In attendance at the convent
had made insulting proposals to her. The writ was
served on DR.. Brown, superintendent OF the
Asylum, on Saturday evening
Yesterday morning Mr.. Van Week appeared in
Court, with his counsel, looking ms as any man
in Court. He states he never was for a moment
insane. The writ in the case of Mrs. Mary MacCabe
years was nurse in the asylum, and makes am
dayit that Mrs. MacCabe never showed any signs Of
The writ was returnabe ior haif-past ten O'Clock.
but it was alter twelve O'Clock before Mr. Townsend
had an opportunity for calling for the return. He
was granted by Judge Pratt. In the case OF Mrs.
Mary MacCabe, on the afidavit OF Mrs. Irwin, who
was her attendant at the asylum, directing the
experimenting Physician, Dr. Brown. to produce
her IN Court, and want to know what return has
M Henry Nlcol. who appeared as counsel on the
other side, read return sworn to by DR.. Burrin,
one OF the attending physicians, In the absence OF
Or. Brown, to the effect that he has reason to be-
leve the said Mary MacCabe is now in charge OF
inc commissioners OF Charities and Correction, and
served an inmate OF BO0mingdale Asylum.
Mr. townsend said he would have nothing to say
as to the managers being highly respectable gem
man occupying high place in his profession; that
the proceedings In that institution are Infamous.
This was the fifth person whose release counsel an
Piled for who had been confined in that asyjur,
and except in one case, that or a gentleman who
insisted on remaining there until the writ was
served, they were all got rid OF in the same wav.
Mr.. Ven Week was sixteen months in that institil-
ton, perfectly sane, and he Is here now and is de-
termined to turn the inside Of that insiu;;;an out;
and taking into account the afiidavits which have
appeared in the Tribune this morning, really must
traverse the return. deny the facts stated In the
retarn and call for an examination.
oSans Der pWrst K s sn IN ana
know Mary MacCabe, who is on the books as "Rose
MacCabe," alias SISTER Mary Stanislaus have al
ways called her ''Sister Mary;n she belongs to the
order Of st. Stanislaus and wore q sort OF semi
religious habit; she came to the asylum in March,
18Th and has been attended principally by Elizabeth
Reilly on last Saturday she left the asylum; after
Mr. Van Week left her sister was written to at the
instance of-the governors Of The hospital, VINO,
uVcinihS utsli Gu tlldI she pc removed
to Blackwell's Island Asylum, where the board was
only half that at the Bl0omtngdae Asylum the
asylum being crowded and applications being con.
stantly made Tor durable persons; two OF
the attendants informed Inc that she Is
knowledge where she is the Governors were autho-
rzed to take steps to have her removed before Van
Week discharge; did not know that Miss MacCabe
applied to Van Week to aid her i'm getting out Of
the asylum; DR.. Porter did not make return to the
writ, being III; think Miss MacCabes sister is at
Saratoga; the carriage OF the asylum conveyed
Miss MacCabe to the asylum think Judge McQuade
issued new commitment for her; our institution
has permission from the Governors OF the Aims
House to transfer patients to that institution when
thought proper.
On this testimony the writ was dismissed as far
az regards the Bloomingdalc Asylum hut Mr..
Townsend Intends next to get her out Of the Black
wells Island Asylum.
He has obtained another writ for the production
OF Teresa Drew, also ut the BiOOmingdale Asylum.
although said to be quite sane