The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-17
THE INSANE.
STRANGE FANCIEs OF SOLDIERS WIDOW
KATE FRANCIS MELANCHOLY.

KATE FRANCIS MELANCHOLY.
The many sad vaaaries OF the inmates OF insane
asylums and their various msfortuues illustrated
somewhat In the lew isolated cases gwen below,
which were yesterday disposed OF IN tho Court Of
Common Pleas. II will be seen that. although occa-
s'onal cases like that OF Miss Dicke brought TO
ligh yet there IL vast number OF actually insane
persons at present incarcorated In the different
ssylums In the city and an equally largo number
who daily wander aimlessy through the streots ard
avenues Of our great city.
DEAD SOLDIERS WIDOW.
Among the arst OF those uniortuaalcs is Ann Cas-
kns, whose behalf Rose Doan presented petition
In the Court OF Common Ploas for commission de
unatco inqurendo IN which sho stated that the said
Ann Gaskns had been for the last years and now
Is confirmed lunatic; that she Ii the widow OF Pat
rick Gsskins who was private IN Company Il, 1881
regiment, New York Volunteers ana who died in the
United States service July l3 1868. and
by reason thereof his widow obtains q pen
sion Of So per month from tho government
and that tho pension undrawn to the extent Of $72
The petitioner who Is the sister OF the supposed
lunatic still further says that she has saved de-
posted In savings bank $40 from previous collcc-
lions Of pension which she has retained 10 pay
funeral expenses OF tho supposed lunatic Of
her death. These sums comprise all her s,stcr's
property except tho iuture pension, as long she
remains widow aud that ~ order TO obtain further
pension II Is necessary that committee oil her estate
be appointed Following this petition Two
smdavts' ono made by Dr. William w.
York city Lunatic Asylum on Backwei's
Island, anu the other by Bernard Doan. The former
states that Ann Gaskins was an inmate OF the asylum
mentioned, where she was admitted the 10Th Of
October, 1866. Sue has uelusi0ns; mag nee that
will be inut dered; is NOISY and excabie. The form
oil her insanity Is chrome mania. amd the prospect OF
her ultimate recovery Is doubtful She has OCCASIONS
Of exctabhiiy without apparent cause, screams from
a ~ nj MAJ uAhse Inn hat
She Is proper subject for and treatment
IN an insane asylum, being wholly unit tor the gov
statements and says that she frequently sees people
passing the asylum who have been dead Tor years.
details Conversations with him.
Judge Van Hoesen yesterday donied motion for
leave 10 proceed IN lorna paupers.
IMAGINARY MILLIONS.
commission WAS also ordered by Judge
Robinson IN the case o! Patrick Rel ly, u sup
posed iunatic DR.. Macdonald, the med zeal superin-
tendent Wards Island, says That the patient ON
his admission TO tho asylam, showed him ring
which was worth cent, and said his son gave il
~ him. ana that It was werth $500 600 He also ln-
AGNES himself doctor, and says he Is graduate Of
q college IN Dublin. He Is very stupid, and SITS
the Same bench from morning til night George
Kuher states that Rey's manner, ACTIONS ana Iun.
saage all bstoken mental unsoundness. As will
cautiously show them, saying they are dia-
monds tie will do the same with pieces
~ wealthy aud that hrs wealth consists OF these worth
less stones H0 also says that Queen Victoria Is his
sister. AT DINER times he will say that she IL his
cousin anu that ne Is going TO oe married TO her and
again that Sue Ia his wife. He will alao say that no
is momentary expecting the arrival OF ship which
belongs 10 him, roghted with $751; 200 900 ~ gold. AZ
times when asked his name he will reply George
Washington" at others, "the King OF England"
The petition upon which the commission Is gran tod
was presented by the wife oil the supposed iunatic
Mary Ruey, VINO said that her husbands sole prop
erty IL pension OF 30, on account VI gunshoL wound
received by hun WINE private IA Company n OF the
sixty.ninth regiment, New York Volunteers, during
similar commission WAS ulso granted In the case
OF Kate Francis, upon the petition Of Catharns
Francis, an aunt vi the supposed unatc. She States
that Kate has been Tor long Lime iDmale OF tue
Blooming dae Asylum ana IS totally upht to manage
her aiiars. Dr. II. Nichols says that
suffering from meianchoa, with an apparent ten
dency 10 dtmcntla; that she Is strongly disposed
retcence aud seclusIon, 10 neglect her personal APP
pearance and comfort aud 10 decline almost all prof.
ers Ut Kind Offices ny the officers and attendants Of
the asylum that Al time she refused until II
became necessary 10 ieed her coercivey; that she
seems 10 bs suspicious OF evii intent toward her
the part OF yearly every about her, aud that she
eviuenty suffers more or loss rom hailucnatOns OF
siaht aud hesring Catnarine Francis. IN u iurther
aiGavit, says that Kate inagipes thut she discI-
pie whose mission Is ~ fight and labor Tor al tno
oppressed.
OTHER UNPoRTUHArEs
In tho matter vi the nnal accounting OF the Anna
Klein committee OF Appoiona Klein, a lunatIc, the
reLort Of tho referee was yesterday confirmed by Judge
Robinson aud the balance OF Tue iunalic's estate,
after paying necessary EXPENSES ordered 10 be- paid
over 10 the Public Admin istraIor.
In the matter OF Joshua Is. Gates, a Iunatic. VINO
diod last May, Judge Van hoesen, upon application,
entered an order passing the accounts OF The
sureties.
AN ,nquis,tion was also rcturpube in the Court of
Connie Pleas IN The case OF Charity Elzs Derive, VINO
has been for long time confined In tue Home IOr
lucurables ut Fordham. The iDquisitUn simply ro-
laes to the property OF he lunac aud does
her peculiar form o. insanity.