The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-12
RATS IN HER STOMACH.
4 Peculiar and Complicated Case Of
Insanity in Brooklyn.

A Peculiar and Complicated Case OF
Insanity in Brooklyn.
Fron, the Nev York Star
Two weeks ago the Eastern district of
Brooklyn was excited over the publication
of a story to the effect that Mrs. Catherine
Grace had, although perfectly sane, been
committed as lunatic to the Flatbush
asylum. Mrs. Grace lived with her two
children on North Sixth street, and she
eked out a precarious livelihood by sewing
and other work, and there was nothing in
her circumstances or surroundings that
would indicate motive for her incarcera-
ton.
At that time the Star fully investigated
the story. A reporter specially detailed for
the purpose called on Clerk Short of the
department of charities, and from him
ascertained the story of the attempt to con-
fine Mrs. Grace. He had received two
weeks previous, he said a communication
from the police of the Fifth precinct to the
effect that Mrs. Grace and her children
were in abject poverty l. limited that she
was insane, incapable OF taking care of her
children, AMI urged that for charity's sake
the case ought to be looked into.
Immediately on receiving the communi-
cation Clerk Short dispatched the two de-
partment physicians Drs Burns and Stone,
so, however, Mrs. Grace called upon Mr..
Short with letter from Grocer O'Neill,
who lives in the neighborhoOd, asking for
relief. The clerk questioned her and from
her answers was couviced as to her insanity.
On her return home she was met bv the
physicians, who asked her number of
questions. To them she stated that she was
afflicted with number of live rats who
roamed at will through her stomach. and
that fhav- would p har or i.,ht
and blow chloroform in through the key
hole until she became unconscious She
rambled along in this strain for some time,
until the physicians became convinced of
her insanity.
The most peculiar part of the story was
that she claimed the oldest child, a girl of
II years, was also afflicted with rats The
child was called in, and she stated that she
felt them moving around in her stomach
Sometimes they came into her mouth until
she could taste and smell them. The physi-
| clans became convinced that the child, from
The repeated statements of the mother,
actually believed the rats were there.
They reported accordingly, and Messen-
ger Muir was dispatched to bring her to
| the asylum. As soon as his errand was
| made known a crowd collected who made
things lively for the messenger, so much so
| that his life was imperiled Before going
/,
Mrs. Fevelle, who swore to the necessary
| papers. The crowd, however, would not
allow the woman to go. They asked the
messenger to wait, and in the meantime
they sent for the woman's pastor, Rev.
Father Carroll of the church of St. Vincent
de Paul. He at once wrote letter to Com
missioner Hynes, stating that the woman
was sane. On receipt of this letter the
messenger departed and the woman was
| not arrested.
Mrs. Grace then made application to
Father Carroll and to the Society of st.
Vincent de Paul for relief, and succeeded
| in her petition. Father Carroll Investigated
| the case, and, after questioning the woman,
| he also became convinced of her insanity,
| He wrote to the commissioners to this
effect, and Mrs. Grace was taken to the
asylum.
Yesterday the case was given new interest
from the fact that the woman was released.
| One of the woman's sisters, Mrs. Gallagher,
appeared before Judge Osborne, in the city
court, and made an application for her re-
lease. She said that the other sister, who
swore to the necessary affidavits in the first
instance, was sick in bed and unable to attend
She also said her sister was illiterate and
| did not know what she had sworn to.
| Judge Osborne questioned the woman, was
| convinced of her sanity, and ordered her
discharge.
AS the case now stands it is a most pecu
liar oue. Either the physicians were alto
| gether at fault and were a party to a con.
spiracy, or the woman is still insane. In
the latter event, then Judge Osborne has
made a grievous mistake. Mrs. Grace is
free, however, and the children are in the
| hospital