Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-03
1ArrR-Hyyx1G ENTIRELY INNOCENT.
SANE AMID MAOMEN.
Annie McCormicks Terrible Experience
in "A Connecticut Asylum.

A Bridgeport Conn special TO the Phila-
delphia Press saws: There Is much interest
here in the case Of Miss Annie Mccormick,
of this city. who is now III New York, after
having been pronounced sane by special
committee appointed by Judge Fem. An
appeal has been made by prominent clti-
Zens to have an investigation made AT the
Middletown Insane Asylum 10 ascertain II
there are still patients in that institution
who are unlawfully or inhumanly con-
fined.
Miss Mccormick carried on dress
making establishment in this city for seve-
raj years, and as her patrons were mostly
wealthy and fashionable people she accu-
mulated what was TO her "A competency. \
sister in Falls Village looked with Jealous
eyes on the success of Miss Annie, and pom
dered many months over plan 10 obtain
portion or the whole of the dressmaker' 5
wealth. She went before magistrate
and made application to have Annie
incarcerated in an asylum a. an IN
sane person. She employed young ply
stefan. who interviewed Miss Mccormick,
and afterward certified that she was Of dis
ordered mind. On the strength of this
certificate she was arrested and sent TO
MiddletOwn, and a cOnSeryator was ap-
pointed TO take charge OF her money. In
vain she told the officials of the institution
ILdl Sllt WIS lUN NiNAAll VI a NOh'l iAttN y .
They heard Just such stories every day.
and would not listen to her accounts of
the way in which she had been treated.
The asylum physicians would make no
examination for themselves, but depended
solely on the certificate issued by the
Bridgeport doctor. and Miss Mccormick
was locked up. She received no treatment
for her alleged disorder, and no one APP
peared to care whether she hved or dled:
She saws now that the terrible tOrtures of
mind which she endured IS a result of her
IMPRISONMENT were sufficient 10 set sane
person crazy, and il Is wonder 10 her that
she did not break down.
For whole year Miss Mccormick en-
deavOred TO find some way To communicate
with outside friends, but there was 10 OPP
portunitv. She was closely watched, but
this was the only special attention she re-
ceived. Had it not been for her strength
of mind and great courage she would still
be an inmate of the asylum. but her perse-
verance and watchfulness had its reward,
and at a favorable opportunity she escaped
from her room by means Of rope which
she twisted from the torn covering OF her
bed. She let herself down from third
story window, and, half-dressed, she
fed as far as she could before day
light. Then she hid herself from
observation and travelled again Il
whole night. At the house of a poor
but honest farmer she told her story,
and il was believed. She found the farm
er's wife willing TO give her some addi-
tional clothing, and received directions
how to reach the town Of Goshen. Ar
irving there she found friends who were
sure of her sanity, but who had been pow
eress to prevent her incarceration. They
gladly aided her to get to New York, and
proceedings were az once instituted by
the Rev. julius Nelson, DIR. 5. ii. Plat,
and Judge Carroll to have her again put
in possession of her property, which for
tunately had not been appropriated by her
sister. She has now been declared sane,
and the authorities have no further claim
upon her.
Governor Buckley has referred the case
to the Stat Board of Charities and IN
structed them TO place the responsibility
where il belongs. II will be interesting to
learn if there are other cases of "A similar
kind in the asylum at MiddletOwn, and the
board will probably make thorough in-
vestigatiOn.
Miss Nora Farrell, of Norwalk. who has
been confined in the asylum, has effected
"A release in a peculiar way. She was
placed in the asylum by relatives ten
months ago, but soon regained possession
of her mental faculties. She wrote a note
explaining her situation and condition,
and placed il in the drawer of sewlng-ma-
chine which was to be sent away. The ma
chine came into possession Of {. W. Ken
nison. of Middletown, and after finding
the note. he caused a thorough invesEga-
ton of Miss Farrells case 10 be madesthe
result being her discharge from the insti-
tutiOn.