The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-24
PROVED HERSELF SANE.

tall. stoutly built long haired called at the
Central Office Wednesday night and said that his
name John Long. of West Virginia. He
pressed wish that the police should aid him in his
search for his sister Emma. who had run away from
home four years ago. She was not in her right
mind he said. Officer Mccormack. accompanied by
Long. called at No. IS East Ninth street and found
there the missing young lady. living quietly and
respectfully. She yesterday arraigned before
Justice Kilbreth at the Tombs Court. She was at
tired plainly but neatly and has attractive face.
with blue eyes ana light brown hair. Her speech has
the accent of the South. her manners those of
lady. and her conversation showed her to be edu-
Gated and we'll read Her brother looked rather like
a backwoodsman. He said that the girl native
OF West Virginia; that she had been year in the
State Asylum there. had run away from home four
years ago and lived in Philadelphia two wears. eav
ing suddenly then for New York. Hearing that she
was III this city he came after her. and hoped that
the magistrate would have her mental condition ex-
amined. In answer to this the young lady said that
her mother and father both dead. The latter died
when she was quite young and her mother married
again. Her stepfather had been rich slave owner.
Her br others often treated him with contempt. SO
when he married her mother he said he would make
them suffer for their conduct. He proved she said.
to be drunkard and wife beater, and scenes OF
violence often occurred in their home She said that
now her own arms would show the blows then
inhctel. Defenceless and miserable. she pretended
to be insane, aud had her wishes gratihed when
she sent to the lunatic asylum. There
she remained two years and was then dis
-
mother had died the year before. This was in
1875. AT the first opportunity she ran away and
travelled toward Philadelphia. On the way she met
a Miss Blackman. who on learning her story. took
great interest in her. When they reached that city
Miss Blackman introduced her to the landlady OF
fashionable boarding house, who took compassion
her and kept her for some time as her maid. She
recommended to Christian society who helped
her along in her struggles for maintenance. She
also enlisted the sympathy of the Philadelphia
Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty to
Children, whose president promised her
that II her stepfather tried to have her
arrested insane lie would see that she was de-
Tended by able counsel. She then came on to New
York Her early school training, her years of study
and taste for painting. enabled her make small sums
of money by coloring photographs. writing short
stories for weekly papers and furnishing fashion
articles to out OF town newspapers.
The Justice. after hearing her story decided that
she fully capable of taking care of herself, and
told her she discharged In conversation
with reporters she said that she had found New
York and Philadelphia far better places for a young
girl to live i'll than that part of the country from
which she came. II am entitled to some property
at home" she said. "and they cannot detraud me Of
it by returning me to their lunatic asylum. II am
insane let them have the examination made here by
New York physicians. who are unprecedented.