Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-12-15
THELATE MRS. CHRIsTIANCY

As stated in yesterdays GAZETTE, Mrs.
Lizzie Christancy, the divorced wife of ex-
Senator Christancy, died a lunatic Thurs
day morning at the residence of DR.. Joseph
inc A. Dupre, Brooklyn. The lady, whose
maiden name was Lugenbeel, left the home
of her parents at Washington about month
ago for the purpose Of visiting q former
schoolmate, the daughter of a Boston cler-
gyman, then boarding at No. 80 Schermer-
horn street, Brooklyn. She arrived in that
city safely, but found upon reaching her
friends boarding house that she could not
be Accommodated there owing to lack of
room Her friend, knowing that Mrs. DR..
Dupre had q spare room, visited the Doctor
and secured it. Mrs. Christiancy was in
troduced under the name of Miss Lizzie
Lugenbee. By her sweet disposition and
engaging manners she not only gained d
friend in the person of the Doctor but won
the respect and esteem Of the inmates Of
the adjoining house. She had occupied the
room at the Doctors house about two weeks
| when she became troubled with sleepless
| ness. She would pace up and down her
room the greater part of the night and day.
Her eyes appeared to be affected and a we'll
known oculist was called in.
| After making two or three visits he in
formed DR.. Dupre, who was also i'll at the
time, that he believed Miss Lugenbeel was
the divorced wife of ex-senator Christiancy
and that she was suffering mentally, and
that her suffering was, in all probability,
brought about by the exciting scenes through
which she had passed. When the patient
was subsequently questioned she acknowl-
edged that the Doctor was right in his
suspicious She said that during the
great trial prominent physician of Wash
| ington prescribed chloral for her and she
had found it necessary to continue its use.
She was therefore permitted to use it in
small quantities. Her nervousness increas-
ed, however, and ut times she became very
melancholy. On Sunday last she appeared
| to be more restless than usual. She entered
the dining room while the Doctor was at
breakfast and said that people were talking
about her, and that she thought that the
Doctor might possibly be influenced by
them and put her out of the house. The
Doctor succeeded in quieting her and per-
suaded her to go to her room. Instead Of
passing up the basement stairs she went out
| into the street and re-entered the house by
the upper hall door. The following day she
appeared to be more quiet in her manner.
On Tuesday, although still troubled with
restlessness and loss of appetite, she APP
peared to be calmer. After remaining III
her room for some time she sent for her
friend the Doctor, but before the latter
had time to reach the room she had
dressed herself and left the house Before her de-
parture she Informed the servant that she intend
! ed visiting some friends. As she remained away
| all night Dr. Duprc became ANXIOUS about her.
| Early in the morning, however, a carriage con-
tanning Mrs. Christausy drove to the front of the
house Her condition was then that of an insane
| .,,,l o{1nr nlta inn shn worry
| violent in her manner. Obtaining possession of a
| hammer she attacked the servant with it, and
would have severely injured the girl had she not
been restrained. She finally persuaded by
| Dr. Duprc TO 20 to bed. She continued to grow
worse until early Thursday morning, when she
| died in great agony.
There were present in the room at tue time her
former schoomatc, DR.. Dupre and several other
| physicians. While rational she would speak to
| those about her of the great troubles she had
passed through, and said that they had almost
| killed her. Within 4 short time after her death
| Dr. Duprc sent telegram to the father of Mrs.
| Christiancy, who is employed in the Treasury De-
| partment ut Washington, and Thursday evening
Mr. and Mrs. Lugcnbecl arrived in Brooklyn.
They were completely prostrated by grief.
Early in the day the body was embalmcd and
| Thursday night an autopsy was held. There were
four physicians present three male and one female,
but their names were withheld. As the result of
| the AUTOPSY it was stated that Mrs. Christiancy s
death was directly CauStu Dy bright ulscdSc.
The brain trouble it was said, was not sufficient
to cause death. At first it supposed that death
| was the result of opium poisoning. Mrs. Christi
ancy was twenty-ninc years Old
Probably woman in this country for the
past generation has had her life filled with more
| romance and sorrow than the life of tho diseased
lady. She was born in Alexandria, Va, twenty
eight years ago. Her father was Mr.. John W. Lu-
| genbecl, and her mothers maiden name was Miss
Simpson. She passed her early life in Virginia and
| Maryland and came into the social world beau
tiful and accomplished woman, upon whom ma
ture had bestowed gifts with q lavish hand. She
moved to Washington in 1874, and secured .po'
sition in the bureau of engraving and printing.
She met Senator Chrstiancy at n social gathering
| in Il prominent boarding house, and he immedl-
ately fell in love with her. After short court
| ship he proposed and was accepted Tho marrl-
age took place in 1876, and was social event to
| be long remembered. Their relations were suppos-
ed to be pleasant, until he accepted the mission to
Peru. Their life and troubles in that country arc
widely known, and four years ago she returned
home alone Then Mr.. Christiancy began pro.
| cccdings for divorce, alleging imcompatlblhty
| and adultery These charges wcro denied by the
wife, but aftera long trial in which many scnsa-
tional details were adduced the divorc was grant
ed. Since then Mrs. Christiancy resided with her
| parents.