New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-07
TWO PECULIAR WILL CONTESTS
SIX YEARS IN An ASYLUM


THE QUESTION OF MISS SUSAN DICKIE's INSANITY
ALLEGED CONSPIRACY AGAINST HER--HEI OWN
STORY.
The commission appointed TO inquire into
the alleged nnaey OF Miss Dekic, who has been
for several wears an inmate the BoomIngdae Asylum
without being declared lunatic continued yesterday
its investigations before sheris ary. Patrick DicSe
the father Of Susan Dickie died last November leaving
an estate said to be worth about $9OoOO1
The will. which gives liie-ntorest in one
sixth OF the estate to each OF five children and to
grandson has been offered for probate and is contested
Miss Susan Dicke is of tho FIVE CHILDREN, and the
prrscut investigation Is determine whether she Is
capable OF caring for her property Lewis L. Delateid
who was appointed by the Court to act on behalf OF susan
Dcke takes the position that she was confined IN the
Bloomingdalc Asylum, six years ago. through con-
spraey The testimony offered yesterday Was intended
Mr. Deiafeld cross-examined DR., william II. White,
one Of the physician Oh whose ceftlncae MISS DeAe
sent 20 the asylum he s.'n t..tt ne hH sIt oOln
Daratyely little experience In the treatment OF lnacy,
never having made il specially The examination ina,
he made of Miss Dce when lie gave the certificate did
not last half hour he had az times given certificates
OF insanity in an examination OF hitecn inhl.es ny
opinion OF her insanity was also oaseu oL Nn' nc ~
prryJously known OF her as che family physician. Hs
st thought justified in giving the eert!heaie
He made another examination oI lei III Dseenysr a.,
nj the Asylum. She was very NolenI calHng I'M aGi
every one abOnt her devils and other names de thought
snDan Dcte herself was next placed upon the stand.
urc with small head, round. pale face, tootless se..
aud eyes evidently nearSighlcd, she was very unal.
tractiye, despite her elegant atirc she was 50 dest
thai Mr. Dclafed obliged TO stand at her ear "a
ourshonng her Her age was about thrty-hye. Zoe
couu sought first 70 test her memory ny having hsr
recall the events OF hOr schOo days, heI payEaie-,
her teachers the allowance OF 5000 that er father Sve
her and which said she spent as she chose on clothes
AT stewards or ArnOlds Her mother, she said treated
her as mothers ought 20 do bul her sisters we're ~
fellow She kept scraps or poems that she cut RON
N ,io
said she heard her father aud sister, Mrs Van yiecE
talking about sending her there. She tod tAcI1 tha u
took ner out "for a ride" and before she knew
IL she at the asylum. Her b other EiNaid
her what was unit for to hear. She felt ~
suit d. aud told him she didn't want To see him aesn'
Size could take care OF herself She wouldn't live vita
her brothers ana sssr' vat at " % @
IN the daily newspapers abon the irrHicks case ana
what she thought OF 1t. She said she thought Mr.. Lord
Ms ,ry Moffat friend % Miss Dcke for twenty.
syc EARS was called TO testify to her kno wlegc Of Mis-
Dckies mental condition. In school she said she lad
been an intelligent scholar and she was neat aud modest
nrcuiariiy about her that would lead one 20 Ink her
Insane. After Miss D.ckie Went to the asy,uin the VIZ
wen, with her mother and found Mics Dickie
with grief and with story OF wrong and injustice 'Ias
she SAID had been prac scd upon bier by her iny se
saw her frequently aiterward. but never detected any
mark of insanity. The testimony OF NFs Maria 'i'h'',
the mother OF the last witness was much 10 te sHo
effect. $4,000. ,.o.. o,,,os
Dr. william A. Hammond was the last witness ca,Sa.
He gave the particulars OF an examination on MS
Dcke at bis January 80 1875 To test her IAN
itv HIS first impression OF the woman a. sac eheIta
tue room, that she was unieve0ped DOM ~ ooD
and mind He asked her abrupt questions a. for ~
stance a. Didn't she want 10 be married How would Ie
manage her estate she had control OF IL ana, ldht
sa harser think her intellect feeble TO care Tor
herself To all these she returned apt ana promp,
answers To the last question she repilei mat shc
thought an body would be little feeble IN mihd woo
had fpent six years in asylum among lunaes ne
could not detect scintiia OF evidence OF aDer
ration II MUD Much OF Ber apparent incohereney u
speech was caused by mr. lack Of teeth. At,
I'm the opnlon or Dir. Hammond, the mind OF Miss
Dckis WAS not strong should DC IN the case o
healthy woman Of her ag Dut that she was iu COUPE
tent 10 care for her property he had no doubt enc VIZ
derstood the difference between right and wrong any
was apparently conscientious III the peri0rnaioe "
duty sac would be responsible for egimlUd aeh
When shown letter written by Miss Dieke, Dr hdm
mond said that II was ncoherent aud sueA letter as
nave been written by sane person, under strong exee
ment. ,,.c.n,,c,
The investigation will be resumed on Friday a!eFno0H