Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-26
CRAZED IN A CHURCH.
SAD AFFLICTION OF MRS. NOR
DECAI, OF BALTIMORE.

Her Ailment the Result of Exposure to
the sun While on Yachting Cruise
The Misfortune Precipitated During
the Singing of a Hymn-The Congre-
cation Hastily Dismissed.
While the congregation of Franklin
street Presbyterian Church were singing
the next to the last hymn, toward the close
OF the service Sunday evening, says a Bal
timore special of the 23d to the New York
Times, the shrill tones of lady's voice were
heard above the volume Of melody. Those
on the front tpews soon identified the singer
as Mrs. j. Randolph Mordecai, wife Of the
well-knOwn shipping merchant residing at
No. 257 North Charles street. The Rev.
DR.. w. U. Murkland, the pastor of the
church, at the first sound of the lady's
voice, appeared TO become somewhat
excited, and by his bearing
showed that the interruption caused
him great distress. The lady's voice con-
tinued to dwell on the notes of the hymn
after the choir and congregation had ceased
singing, and there was a hurried move
ment among the other occupants of the
pew, who were evidently endeavOring to
induce the lady to be quiet. DR.. Murk-
land, after a moments hesitation. be-
slowed the benedictiOn and dismissed the
congregation before the closing hymn of
the service could be given. Mrs. Morde-
cars friends then escorted her from the
church to her residence, on North Charles
street. Drs. Alan p Smith. IL. p G.
Wilson and Francis T. Miles were sue
cessively called in and the next day pro-
nounced Mrs. Mordeeai to be insane. On
their recommendation she was removed
to Spring Grove Insane Asylum on Thurs
day.
The sad affiictiOn which has overtaken
the lady, who was very prominent in the
highest social circles, has been the one
topic in society circles since Sunday.
Last week Mrs. Mordecai, VINO is a lady
Of attractive personal appearance, about
81 years old, was one of a party who
went down the bay on Mr.. William H.
Graham's steam yacht CLEAN. She was on
that occasion one of the liYeliest ladies on
board and contributed largely to the
pleasure of her companions by her bright
and cheerful bearing and genial coed
humor. On the way home last Saturday.
the sun was Oppressively warm, and Mrs.
Mordecai was exposed to its full power
for several hours. 1t is TO this cir
cumstance that the development of
her mental troubles is attributed. On
Sunday morning. while attending SER
vice at Franklin Street Church. she
did not give any evidences Of men,
tai trouble. About half an hour before
lhe nlght service commenced she called
on the Rev. W. A. Murkland at his resi-
dence, accompanied by her husband. sis
ter and several Of her children. While
talking to the minister she suddenly asked
him to preach that night on a certain text.
This DIR. Murkland kindly declined to do,
stating, as an excuse, that he had already
prepared his discourse, and could not,
therefore, oblige her. DR.. Murkland
stated tonight that he suspected the true
state of the lady's mind at this time.
When she commenced singing so loudly
in the church an hour or so later his sus-
picions were confirmed and he cut short
the service in order to prevent a scene.
DR.. Murkland expressed the greatest
sympathy for the lady and her family.
Other friends of the MOrdecai family to-
night said that they confidently hoped the
unfortunate lady would shortly be re-
stored to health.
Mrs. Mordecai is wealthy, having in
herited from a relative, Miss Florence
Patterson, large fortune. She was for
merly Miss Emma Patterson, and was a
relative of Nine. Patterson Bonaparte,
the grandmother ofCOl. jerome Bonaparte
and Mr.. Charles J. Bonaparte, both well
known in Baltimore. The mental tr6uble
of Mrs. MOrdecai is believed to be heredi
tary, as her brother has been an inmate
of Spring Grove Asylum for some time