The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-06
MRS. PACKARD'S HARDSHIPS.
sINE WOMEN Nv AZ ILLINOIS ASYLUM
ron THE INSANE
One who has been n vietIr, Moving for Re
form In Our Laws Relating 90 Women aud
ChlIdrcn-A Ease Most VIvtdIy Stated.

Chiidren-A Ease Most vIvidiy stated.
Pm, u, h,ian,JoY Hnd
Mrs. T.. 7. W. Packard Is 81 years OF age
Sho Is still nn'-look ing woman. with gentle
manners. aud degree OF energy rarely found
in much younger women She is original al
most TO quantncsa: she is picture from a
past decade. n personality from n departed
era of conscicntiousness and high moral roc
titude The impression she makes Is that
sho is pcrson worthy OF entire respect. She
was tho wifi OF the l,ev. Thoophus Packard
originally II Congregntionalist. but eventually
Presbyterian of the blucst tint. n Cavinist Of tho
highest degree and scvercst creed. who ut tho
timeof her forcblc incarceration in n hospital
Tor the insane. had charge Of n Presbyterian
church in Munteno Kankakcc County. Illinois.
There It was that Mrs. Packard became the Vie
lin Of tho unjust law which allows n married
woman no personal liberty or individual rights
Invc those accorded hor 10y her husband. Her
ltory Is striking illustration ~ the legal disa-
bilities Of insane and married women.
Mrs. Packard had bNcn educated u Calvlnist
OF the stricest sect. but gradually. by reason OF
hscicntthc edncntioni gnd ne natural bt9aden-
suit OF conscientious thought. she WIS led to
nccept theological views ~, conflict with the
lal dcpravity she utterly rejected believing that
II con6icted with tho dictates Of rcnson com
pcmber Of "A gourishng Bible class in
her husband,s church. and although de-
" luluk lot uFThflls WIS NknOWl-
edged by both her friends and enemies TO
DO n truly pious and Christian WON an She
the claas. bringing TO IT, us she did. fresh ideas
and tolerant views. But some rigidly righteous
membcrs OF the church ioresaw IN this license
Of free inquiry serious detriment tn the church
crced. They. communicated their fears To- the
Rev. Mr.. Packard. and he immediately, detor-
Ting his wife into an asylum for the insane n
That would destroy her moral influence. and
pnahlc him to protect tho cause of Christ. He
knew she was not insane" md to her he did
not for an nstlnt pretend that he thought she
was. but knew TINT tho law us il then WIS did
pot allow married women and infants an iden-
lty. but permitted husbands and guardians TO
inprison them without trial.
Mrs. Packard was the mother OF six children,
The Youngest being only eighteen months old
sEJh se she was flung into an asylum. H. juno.
toilet her husband. accompanied by two ply
sicians both members Of his church. and the
Sheriff, forced hor door with an axe. The two
physicians folt her pulse. and. without asking
4 single question. pronounced her insane.
had Tho forms Of law" as the law existed
had been complied with. Her husband ordered
hhe dressed herself and he had her carried to
the care. She had many friends who never had
for hor. the law not demanding any trial before
compliment in tho case OF married women.
Her husband. when entrcatcd to allow her lib
Il am doing ns the laws Of Illinois allow me
70 want 10 snvo your epuL You don't be-
Hove ~ total dopravity. and want to make YOU
right"
Tho. law usually defends all cltIzcns Of
State. but Mrs. Packard WIS not citiZcn-she
WINS married woman a legal nonentity with
out soul in law The law. az 1t then existed
In Illinois, was this
Married aud infant. who In the judgnc nj of the
medical supe rntsndort meaning the surrniendcnt ~
s o nav s S err T1n'H ,"ST or H
the request o the husband OF the or guardian
In other c@sss ''' '"'''''' '''''''u
Mrs. Packard was lodged in the asylum In
Ih'ks9nville. The cause OF Christ was de-
Tended By tho impris onmcnt Of n helpless wo-
man, Mrs Packard says Of tho departure Of
the Rev. Theonhilus from tho asylum: Never
had seen his face moro radiant with Joy than
when ne looked up TO me. as stood before the
mo kissns from the ends Of his fingers and
bowed to ne his happy edieus.' ,,.,,
blrs. Packard's sanity. were finally silonccd
by ministerial and church influence. which
%as 700 strong ,4r Opposition ana also by ne
had the law on his side
tcr four months Mr.. Packard gas treated
The superintendent ~ tho hospital. She was
allowed to 20 out whenever she pleased. and
q other patients for drive into tho country
She was surprised to find so many perfectly
Sane PATIENTS IN her wayd the most OF them be-
ing married women who had been thrust into
the asylum by strategy and force.
e f sSw s Shy bs %Gntsscd ana
nddre-s written exposiuint.on TO DIR. McFar-
land. That settled her fate. She was immo-
datcy transferred TO one Of the most violent
wards, and ivory article that could add to her
cou.fuit WEE taken from hor. even to scraps OF
papcr Sho discovered the startling fact that
society and The law permitted the insane aud
Pie sane who Were within tho walls Of an nsy-
lum 10 be- treated rs having no rights which
any ono IL bound 10 respect. She could not
even send or receive n letter. OF this sho said:
eatnbishol within this public Institution. and
thc mnil carrier transported It regularly, pro-
INTO II nor ect one from II. although directed
10 me-
After Mrs Packard mad spent three years I'm
iii a. nod huf firm AfNna.
lo pay It visit in short time She asked DR..
Mrlnrlnnd's perm ss.on To- " Are a few guns
wa chccrfuly granted the Doctor apprchend-
ing no rr-nt from such n liccnse the trustees
being Hll talvinists and the Chairman a mem
Der Of the Presbyterian Synod OF tho United
iS NtS4tc Ihe Doctor gave ,. her paper, and she
th"m strong. sho prepnrod another paper.
WINCH Sh" r'ncealod about her person, detail
ing the recount Of her Kidnapping and incar-
cerniion. and appealing for liberty. The trus-
tee in 'rpsscd by her paper on Calyinism, gave
hor permission to read tho other, Then
thoy Pronounced her sanc. and ordered her re-
tutI e. hsr husband. This was done. and In a
few days the loyal ' Defender Of Christ shut
her NJ ~ room in her own home, and made
preparation for sending her to an asylum in
Marsnfhusotls. But several residents In Man
tcnp gut out viii Of habeas corpus. and de-
manded that she should have n trial by Jury
The trial proved her sanityi but while it was
and, taking all his children. quit tho place
MIS-. Packard wis nine years in getting pos
session Of her children. and has earned her
thai time. She has ~ lceeded IN having laws
protecting the personal liberty and property OF
married women, md ia prosecuting the work
o. procuring the enactment OF laws in all tho
States which will protect tho Inmates OF asy-
luns for the Insane and married women from
the abuse Of autocratic power
The wire that Victoria Does not Recognize.
FROM he Cii,,g3 J1,nuaL
l.0SpoN, Dec H.. You will be SURPRISED TO
hrar my me ,marrlng" to take place between
The "N-king II llnnoyerand tho Princess Thyra