The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-17
A LOVELY GIRLS FATE.
Twenty-Seven Years in an Asylum-ReleaSed
ray-Haired Woman of Sixty.
Philadelphia Times.

William Draper Brinckle, was a physician in
of society. His dwelling was in Girard row. on
the north side of Chestnut street, between
Eleventh and Twelfth, then one of the most
fashionable parts of the city. His daughter,
christened Adrianna P. Brinckle, was the queen
of a selected circle. Life was as dream to the
young beauty until misfortune fell upon her
father who in 1854 lost the bulk of his fortune
through an unfortunate business connection.
His resources reduced that the house
In Glrard row was given up and the family
divided, Addie removing to boarding house on
Eleventh street. below SAMSON. Her mother
died two years later, and she thus left to her
own guidance. Always accustomed to an ex
travagant manAer of living she did not accom-
modate herself to her altered position in life,
Debts accumulated upon her hands and to free
herself from the annoyance of creditors she sold
piano and other furniture she had purchased
but had not paid for. The dealer from whom
she had procured the goods brought suit TO re-
cover his money, and by means of this proceed
ing DR.. Brinckle became aware of his daughters
extravaganza.
She had removed to another boarding house
and was living on small annuity she received
from the estate of an aunt. Her father, accom-
panied by a DR.. Mcclellan and John Woodward,
her uncle wealthy manufacturer, visited her
at her new abode and represented that, to save
the family honor, it was necessary that she be
declared insane and placed in an asylum Other
wise, he said, she would be liable to q prosecu-
ton the charge of obtaining goods on false
pretenses. DR.. Mcclellan then filled out GER
tifcate, which he and DR.. Brinckle signed. On
July Is, 1893, the young lady removed to
the State Lunatic Hospital at Harrisburg, and
there confined and there until within few days
ago she has remained, treated as an insane per-
son, while all the records in the point to
the conclusion that her only fault was frivolity
and extravaganza, the natural result of her
training and early associations.
That she did not end her days in the asylum
is due to the newly awakened interest on the
part of the Board of Public Charities in the sub
Ject of the insane wards of the State the
mittee on lunacy. of which Mr.. Garrett is chair
man, having recently made tour through the
various institutions, examining into every COM
plant remedying great many errors and in
the under consideration righting a most
terrible wrong.
The investigation of the committee into Miss
Brinckle's case resulted in the following report,
dated June IL. 1885, and signed by Philip C.
Garrett. Dr. Thomas G. Morton and DR.. Andrew
j. CURT
THE undersigned, officers and members of
the committee on lunacy of the Board of Public
Charities. having each personally examined Miss
Addle L. Brnckle, a patient in the State Lunatic
Asylum at Harrisburg, Pa. find evidence of
existing insanity, and declare it as their opinion
that she should be discharged from said hospital.
They further find upon an investigation of the
case thai the alleged cause of her commitment
to the hospital was that she is deficient in judg
ment and disposed to extravagant expenditure
of very limited means This, in the opinion of
the undersigned is no just cause of her deten-
ton in a State hospital, even If such propenSi-
ty still exists, which they have no reason to
believe"
During the investigation by the committee
DR.. Morton received the following letter from
Miss Brnckle:
Dear SRI have been an inmate of this
institution twenty-six years and request release.
Extravaganza ana eccentricity are the insanity
alleged. The eccentricty is being careful of
good clothes, and the extravaganza a generous
disposition. My income is very limited. / am
dependent upon friends, who, perhaps. would
release me if the doctors here approved it. They
perceive no change in my mental health. have
visited friends lately who found no fault as to
my condition or opposed my earnest wish to be
diffe rently situated-in a church home, for
instance. Feeling that l have strength of mind
to do we'll if out, appeal to you. | have just
recovered from serious bodily sickness. Permit
me an examination at your earliest convenience"
This not the first letter the unfortunate
woman had written with view of securing her
release. During the long years of her confine-
ment she had written time and again to relatives
and friends, but with no result. In reply to
letter written to a relative recently the follow
ing answer was received by the authorities Of
the hospital:
nave my COUSIN, MISS brlnCkle,
a letter of date May 26. AS she tells me she
writes under advice, take the liberty of address
ing myself to you, as her kind physician and
friend l regret that, for various reasons. it
would be impossible for me to receive Miss
Brinckle at my house even for visit, an imme-
date reason for this being that am at the point
of leaving it, usual at this season, for an alb
sence of several months May ask you to rep
resent to Miss Brinckle that, in common with the
few friends she has left to her, deeply deplore
her determination to leave the home which has
sheltered her so long, and the friends she has
made, to go out into the world for which we
think her so untitled from which those nearest
and dearest to her have passed away, and where
her means appear to be totally inadequate to
support her in comfort, even should the closest
economy be expected from her9 l must add
that, in view of the possible consequences of in
sisting upon this rash step, heavy responsible
ity appears to rest upon the committee on
lunacy Will you please assure Miss Brincke of
my kind regard for her, which alone prompts
nv writing, as | have right nor title to inter
fere in her movements Very respectful yours,
At last Miss RrinckIe was raIaaead frop, +ba