The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-12
ACCUSING THEIR MOTHER.
TWO SONS MAKING hFETDATIT TO MRS.
M'1D.IMS'S INSANITY.
The Domestic Troubles Of n brooklyn Inven-
tor-First Sued by his wife for Divorce. and
then Trying to Have Her Declared Insane,

The Domestic Troubles Of n BrooLiyn Inven.
tor-First Sued by hi. wife for Divorce, and
then Trying to Have Her Declared Insane.
Mrs. Louisa II. McAdams OF 210 Nostrand
avenue. Brooklyn recently sued her husband
John McAdams. the well-known inventor OF
paging and paper ruling machines for divorce.
alleging cruelty to herself and her daughters.
There were six children in tho family. The
three daughters supported their mother. and
the three sons supported their father. The
latter published card declaring that thor
mother was insane. and that hor charges pro-
ceedcd from disordered mind. The daugh-
ters. In a published card. denied this. and
maintained that their mothers accusations
against tholr father wero Just. The City Court
ordered Mr.. McAdams to pay largo alimony TO
his wife. and on his failure to do so. an order
was made directing his arrest and imprison-
ment for contempt OF court Before tho order
was entered Mr.. McAdams quilted tho State and
went to New England to spend the summer.
An application was made 30 Justice Pratt OF tho
Supreme Court yesterday for tho appointment
OF n commission de lundtico inguirendo in tho
case Of Mrs. Louisa II. McAdams. The petition
was signed by her son. William A. MICA dams.
who alleged that his mother was deprived OF
her reason. and was unfit to govern herself.
The AFFIDAVIT OF George f. McAdams another
son. rccitcd that his mother had suffered for
thirteen years from alienation Of mind. and in
1863 she was. confined in tho Kings County
Asylum for tho Insane. She. ho alleges. fire.
guently visited her husbands factory at 52S
Kent avenue. abused him and her sons. spat In
their faces. and abused the customers. She
threatened To burn the house. She accused her
nusuanb %, having murdrrfd MS ilrst VILE and
same in different parts Of the country. She
declared that sho led Beochcr's church, and said
mat II did her good 10 abuse her husband and
her children.
Once she caught n roach. md. holding II be.
tween her fingers. threw It at her husband, say
ing. | will make you kick like that before
get through with you" She would stand with
folded arms for from fifteen to twenty minutes
at Ia limo glaring at her husband. and then. call
Ing him and her children vile names. sud
denly break into hymn and end in violent fit
OF laughter. She would steal up behind her
youngest son. aged 10. with poker or some
other weapon in her hand. and threaten to kin
him. and She accused him Of cutting a limb off
she hoped some dreadful accident would hap
pen to her. Sho hid tho food about the house.
room. She occasionally followed her husband
from the house to tho shop. using vile names
peatedly called his attention to q woman
In black who. she said was standing on
the TIC coTner opposite her house. sho once went
10 do her bodily harm. frightening her so that
she fed. She called upon Mrs. Blackely. a
delicate state Of health. and. although she too,
was a str.u ger. she began TO abuse her. and
thtrAtencl TO nave her hearts blood and 80
frightened her that she Mrs Blackoyl fled into
the back yard and escaped over u high fence.
doing herself bodily injury. Then Mrs. Nc.
Adams stood in front of tho house warning
strangers against It. and behaved 50 that 1t was
necessary for tho police to restrain her. She
frequently awoko In the dead of night and
screamed at the top Of her voice. accusing her
husband OF attempting to smother or poison
her.
Justice Pratt. on reading the affidavit, APP
pointed Frank CroOke counsellor: J, 5.
Young. physician. and u, H.. Wheeler Esq,
gentleman. rs cemms- to determine the
mental condition OF Mrs. McAdams.
Mrs. McAdams lives with her daughters and
Is defended by them as being wholly sane.