Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-02-17
PRETERNATUEALLY TICxLED.
A Staten Island wOman's Singular
DelusiOn.
New York Herald !

A Staten Island wOman's Singular
DelusiOn.
New York Herald
Not content with developing a
man who claimed to be Johu the
Baptist, Richmond county has fur
nished another case of insanity,
which, though not as pretentious
in character, is yet scarcely less
strange and interesting. In this
instance the individual who has at
tracted attention by her mental
idiosyncraSies is a woman by the
name of Sarah Joyce, a resident of
the locality known as "Buffalo Cor
ners," Port Richmond, s. |. Miss
Joyce, although she has attained
the age of forty-thrce years, has
thus far retained her patronymic,
and up to the period Of her
insanity was sin maiden medi-
tation fancy Free" She was
born in Ireland, but has for
many years been a resident of
Staten Island. She has all along
been regarded as a woman enjoy
ing mems sana in corpore sano, and
none of her most intimate friends
suspected that she was becoming
the prey to a distressed and appa-
rently incurable afliction. A few
months ago, however, Miss Joyce
began to talk and act in a manner
that indicated some slight aberra-
tion of mind, and this popularity,
instead of passing away, has grown
upon her, until her case was at last
brought to the attention of Drs.
Harrison and Martindale, of Port
Richmond, who, after an examina-
ton, pronounced her insane, and
upon their judgment she was, by
Justice Middlebrook, committed to
the Richmond county poor-house
for care and a further medical ex-
animation.
When interrogated as to the ma
ture of her thoughts and expert
ences, Miss Joyce declared that for
moths past she has been the subject
of a most vigorous and unrelenting
attack or persecution by ghosts or
fantastic demons, who have pur-
sued her by day and by night, rem
dering both her waking and sleeping
hours horrible beyond endurance,
She said while sitting by the window
Of her room sho could often see the
ghostly or demoniac prosecutors
approaching, and there seemed to
be no escape from them, Even
when she would shut down the
Window-sash they would come right
through the panes of glass, aud
that, too, without In the least shiv.
ering these diaphanous obstruc-
tions. From her account, glass is
evidently too thin barrier to the
ghoulish tribe. When asked what
these spirits y9ul4 DO to her, she
answered: "Why, they tickle and
pinch me and stick pins in me until
my side and head ache, Sometimes
they squeeze my head in their hands
until it seems that the top of it will
burst open.f She said further, that
few nights ago a tremendous big
mana real giant-came to her
while sitting in . chair, Just before
retiring for the night, ana said that
he had Just come from Ireland to
punch her in the side, and that,
sgiting his aeti0n to his word, he
proceeded to beat her most cruelty,
until she screamed with the pain.
The young woman who came to her
relief saw, of course, no Brobdig-
nagian Celt in the apartments. nor
any sign That any mad been there.
These are only q few Of the visions
or phaptasmagoria, that were de-
ScrIbed by the poor woman. Her
visions can not be explained on the
| hypothesis of indulgence in strong
drink, for it is stated that the sub
iect was not addicted to imbiblng
ardent spirits. Her case has excited
considerable attention and com.
ment, and the issue of these expe-
riences is looked forward to by
many to whom they are entirely
| ,,a,tr