The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-28
THE CASE OF MRS. GLEASON.
PICKED UP IN THE STREET AND
SENT TO AN ASYLUM.
The Former wife OF n Millionaire and the
Once Belle ofthe Mctropoiis-B urried 10 the
Island and Tortured In n straight Jacket.

The Former wife OF n Millionaire and the
Once Belle ofthe Metropolis Burried 10 the
Island and Tortured In n straight Jacket.
mans inhumanity to man makes count
less thousands mourn" "Take that for your
text" said a city ofrcisi. "wben you write the
story OF Mrs. Waffle Annie Gleason. The HIS
tory Of her life would bring within It's compass
the names Of those upon whom America has
placed her brightest Rarlands. She Is the only
daughter Of judge Sleeper Of Belfast. Me. Two
Of her brothers live In that city. one In Chicago.
and the youngest has cast his lot In California.
Waffle Sleeper married MIR. John T. Gleason.
Her husband had ample means by inheritance.
but lacking n practical knowledge Of the world,
he became an easy prey TO all who professed
friendship. Something over twenty-five wears
ago Mr.. Gleason and wife iourDeyed to this city.
His wealth and her beauty made a 1utter In 80
complete without the presence Of Mrs. Glea-
son. The most notable In the land
Webster. Clay, Chase. Cahoun.all bowed
womanbood. wnen the Prescott House was
opened, some twenty years ago, Mrs. Gleason
She took under her care two nieces, and gave
to them all that her wealth and position could
afford One now rests In Greenwood the other
Is The wife Of we lthy resident OF BROOKLYN.
Mr.. CLEMSON W his careless improyinent pro, way
gradually lost his pr1pert; In 1851 a he wa, s.t
veyor OF the port OF Port Royal, when that har-
Dor was taken from the Confeoerates, Return
was given a position in the Custom House at
salary SUFFICIENT to sustain himself and wife In
moderate comfort. Unfortunately his health
broke down aud death soon lett Mrs. Gleason a
widow.
forsaken, sne strove TO face the world alone.
Year after year she struggled on-hrst this piece
Of jewelry. then that dress-to meet the weekly
requirements. until her grand wardrobe was ie-
duced to the simple apparel OF woman over
| taken by poverty. she appealed to frienus OF q
gone diy, but In the majority OF Instances her
appeal WAS In VAIN
"why was Mrs. Gleason sent to the asylum
for lunatics 2"
IAN | know about It is this: On the 3lst Of
October Mrs. Gleason came to my ONCE, and
said she owed SIS board to Mrs. JACK 10 Forty
else her baggage was to be seized aud herself
| turned into the streets. She brought me that
| day very rare anu valuable book, requesting
that would raise money on II to pav her board.
| She was very much excited: her mind seemed
| to be wandering, so mucn 80 that had my clerk
been In should have attended her home. Tho
next heard OF her she was In the asylum on
Biackwells Island. Sue had been much abused,
and her Dodv showed the marks OF ill-treaiment.
What occurred uefore she reached the Island
40 not know except from hearsay, bu ! In
quired into her treatment in the asylum.
She placed among the lunatics on
her arrival, and soon afterward one Of them
attacked her, tearing the dress from her shoul-
der and sinking the nails into her hesh. She
was not removed from among these lunatcs.
aud few days afterward the same one who had
torn her shoulder struck her on the head with
o chair with sucn force as to render her uncon-
| sciuus. A lazy friend having accidentally as
| certainsd that She was in the asylum, prorered
protection and care and demanded her release"
Mrs. Gleason. on gong from the once In Mas
ssu street, took car. Intending to return TO her
home In Forty second street. On the way she
missed her shawl. The excitement and tho loss
combined rendered her almost frantic. she
Jumped from the car, strained her ankle, and,
not knowing whittier she went, wandered I'M
broadway. where she was found by policeman
bitterly bemoanine her ioes. Sne taken TO
the Mercer street police station aud ex mined
by DIR. Doran. Subsequently an ambui nee
was sent for. and under certificate
of insanity from DR.. Doran she was
sent TO Bellevue Hospital. there she was re-
ceived BY tue mstron In charge OF the wards for
tine Insane, Mrs. Margaret McArdle. who pro-
| ceeded to apply the most extreme measures.
Jacket applied 30 Mn. GleAson's body. Her
| iewelry. ABOUT the value of which there seems
70 be a difference OF oiinion, was taken from
her. aud she says she was struck upon the head.
For si1 DAYS she Laid 10 .his cell, and from
Tue reporter yesterday asked Warden
o kourke for the pagers IN this case. g ny
bulance certificate OF Dr. Di.brow ana the en-
tTy on our books that Mrs. Glcuson Was sent 10
the island"
/" Have you no commitment"
NO; the commitment comes on the certin-
Gates Of the phN scians that she Is insane; that
paper we send win tue rerson To the island.
"1nen the original proceeding against a luna
tic In your charge commences ona commitment
To the sylumf
:" suppose So Tho Commissioners Of Chari-
ties and Correction have appoiut ed two physi-
cans In lunacy-Dr. Hrekes and DIR. Smith.
Thei decision is fnai with me-"
suppose person wasn't insane and they
said he was, what thenf'
"On. but they wouldn't, because they know"
"Then mems Incarceration IN a lunatic asy-
lum depends upon the knowledge-to say moth
ing Of ihe good will oftwo phy ysicians appointed
by the CummssiOnsrsF
"Well. that's the custom and that's the law"
The reporter found Mrs. NJ irgdret McArdle.
"IoI mad cnaree of Mrs. Gle sonY'
"les, out never tOuk thing from her that
did not account for All sbe had was pinch
beck jewelry and 500 IN money!
"She says you maitreated her"
she w.s violent aud 20 put straight
Jacket on her. You know this Is hard to do,
ana had to call ia man TO help me-"
Dr Brekes. one Of the physicians appointed
by the Commissioners, when asked whether he
had authority to commit persons to the insane
asylum, said 1T mas been the practice for mo
to examine these patients FIRST then for DIR.
Smith to DO likewise; II we agree acommitment
to the lunatic asylum Is made out, to whicn we
both concur. 1t Is then presented To- one Of the
Judges, and they approve II without further
question"
Are you sure that no Judge questions the le-
0alItv OF sucn pfOceedinesf
"Well, Donohue, rreu, and McAdam al
ys approve without question Judges DAILY,
Sheridan, and Aiker object on the grounds that
such commitment is illeya"
Mrs. Gleason has been released from the
Island and Is now IN invalid in a friends house
In FiIth avenue.