The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-10
IS SHE 4 IUNfTIC?
Queer Procec ding. In the Inquiry Concerning
Mrs. sprasue's Mental Condition.

The commission appointed by the Supreme
Court Of Kings county to try the question Of the
lunacy of Mrs. Annie Sprague. formerly Miss
Annie Pope, heircss to an estate worth about
100000. took further testimony in the Supreme
Court. Chambers. yesterday. The young lady,
who is twenty -four years old. was accompanied
10y her husband. Benjamin Spraguc. a Hell
Gate pilot. to whom she was married on May
last. Her mother. Hannah Pope. who appears
as tho petitioner. was surrounded with friends
from Bay Ridge. whore tho family live Mrs.
Sprague was formerly the wife Of Patrick Ed
ward Jeffrey. but her marriage was annullcd
bccuuse Of her insanity. After her marriage
10 Mr.. Spraguc. Mrs Popc was advised 10
got committee appointed for her. To-
prevent her signing away her property to her
husband. Mr. Sprague claims that his movc-
mcnts were watched 50 that his wife could be-
served with the order in his absence up the
Sound. and Judgment be- taken by default
against her. lie visited New York on Monday
last and finding that there were no vessels
ready ior him. he returned home. unexpectedly
to his wife, and there found that she was
ordered tp appear at ~ session of the commits
sion on the ncAt day. 90 defend nm action in
which her SAN " WIS To hr tried. The trial was
before a Sherls Jury. Dompos' I'll Of such men
rs u deputy could collect about the Court House
4 sinsumr feature OF the cuse was that Mr.
Walter Thorne, the Deputy Sherl1 whose duty
10 was To pirk the Jury. uupeared as uns Of the
touu~Nl Tor Mrs. INp", tup petitioner Mrs
Sprpgu"'- counsel wer' Obliged to accept the
jury H. their oppus g. counsel presented them
Mrs. Spragur WIS the chief witness yesterday
Sh" testified calmly. nnd with marked solf-pos-
'ssion. she Il. MED thnt tn the day OF her mar
riagn she SAID that shp uld not ear' Tor her hus-
luhd, us a previous tn - mad testified. or
thit she ever hovrrri about the waters edge
rNpr ting to commit suicide. She snii that he-
tore this action WAS h"-un a lawyer employed
~ her mother pr ssntei her papers TO sign. hut
she refused. When asked hy the couns"
whether sh" could read and write. she said she
could dc both. Stepping to the strnographer's
desk. II took up a pen and wrote On Il slip of
paper. am lunhtlck, ana PASSED II 10 the
jury She said that she was perfectly able 10
had talked To- her husband about the onse. but
shr never had spoken to him about Transferring
her property tp him.
The iurv were charged by DR.. A. J. Perry Of
the commission. While they were delihrrnilng
the counsel who had picked the Jury pre-
Sprngue to be Of unsound mind and unfit to
govern herself or manage her own Affairs This
III" cOmniss toner's signed. the Jury not having
yet returned their verdict. The Jury found IA
follows. Annie Sprague. or Annie Pope. Is
not mentally qualified 10 manage her own al
fairs
some % the members u the Jury objected 10
calling the girl q lunntic or Of saving that she
WIS unfit TO govern herself. The counsel for
tn" petitioner thought tAHi the verdict WAS not
In accordance with law. and they and the COM
ms-iou"rs fixed up the form Of n verdict be-
tween them, which the jury adort"d and signed
II was that Annie Pope was ot unsound mind
erty. The counsel Tor Mrs. Sprague Will OPP
pose the confirmation ol the report. Mrs
SprAgu". her husband. and her mother all live
under the same ruOi at Bay Ridge.