The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-08
THE RELEASE OF MRS. PIPER
HER EXPERIENCES IN FORT HAMILTON
INEBRII TES' HOME



Overcoming an Appetite Developed After .
Physician had Prescribed Liquors y udge
Gilbert satIsned that she 10 Cured.
Mrs. Sarah Van Dyke Piper, the young
widow of tho late Capt james W. Piper. OF the
Fifth United States Artillery, WINS before Judge
Gilbert in Brooklyn. yesterday afternoon. on
her application to DO discharged from the Fort
Hamilton Inebriatcs Home. whore she was sent
In June last. under an order Of tho Supreme
Court. which also appointed rs n committee on
her person and estate her unclc Major Francis
L. Dorcr. Mrs. Piper Ia socially vol connected.
and when her husband was alive was accus-
toned to many luxurics. spending her SUM
mors In tho Watering places and hor winters
wherever her husband was stationed
After Capt Piper's death she was seized
with nervous proetration. and hor physi-
clans prescribed alcoholic drinks which
rapidly developed in her an appetite for
drink. and when she was ordered TO be sent
10 the lnebriates' Home sho was suffering from
dclirium trcmens. but after sho recovered sho
rcft scd to taste liquor. oven when her appetite
was tempted by II. Sho was pronounced cured
several months ugo. but her committee was op-
posed to hor discharge and when Supcrintend-
eni Willctts urged upon Major Borior that she
should bo removed. the Major said that he
she was sent to some Protestant or Catholic In
stiution usually the refuge for fallen women.
Mr.. Willctts swcars that her uncle showed n
disposition 10 restrain Mrs. Piper OF her liberty
not only because Of her alleged predispnsltiun
10 indulge in strong drink, but because she WIS
volatile and frivolous In her department. Major
bcricr. 1t IL also deposcd. threatened To- send
her t. nm asylum for the insane. and SO fright
cned Mrs. Piper that she sent for two physi-
clans To pnss upon her mental condition. 81 that
Bho could have a defence ready In case the eX-
ecuton Of this threat WINS attempted. In let
ton. ID. C., by the brother of Mrs Piper John NJ
Ross. in Jan. II, 1879, he says
a. fear mr. mind has been 50 affected that she Is more
tor an insane than an iuchustc asylum.
SupnrntnndentWillctts and the Resident Ply
eician Of the home DR.. Lewis ID. Mason, were
both IN favor Of Mrs. Piper's release before
Christmas. Her uncle took possession OF all
her property. amounting To siis. and drew tho
pension of s24 month which came TO her from
tho GoVrrnment because she WINS an officers
widow. Ho uaid her board out Of the money
and Kept the remainder for her. Mr. Willetts
convinced OF her being cured. gave her liberty
ilton. In her social Intercourse there she made
many friends. and won the affections Of ono
gentleman especially more than OF others. and
mus Internationally started movement for
The afilayiis submitted to tho Court in her
behalf we're from Superintendent Willetts and
DIR. Mason. who pronounced her cured and
Possessed OF strong VIII power TO abstain from
the use OF liquor. Two fricnds WHO met her
frequently nt he Wnrm Springs In Perry Cuun-
". Pa. in 1876. before her husbands death in
October OF that wear. Submitted allavts ms 10
her gentle and r. fined behavior The sister OF
her husband submitted au All lavit that Major
Berior WINS unit t. b. the committee OF Mrs.
Piper. Mrs. Piper. In her own behalf sworo
that after the unfortunate results ~ her follow
ing the advice OF physicians in taking liquor
as medicine. she had recovered from her nppc-
tlte Tor strong drink. mud WIS now ahlo To all
stan from It's use. and never expected to- return
TO II. She swOrc that nearly every time that
her committee visited her he was more or less
under the influence Of liquor. aud WIS irrilnblo.
alleged threats to put her in a Mta,dulcn Asv-
lum ana an asylum for the insane. which she
SAYS " re- unjust uSp"rsiOnS upon her Oh 81 rnc-
Ter. She also swcars that she believed Major
Berler intended 10 keep her IN restraint. not
alone for the cure of her disease or t,.ipuernry
habit. but to keep her from all further enjoy
ment 81 iii" and society. and she had been in
formed that he was taking proceedings to have
her p'rmnnrn'ly committed to the Home.
Judge q lbert " strrday personally examined
Or. lewis ID. Mason. the resident physician Of
the Home. who swore that Mrs Piper WINS not
only cured OF her habit but that to test hor
power 10 resist temptation to drink he had
prescribed liquor for her. and she would not
take IL.
Mr-. prer. in her own behalf. responding TO
Judge Gilberts questions said that she was 3
years ul age. that since her recovery. I'm July
1875, she hal not taken a drop Of liquor, and
MAJ felt no ihrIiuatlOn 10 take II. For nearly
three weeks she had hal her liberty pcnding
every restraint ShO had not touched any
liquor, and shs did not think that she would
ngnin ever drink drop
dudg" Gilbert snd that he believed Mrs.
Dis hnrging her from the Iurhrntcs' Home.
Her IN d" then agreed t. restore to her all the
Property which had come into his I0-- a-spn.
Mrs. flpcr has two sons. asod Ii and years.