New-York tribune., 1875-01-15
THE COURTS.
THE ACT OF AN INSANE MOTHER.


| REPORT OF THE COMMISSION IN THE CASE OF ISA-
BELLA JAENNIsCH.
A Commission composed of Prof John Or
dronaux, Daniel c. Briggs and Sylvester Comstock was
appointed under the law OF last year inquire into the
mental condition OF Isabella Jaennsch. the woman VINO
burned her child 10 death ak weeks ago. This Comms
sion has concluded it's work. and its report Will be PFC
sented to-day to the Court OF General Sessions In TINS
the Commissioners state that they hnd that tue
shows signs OF Incorporate habits. which agSr
coDgesive headaches from which she saHred
and that abe subject TO epecc attacks someeics
following IN drinking. She was generally khd 10
her children, hut often careless about them IN conso
quence of intemperance The report gives at some
length the history OF the death OF the ehd AS f1r ss
can be gathered from witnesses.
The husband OF the unnatural mother went to his WORK
very early leaving his wife and children I'm bed Sue got
up between and and went down stairs TO get fuel
On her way back she felt the approach of an epepie
at, and called for help Two neighDOrs, Mrs Dolan ana
Mrs. Donohue. came into her aud found her In
t but did wait for her THO report then
proceeds as follows: Toward o'clock Mrs. DonObue
alarmed by loud pounding from the inner SIDE OF
child for help she immediately went and sought all
misson bus found the door locked wherenpon she ria
into Mrs Jaeunsth's window. There she raw II dc
endants little girl sitting upon the stove and heard Ut
cry out, az Take OF the stovc. mamma, ana
tell papa" she saw at the same time Mrs Jaehnhen
standing near the closet door The witness Goes ho up
raise any larm bat went back 10 her room with the
indifference with which she had lcIt MIS- JaehnSou
an hour before In ht.
At u the husband returned with his brother ana
found his flied with smoke and his WHO trying
clumsiIy the from which the crossplece
was gone. She made him no answer He went To dis
bedroom where the child cried out 10 him that mothef
had burnt her on the stove. The mother went TO 1ed
and slept quietly. but when she woke showed 10
interest in the Child moiherly feeling FOR thrtysA
| hours.
The most important conclusions OF the report are a.
| follows:
That on the morning Of Friday the 2d OF November
Isabella JaeuniGch attacked ny an eplitp'io co
Vulsye fever, whose immediate consequences sho "do
| not free from Tor the space OF over 20 hour. 49,
Taat assuming tnnt. wIthin one D0ir altrt Tn" ihNf
sion OF such C1nyusUn, she placed ner cnllo, CaIt
JAeuuisch upon fire kudled III her stove, ana heu nor
there; subsequently, changed her nlghtgO"h anu re-
uacei her bed. Assuming these iacts TO nave breh
Established by circumstantial evidence, amounting 10
| a moral certainty, the Commissioners are OF oplhlnn
that the defendant Isabella Jtruuisch, when ahd dlng
Tho fine she was engaged In the performance O THESE
acts was still within tho shadow Of the Cplcpir CIT
Gle ld not the or intend tue consequences
Of the act she performing y reason OI inen'd'
alteration the product OF discaSc, ana Wa III CONS
0ueuce within the intent ana meaning OF tue S1a'u'o'
| "insano and Irresponsible