The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-25
MRS. LINCOLN.
Another Sad Chapter in the Life OF thu
Demented Widow.
She Makes Several Intellectual Attempts
To Procure the Deadly Laudanum.
Her Departure for the Batavia Asylum

The sorrow which was generally experienced
Yesterday when it was known that Mrs. L'n,
coin, the widow OF Abraham Lincoln, hao
been adjudged insane, came near being eA-
tremely intensified by the positive attempt
which the unfortunate lady MADE 10 poison
herself Although she had been eccentric IN
her manner and the victim of extraordinary
yaoaries. burning love for her son, Mr..
Robert Lincoln, was at all times cognl-
Fable.
It is true she did not follow his counsel at
times. and he was disposed to be chagrined.
But no one could fail to recognize in the dis
patch from Florida, when she imagined her
son was i'll, an overwhelming and all-con-
6dipp affection. "Rouse yourself, my dear
son, and live for your mother; you are all l
have" 1t is needless to say that the sons
love was commensurate with the mothers.
But a time came when the strange conduct of
the parent necessitated the proceeding OF
Wednesday. For many years he had borne
the opprobrium resulting from his mothers
eccentric doings, and he was willing to bear
them longer, but at length her life was in leo-
pardy; her symptoms of insanity became more
strongly developed, and for her safety and
with the faint hope that her reason may yet
be restored to her, Mr.. Lincoln caused his
mothers formal arrest. The scene in the
elevator in the Grand Pacific Hotel, when
Mr.. Lincoln forciby obliged his mother to re-
turn to her room, was detailed. and her SUBJ
sequent reconciliation, bespeaking her for
giving spirit, and other instances were made
known when Mr. Lincoln used mild restraints
to prevent unseemly exhibitions. But the
proceeding on Wednesday was more than a
mother could tolerate at her sons hands-a
mother insanely devoted to him as she had
been in her Oddities Mrs. Lincoln's
QUIET DEMEANoR
during the inquisition was noticeable, and her
indifference to the testimony Of the doctors
and others. But as though she fully compre-
hended the nature of the proceeding and the
part her beloved son was acting therein, the
look of sorrow and silent reproach she cast on
him when testifying was more than he could
bear, and his feelings found vent in tears.
The verdict, which she as fully understood,
seemed to dispel all hope in this world, all
confidence in him in whom her affections
were conferred. When Mr.. Lincoln approach
ed, and, taking his mothers hand, spoke affec-
tionately to her, she said: "Oh, that my son
would have done this; you have struck my
heart" and she withdrew her hand from his.
These circumstances tend to show the
gloomy and despairing state of Mrs. Lincoln's
mind on Wednesday evening. She returned
to her rooms at the Grand Pacific Hotel, ate Q
sparing supper, and retired at an early hour.
A woman employed in the hotel occupied
bed in the room, and she states that Mrs.
Lincoln slept well for few hours, but to-
ward morning she was even
MORE RESTLESS
than she had been heretofore. A detective
officer occupied chair in the corridor in
case she should become violent, and beyond
the power of the woman to restrain. There
was no occasion for his interference, and Mrs.
Lincoln seemed to be growing calm.
During the forenoon yesterday she was
quiet in her manner. and busted herself for
o Journey with her son, as she said. The
Hon. Leonard SWEET visited her and ques.
toned her about the government securities
she was known to have had in her possession
on last Sunday. She refused to- give them
mp, and Mr.. SWEET felt called upon to threaten
her that he would call an officer. Whereupon
Mrs. Lincoln went to the closet and, taking
out dress, ripped up portion of it and
took out $4,000 worth of securities. She
would not, however, give them to Mr.. SWEET,
but handed them to Mr.. Arnold, her especial
legal friend
subsequently Mrs. Lincoln appeared to
have recovered from her agitation, and the
officer in the corridor retired. As soon as
the lady became aware of that fact she put
on her bonnet, and despite the entreaties of
the woman in care of her, and beyond her
power to restrain, she left her room and went
out of the hotel to the drugstore kept by
Frank Squeir in the hotel building. The
druggist recognized Mrs. Lincoln imme-
diately, and suspected her mission. She
asked for three-ounce
BOTTLE OF LAUDANUM
and camphor, and stated that she required it,
rs she was suffering from neuralgia in the
arm. Mr.. Squeir told her it would take half
an hour to get it ready, and Mrs. Lincoln left,
promising to return. AS she went out Mr.
Squeir followed her. She went into the drug
store of Rogers Il Smith, corner of Adams
and Clark streets, and asked for fifty cents
worth of laudanum. Mr.. Squeir admonished
Mr. Smith not to give her the drug under any
circumstances !; that she was insane. Mr.
Smith told Mrs. Lincoln that his stock had
run out, but he might have some next week
She then left, and Mr.. Squeir, anticipating
her intention, reached DAle's drug store, on
Clark street, before she entered. He informed
Mr.. Dale of the condition Of the visitor he
would soon have. Mrs. Lincoln asked for an
ounce and half of laudanum and an ounce
and half Of camphor in separate bottles
which she would mix herself. Mr.. Dale told
her he did not sell laudanum by retail, and
Mrs. Lincoln left and retraced her steps to
Saueir's store. The active druggist was in
the store to wait on her, and proceeded to
make up
THE PRESCRIPTION
for her, but instead of the death-dealing poi
sons he put up q three-ounce mixture, con-
sisting Of one dram of burnt sugar, two drops
of camphor, and the remainder aqua pura.
He labeled the bottle laudanum and cam
phor Mrs. Lincoln took the bottle, and as
soon as she reached the sidewalk drew the
cork and swallowed the contents. She then
repaired to her room. The hotel managers,
becoming aware Of these facts, dispatched
messenger for Mr.. Lincoln. After an inter-
view of ten minutes Mrs. Lincoln again Wis
tied Squeir's drug store. She stated that the
pain in her arm had become unbearable and
she required
SOME MORE LAUDANuM
She went up into the laboratory to watch
the druggist putting up the prescription But
Mr.. Squeir told her that he must 60 down to
the cellar for the drug. When he returned,
the bottle con tanned the same harmless mix
ture as the first The wOe-begone heart