Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-06-01
Prom the Nashville Bnnnsr.
The Case of MIS-. Lincoln

liz ONbSC vi WI
Considering the prominent position
once occupied by Mrs. Lincoln widow
of the murdered President, the recent
revelation concerning her MENTAL aber-
alton and incarceration In an Insane
asylum possess a melahcholy interest.
The Chicago Tribune gives a full hsto-
ry OF the sad case, showing pretty clear
ly that the lady has been more or less
mentally derdnged for number of
years. 1t seems that for several years
after the assassination of her husband,
Mrs, Lincoln was pursued by mental
picture of the dreadful scene. She
could not shake it of. She c0UrteI
solitude, denied herself to all visitors
and friends, and became victim to
hysteria, accompanied by various ap-
prehensiOns, of which destilution,
poverty and absolute want were Of tie
most violent. A gentleman. of tie
waiihest pers6nal friends of her nus
band, succeeded in obtaining an in
terview, and then free access to her at
all times. During II period of more
than year, during which he visited
her mainly at Ter special request, she
never failed to begin the interview
IN a. iAltIluAC httGlll WI lliC OillS Va
that fatal Friday on which hRr husz
band was murdered This sainc story
repeated 1T every interview, and al
most in the exact words each time
1t had engrosstu her mind to the eX-
clusion Of all other things, past and
present. except the gloomy ala
prehensiOn that she vas reduced 10
want.
At last. he proposed that she leave
Tie hotel. and buy house, furnish it
and receive friends, and have some
cares to divert her mind. She at last
C ,nsented, and he states that during
the few months in which the house
was pure hased and she was furnishing
it, and thus had active employ iheht.
she was comparatively happy, and
had shaken Oft the terror ana wrech-
edness that bad previously afflicted
her. But when this business was COM
pleted when there was nothing mOle
to he done, her home again became a
sort of prison, and she relapsed into
all the old gloom, dependency and
terror. Acting under these combined
influences, she did many things which
were surprising, If not painful; 10 her
friends. She had an aversion for COM
partnership and acquaintance; she
closed all means of social approach /;
she lived within the seclusion of her
rooms, suffering and enduring the ev-
er present horror OF the one terrible
event. At times she would grow rest
less, and suddenly change her resi-
dence =; but wherever she went the re-
lief was temporary, the relapse newt
able. Under this intense strain her
mind gradually became unbalanced,
and year after year she has required
more and more the vigilant care of her
friends
LatterIy she had become much
worse, and there was reason to appre-
bend that i'm her restless, troubled
state Of mind. she might receive per-
sonal inItity, and at last, when longer
delay wujlld seem To he neglect OF du-
~, her soil Robert was compelled to
the painful proceeding which, under
the laws of this State, must precede
any detention or restraint for i.isani-
~. All the old personal friends of
Mr.. Lincoln were consulted. The
Hon. Issaac n. Ariiold was appointed
her counsel. The Hon. Leonard
SWEET assumed the even more delicate
task of representing the sheriff and
executing the process of the court
After q full investigation; and the
hearing of dozen witnesses or more,
she was adjudged insane by the court,
and subsequently conveyed TO an aSy-
lum, where she will prOpably spend
the remainder of her DAYS.