Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-03-30
WOULDN'T EAT.
Death or a Lunatic Who Had Sur.
vived over Two Months
without En0d


Louisville CourierJournal
Miss Anna Maria Hermann. who
was sent from this city to the county
poor asylum sixty-twe days ago, died
In that institution yesterday of starva-
ton. Miss Hermann, it will be re-
membered, lived at No. Ill Walnut
street, Jacksonville, for a couple of
years, and nothing peculiar was noticed
ABOUT her excepting her odd manner of
dressing. She lived all alone in an attic.
paid her rent promptly, but never associ-
ated with or called upon her nsighbors.
permitting no one to enter her room or
have any conversation with her. Miss
Hermann was particularly averse to
men, and it is said this aversion was
caused by disappointment in early life.
having been engaged to marry Luth-
eran minister, who afterward Tilted
her. Miss Hermann was a lady of
superior intelligence, a native of Ger
many, and for a time taught the
language in this city to few Young
ladies. One day last January she
suddenly became violently insane, and
was arrested by the police. She re-
quested the arresting oficer to kill her,
as she desired to go to heaven with nut
delay. When this was refused her
she determined to die by starving
herself. She was sent to the insane
department of the Clark county poor
asylum, near Charlestown. The visit
ing physician and the superintendent
used every effort in their power to
induce her to partake of food, but to
no purpose. One day shortly after her
arrival at the asylum she ate portion
OF an apple, but since that time the
superintendent AYERS that she partook
OF 20 food whatever. She would drink
little water once day for while, but
lately had been unable to retain water
on her stomach. Many persons have
doubted the statement of the superin-
tendent, Mr.. George w. Baldock.
to the effect that she had tasted
during the time stated, but as he is a
very responsible and truthful gentle
man his statement can not be success.
fully contradicted. He said to a Cou-
r-Journal reporter: 81 am certain
she has not taken drop of water or a
morsel of food without my knowledge.
Frequently we would place food be-
side her at night and it would remain
unaisturbed. Sometimes we would
put some nOurishment in the water,
but she would spit it out as soon as it
touched her lips. She would drink
nothing but pure water, and 1 am posi-
tive that during the sixty-two days she
remained in the asylum nothing was
given her but what 1 have stated"
For two weeks past Miss Hermann
has been greatly reduced in strength.
but retained her senses up to the last.
She conversed intelligently on Tues
day, and when a doctor called to see
her, she remarked: 81 did not send TO-,
you, and, as you are intruding, 1 wish
you would retire." From a very stout
person weighing more than two hun
dred pounds, she was reduced to about
eighty, and the little flesh which clurg
to her bones was almost mortified, hav.
ing turned blue. In the last few DAYS
hundreds of persons have called at the
asylum to see her, many of them liv-
ing far away. 1t is certainly remark
able case, and is probably the longest
fast ever accomplished by any person
in this country. Miss Hermann's re-
mains will probably be taken care of
by one her relatives who lives in Lou.
isville. She was 81 years of age.