The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-23
" / AM NOT INSANE"
Mrs. Allen Before the Lunacy
Commission.
She Demands Counsel, Appears Perfectly Sans
and Says Her Accussrs Are Swear.
ing Away Her Reputation.

Mrs. Henry II. Allen. who was arrested at
the Occidental Hotel on Saturday and taken
to the Home of the Inebriates, was before
the Insanity Commissioners yesterday for
examination
She and husband, the wealthy mining Cd
orator, have been stopping at the Occidental
for some two weeks. The cause of her arrest
was the complaints of the management that
she had on many occasions of late behaved
in most violent manner and had become a
great annoyance to the guests. Many of
them feared her. and to prevent the posi-
blity of an outbreak her meals were served
in her room.
Manager Hooper of the Occidental made
the complaints against her. He said she be-
haved like an insane woman, and he be-
leyed she is insane. At the most unex-
pected moments she would come tearing
and screaming down to the business office of
the hotel and demand her husband, exrlain-
Ing that he had not been home for days and
that somebody was keeping him away from
her. Outbreaks Of this violent character
had become quite frequent, and once in par
tlcular, when she caused a scene on Pine
street, in front of the Stock Exchange.
MOST PATIENT AND COMPOSED.
She was taken to the new City Hall from
the home in the prison van, and when es-
cOrted to the dlngy, unattractiye apartments
Of the Commissioners sat through the exam
Ination by far the most patient and com-
posed Of any one in the room.
Mr.. Hooper was present, and also his as
slstant, Gavin McNabb, and 10 h testified as
TO Mrs. Aliens behavior. They said that in
her violent fits she was always looking for
her husband, and is so very demonstrative
that those who see her think her dangerous
when in those fits She is very much of
lady, Mr.. Hooper said, and he did not be-
lieve she knew anything about her violent
conduct.
Gavin McNabb said he believed morphine
had been administered TO her by some wo-
man doctor. He had noticed that after such
visits Mrs. Allen always acted strangely.
Judges C0ffey and Trout sat through the
examination, and, after Hooper and McNabb
had given their testimony and departed.
Mrs. Allen politely, and with the utmost
composure, asked the Judges to hear what
she had to say.
She denied firmly that she is the least bit
insane, and declared that every word spoken
against her was false. She accused Hooper
and McNabb of trying to swear her reputa-
ton away, and maintained that she should
be given the right to be defended by coun-
sci. Referring to her past she said that her
maiden name was Marian Macdonald. She
Is OF Scotch descent, and ut tn. age of 15
years she married John l.. Romer, one of
the New York Knickerbockers now de-
ceased, by whom sue had four children Six
years ago she married her present husband
who is all that husband could be to wife.
MRS. ALIENS STATEMENT.
HE is very heavy drinker." said she,
'and it has required the efforts of de
voted wife to break up this bad habit He
is now about IS years of age, and ne can no
longer stand up 10 the bar and drink with
younger men, After he gets too much liquor
lie must go TO a private room to continue the
debauch. 1t is then that go and look for
him. admit that | went to Leidesdurff street,
and frequently to the hutel office after him.
He lives between the bar and the Office"
She also insisted that he knew nothing of
the proceedings against her, and that at
tempts to have her sign papers that would
injure her were unavailing.
When asked il she was not eXcitable she
replied forcibly that she is not She always
spoke forcibly and to the point. Sometimes
she became worried over her husband. She
was asked whether the doctors had ever pre-
scribed morphine for her. NO" she re-
piled. 81 have hired lady to rub my knee,
the ligaments of which | sprained. l have
never taken morphine, aud l never drink to
excess or through habit. Before the God
whom | adore, swear that l am not in-
sane"
After the examination had gone far
enough to satisfy the Judge he said he
would consult with Judge Trout and to-
geIher appoint counsel for her. Meanwhile
she will remain at tho Home of the inebri-
ateS until another day is set for hearing.