New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-22
MRS. LINCOLN'S INSANITY.
WHY HER RELATIVES WERE DRIvrN TO TIE PAIN
FUL COURSE OF BRINGING HER IXTo COURT
pOPFpr TINCOrS'S TESTIMONY.

WHY HER RELATIVES WERE DRIvrN TO TIE PAIN.
FUL COURSE OF BRINGING HER INTo COURT
ROBERT LIYCoLY's TESTIMONY.
Since the death of President Lincoln, bis
widow, 1t is said, has continued to decline, NOT
only in vigor Of mind, bur In physical condition.
nothing seeming TO avail her in her grief
and declining years. So feeble had become the
of her mind and consequence SO eccentric her
and habits OF life, that on Saturday last council
Of the leading physicians of Chicago and Mrs neons
personal friends held 10 consider what was best 70
be done for her The result OF the council WAS
an agreement to petition for order TO try the
question Of her sanity. On Wednesday Mrs. Lincoln
was brought into court, and the sad trial which resulted
verdict declaring her TO be m ne was begun when
the unfortunate lady entered the courtroom she was
palid, her eye was wate1y ana excited, and her
general appearance that Of who suffering
from nervous excitement Accompanying her was ner
son. whose every feature was marked with sadness His
eyes too suIsed with tears, were also those OF
several others. Mrs. Lincoln took seat facing the
Judge by her side sat her counselor and friend and
The petitioner, her son, Robert T. Lincoln took seat
near her and oblquey to her left Beside him sat tho
Hon Leonard SWEET ard b. Aver counsel for the petit
toner. The witnesses testified to Mrs. Lneolns strange
imagnings her expensive aud rccc purchases jew
evidence of having observed indications OF mental dis
tulbalce on many occasions.
TESTIMONY OF MRS. LINCOLN's SON.
When Robert Lincoln took the stand his face indicated
the unpeasantness the duty he about perform,
and his eyes expressive VI the grief he felt Mrs.
Lincoln at first looked calmly, but during the recital
of the incidents OF the family history and reference to thu
death OF his father and brother she way tears
and buried her in her hands. summary OF his est
mony is given below:
The action he had taken sad TO contemplate. bns
he had done in the Interest OF his othee He met her
in the upon her arrival from the s9ul, and upon
meeting her she startled. she had the appearance
OF good health and did not fa.iyued by the
trip. He asked her to come TO hs house, oa she de.
took supper she tod HIM tlA at inc nrst breakfast
night She slept well that night, but subsequently
restless and wond come to his door IN her nlshtdress
his door, he having told her thai il she per.
sisted he would leave the hotel lie went to her room
room that condition under some pretext and the next
he knew OF her she was going down IN the elevator TO tho
her to her she regarded lis interference
as mpeItuent, and declined to leave the elevator but no
put his about her and gently forced her. She
screamed You are going 10 murder me-" She had
sine the fire keEt her trunks AMI Pr0nfr II the Fe
the last week Ia April and she told aim that all Chicago
cS 10 % County, shs s SS &%asE
too near Oshkosh, where there had been terrible
be the only one saved and he suggested her leave
her trunks with him. The following sunday she
showed lin securities Tor which sne rrcsn,
She had bought 5000 worth OF Lace curtains three
500 worth OF soaps and perfumeriss and whole piece
OF silk. He had no doubt she was insane re saa nad
aed and Jude Davis Of the supreme Court all of whom
advised him the he had taken lie did not re-
gard N .afe 10 allow 10 remain longer unresrained
She had long been o source OF great anxiety She had
always been kind TO him she had been OF unsound mind
since the death husband and had been irrespons-
ble for the last years He regarded her ~ eccentric
and nnmanageable. There cause for her receis
unrchases Is her trunks hled with dresses she
never wore. she never wore jewery.
The verdict OF the jury sdjudsing Mrs. Lncois 70 b
declares that the disease Is Of unknown duration
and IA not with her hereditary that she Is not subject 70
epilepsy and that she does not manifest homieda 90
suicidal tendencies The verdict was received by Mrs
Lincoln without any visible emotion she was stoid
and unmoved and did not allow It's reading to interrupts
the conversation in which she engaged with NJ.