The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-08-22
ROMANCE OF AN ASYLUM.
a Lady's Remarkable Experience-Un-
justly Imprisoned for ~ Years

| justly Imprisoned for 81 Years.
The Philadelphia Evening Telegraph
gives some interesting particulars of the
incarceration in an insane asylum for
twenty-seven years of Miss Adde p.
Brinckle, Philadelphia lady, whose dis
charge from the institution has been men,
toned. A few days ago, says the Tele
graph, a sad-faced woman entered a cal :
riage at the door of one of our State asy-
lums for the insane, and was driven rap
IDLY to the railroad station, where she
| boarded train bound for Philadelphia.
Although there was nothing remarkable
in her appearance Except that her face,
marked with the deep lines of suffering
and disease, bore traces of unusual intel
is one of the strangest that ever was
written. Thirty years bring many
changes. The youths and maidens of
that time are now gray haired men and
women, while death has removed many
who were then in the prime of life. Old
Philadelphians, however, whose memory
carries back thirty years, have vivid
recollection of Dr.. William Draper
Brincklc, who enjoyed large practice and
moved in the highest circles of society.
His residence on Girard Row-a block of
private dwellings on the north side of
Chestnut street, between Eleventh and
Twelfth streets, at that time one of the
most fashionable parts of the clty-was
the resort of the leaders of society.
Among DR.. Brinckle's children was
Adranna Physick Brinckle, who was
leader in tho world of fashion and an
acknowledged belle. Her right to that
title was unquestioned. She was woman
of lie beauty and accomplishments, and
a great popular favorite. Invitations to
balls, parties and receptions poured in
able events were successful without
charme of her presence. Among her init
mate friends and companions was Emily
Schombcrg, now Mrs. Hughes ITallct
whose claim to the title of the 'Belle of
Philadelphia was almost undisputed.
"Addie' Brinckle, as the physicians
daughter was called by her friends and
acquaintance, rcigned supreme over her
little social world until about 1854, when
| a change in her circumstances compelled
| her to give up her old mode of living
ILL
his fortune with relative who was en-
gagged in the wool business. He failed,
and the fruits of DR.. Brinckle's years of
labor were swept away. He then gave
up his house in Girard Row and rented
rooms in Boston Row. while Addie re-
moved to boarding house on Eleventh
street below Sansom In 1856 her mother
died. Addie had always boen extrava-
CANT and indeed her father and her uncle,
John Woodward, a wealthy manufac-
turer, rather encouraged her, and ap-
peared to take pleasure in paying her
bills. The change in her fathers cir
cumstances came without warning, but
Addie was slow to realize it, and intsead
of cutting down her expenses, she
launched out Ill career of extravaganza
which threatened ruin to the small rem
nant of her fathers and her uncle's for
verses, and he soon had also found neces-
sary to call halt on his fair niece's law
ish expenditures. The warning came
with such startling snddenness. however,
that the young lady was completely
taken by surprise. Thinking that all
her obligations would be met, if not by
her father by her uncle, she had con
tinued to spend money loosely, and had
incurred debts to the amount of several
Thousand dollars. A parlor at Mrs. Clay
tons clearinghouse, on Eleventh street,
had been furnished by her, and a piano
had been purchased. Before they had
been paid for Addie Brnchle had re-
moved and had sold them. Suit was
brought against her.
When her father got word of the affair
he was shocked beyond measure, and
held a hurried consultation with the
young lady's uncle. They discussed the
matter in all its details, and determined
to save the family honor at any cost. A
physician was sent for. Addie Rrinckle
was then living at fashionable board
ing house on Tenth street, paying her
expenses from small annuity which
she received from the estate of an aunt.
DR.. Brinckle, her uncle, and a physician
a Dir. Mcclellan. who died some years
ago, visited Addie. DR.. Brinckle up
braided her, but she protested her nno-
cence, saying that she was ignorant of
the law and did not know that she had
committed an unlawful act in selling
the furniture. The doctor then informed
her that he would have to place her in
an asylum to save her from "false pre-
tense case.' 1t was necessary, he said,
to save the family honor. DR.. Mcclellan
then examined her and filled out certi-
ticato, which he and the other signed.
A week later DR.. Brinckle visited his
daughter and informed her that he was
ready to take her to the asylum, which,
he said, was in the interior of the State.
The young lady begged and pleaded for
her liberty, saying that some of her dead
mothers relatives would pay her debts.
and that she would try to be economical
in the future; but the doctor was inexor-
able, declaring that the step was neces-
sary for the preservation of the family
honor, and that she would soon be re-
leased from the asylum. The young lady
then submitted to her fate, and on July
10, 1858, was taken to the asylum.
ga beautiful and charming young
lady, Just out of her teens, used to
wealth, is extravagant, and her father,
reduced in circumstances, finds himself
unable to restrain her habit of spending,
concludes she requires custodial care,
places her in hospital, Needless of her
earnest protests; he dies, and leaves her
there; there she has been near thirty
years. and il now near sixty years of age,
and still begging to be released, but the
custodian still thinks she needs 'custo-
DIAL and she remains to this day under
restraint of her personal liberty"
The above is an extract from an adj
dress delivered before the Twelfth Ma
tional Conference OF Charities and Cor
rections at Wa hington in June by Philip
G. Garrett, chairman of the State COM
mittee on lunacy. The matter did not
rest there, and the committee, through
its secretary, DR.. Andrew J. CURT, began
an investigation. Mr.. Garrett, Dir. CURT |
aud DR. Thomas G. Norton the profess |