The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-05-28
A SAD REVELATION.
Mrs. Mary Lincoln, the Widow of the Late
President, Adjudged Insane.
IFrOm the ChicagO Iimes.l

y
by score of her friends and acquaint-
ances. Her eccentricities have frequently
been the subject of comment, and her
methods have been anxiously studied by
members OF her family, as well as by
lifelong friends of President Lincoln,
who have ever been interested in the
welfare Of his relict; and it has become
matter OF serious consideration with
them as to its cause. Gradually the ter
r1ble truth has dawned upon their minds
that her reason has become partially de-
throned. Those who have known her
intimately knew her to be of a very ex-
cltable nature, and since the assassina-
ton OF her husband they have observed
, peculiar traits in her character which
they never noticed before.
All her former actions are now ex-
planned, with the motive which prompted
them, and the public will pity the poor
woman who has lived alone, almost en-
tirely apart from her near relatives and
friends for so long a time; universal
sympathy will take the place of censure,
Tor her actions will be understood now.
Mrs. Lincoln has never been consider
ed woman of strong nature, and, being
so closely connected with man of noble
purposes and sound Judgment, the con-
trast was the more striking. 1t has been
mlstrusted by her near friends and rela-
tlves that she has been the victim of
mental alteration, and they have studi-
ousl y avoided making the discovery pub
lie, but have striven to conceal the fact.
III the hope that she would eventually
recover. In this, however, they have
been sadly disappointed, and yesterday
disclosed the secret to the people of the
nation.
AT 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon,
large concourse of people assembled in
the County Courtroom. Among them
were observed some of the most promi-
nent citizens of Chicago-lawyers
judges, merchants and capitalists; men
who are seldom seen in places of this
kind, to the neglect of their business,
unless something of more than usual i'm
portance is to occur. 1t was evident a
jury trial of no little moment was about
to take place.
At length the solemn arrangements
were completed, the door was opened,
the crowd parted from left to right, and
in walked no less parsonage than Mrs.
Abraham Lincoln, accompanied by Mr..
5. NJ. Turner of the Grand Pacific hotel,
and one or two others. She was assigned
a chair at the end of one of the tables,
near the outer railing and facing the
court. Her son, Robert Lincoln, entered
almost Immediately, in company with
Hon. Isaac n. Arnold, who was retained,
at the request of Mrs. Lincoln, as her
counsel. All being in readiness, the
bailiff announced that the trial on hand
was for the purpose of testing the sanity
of Mrs. Mary Lincoln, and by the direc-
ton of the court proceeded to call the
roll of the jurors.
The testimony of the witnesses was
unanimously to the effect that Mrs. Lin
coin had been subject to actions such as
no person of sound MUD would ever
exhibit. Some of the testimony was of
the most startling nature, and served to
show great degree of forbearance and
patience on the part of her son and her
friends. From the nature of a portion
of the evidence, Mrs Lincoln is believed
to have been for number of years
confirmed Spiritualist, and part of her
faith seems TO have been that the depart
ed spirit of her dead husband was con-
stantly lowering near her, directing her |
movements and counselling with her
upon every subject of possible interest |
to her. 1t appears that she even went so
far as to make preparationsfor her death, |
which she firmly believed would occur |
on the 9th of September last. She /
seems to have had no appreciation of
money, in one sense, though she
was declared by all the witnesses 20 be .
fond of driving what she considered ga
good bargain" She has evinced a ma
MIA for shopping, and has accumulated
large amount of valuable goods, which,
however, did not appear to have been Sc
lected with a view of benefiting herself.
She would purchase the most expensive
and absufed articles of toilet and house
hold goods, such as she might never an
ticipate deriving any benefit from. Her
insanity has assumed variety of shapes,
and while she has invested thousands of
dollars of her income in frivolous
and fantastic ornaments, she has not ex-
hibited any startling manifestations OF
them in the way of personal decoration.
In the closet of her room, at the Grand
Pacific, it is reported there arc hundreds
of packages intact, as they came from
the stores, that have never been opened.
Followingis the verdict of the jury:
We the undersigned, jurors in the case Of Mary
Lincoln alleged TO be insane having heard the ev-
dence in the case, are satisfied that the said Mary
Lincoln is insane, and is ft person TO be sent to
State hospital for the insane that she Is resident
Of the state of Illinois and the County Of Cook that
her age is sc years that the disease is OF unknown
duration that the cause is unknown; that the dis
ease is not hereditary; that she is not subject TO
epilepsy: that she does not manifest homicidal or
suicidal tendencies, and that she is not pauper.
Mrs. Lincoln has been taken to DIR.
Patterson's private insane asylum, at
Batavia, H., where she will receive
every attention that filial affection can
suggest. {
Attempted Suicide of the Unfortunate
Lady.
The Chicago Tribune gives the FOL
owing account of the attempted suicide
IF Mrs. Lincoln: Mrs. Lincoln went In
IN the cruo-store of Frank Squair,