The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-05
IN HER PARLoR PRISON.
ouesr Deeds and Sudden Death of an
Insane Maiden.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.

bv the death and burial of Miss Jessie Boust
~ Northumberland, the like of which has
never before been heard. The circum-
stances attending and surrounding the oc-
C,,,ranca nlace it as a tale apart from any
re- has vet been told except, perhaps, in
the nares OF fiction. The Public Press,
is.ned In Northumberland. under the date
of Feb. 2s, 1890, contained the following
notice:
D;ao-Iessie Boust, only daughter Of Mr. aud
rrs CHARLES Boust. on Tuesday morning of
11rostration. Her funeral takes place this after
noon AT ? O'Clock, at the home. Services by
Rev. a. c. Campbell. lnterment in Northum-
beFland cemetery
IN the day that Miss Boust died, a lady
nrominent in Northumberland came to
Shamokin as the guest of Mrs. j. B. O'Con-
NOR last Monday the lady returned, and
a few DAYS after Mrs. O'Connor received a
letter from her stating that the burial of
the Young girl who had died at the date of
arrival in Shamokin had just taken place
lhe day after she got home, Tuesday, March
is The circumstances of the affair were
mysterious and the cause of much talk in
northumberland. Learning OF the cor
resp0ndence. the Inquirer correspondent
visited Northumberland last evening, and
by careful investigation succeeded in IN
rayeling strange, weird story.
TAKEN TO AN INSANE ASYLUM.
Charles Boust is one of the best known
and respected citizens of the county. He is
prominent in all circles in Northumberland
He is a merchant, and runs, in connection
with his store, an extensive meat market.
Miss Jessie Boust was a finely formed
woman of medium height, of the brunette
type. She was a remarkable musician. and,
until five years ago, was noted for her
kind, genial manners Then a change
came over her; she became morose and
sullen, refused to recognize old
friends aud said they should be taken
from her sight. She began to
develop unnistakable signs of insan-
ity. She was the only daughter, and for
years Mrs. Boust, half-heartbroken, watched
over and would not allow her to be taken
to any ms tuition for treatment, hoping
that she would get better. The hope was a
vain one. About four months ago one
pleasant afternoon, IN company with her
father and DIR. Sheetz, the family physician,
she was taken to Danville and given to the
care of DR.. Sheetz, who is i'll charge of the
state asylum for the insane at that place
Her mother kept sharp watch over her
child aud often visited her at the asylum.
IN A PARLoR PRISON.
1t soon became evident that she and DR..
Sheetz could not agree in regard to the
treatment of Jessie. Mrs. BodSt wanted
her humored and given everything she
craved for and DR.. Sheetz insisted that she
must be treated as he ordered and thought
best or there could be no cure effected. The
doctor was firm, and after being in the in
stitution about month Jessie was brought
home. Once back she grew wilder and
more boisterous, and it was found necessary
to keep constant watch over her. as she
would smash and break anything she laid
her hands on when in one Of the paroxysms
\ bed was placed i'll the parlor, the
windows barred up and there, with a
piano as her constant companion, Jessie
lived. On the night of Feb. "a she was an
usually violent. At times she would sit
down at the piano and weird strains would
float out on the still night Then there
would come sounds of things breaking, and
late at night, after burst of wild music,
she became silent and could be heard walk
ing around the room. The sound OF her
footsteps at last died away, and the conclu-
sion was arrived at that she was asleep. 1t
was late the next morning when her mother
entered the room with her breakfast. She
had hesitated to wake the girl at an earlier
hour, for fear of a renewal CT the spasms.
Jessie was lying on the bed.
MOTHERS AWFUL DISCOVERY.
When her mother went to arouse her she
touched her hand. 1t was very cold. Turn
ing the body she looked at the face There
was no mistake, the girl was dead. The
countenance upturned to the grief-stricken
mother was awful The features were ter
ribly distorted and out of shape, and the
skin was deep black. The grand piano
lay in pieces. She had literally torn To bits
the instrument that had been her only
solace. Half fainting the woman tottered
out of the room, and DIR. Sheetz was sum-
moned. He said the girl had died from
congestion of the brain. Half an hour later
Il. K Bright, the undertaken arrived He
made an incision in the left arm of the corpse
aud over gallon of embalming fluid was
rejected Some hours later, wnen Mrs
Boust entered the room and gazed at her
daughters body, she shrank back amazed
The distorted expression was gone and the
features were as calm as when In slumber
The horrid blackness had disappeared as
natural sequence TO the embalming process,
and the girl seemed to be asleep Hurrying
out of the room, Mrs. Boust sent
for the doctor, declaring in tones of
JOY that Jessie was not dead, but
III a trance. Shortly afterward, in
company with the undertaken, the doctor
arrived and told the mother that the girl
was undoubtedly dead, but the mother was
not satisfied. The day of the funeral ar
rived, and the house was crowded with
friends and relatives of the unfortunate
Young woman. Rev. Campbell read the
services of the C urch, and then to the
bounced that by the request of the family
there would be no interment that day
Completely mystified, the people left the
house
BURIED WITHOUT RELIGIOUS SERVICE.
Next morning Boust opened his place of
business as usual, while his daughter still
lay in her former parlor prison. 1t was said
IL excuse for the delay that the grave was
tu!l of water. The mother was really in
love with the corpse and could not bear to
have it taken away. She told the under
taker she could stand il better ii they would
let her keep Jessie awhile. Day followed
day Iii this home OF death, but still no
luterment AID the motger spent hours
IN the parlor gazing at the stern features
mat never seemed to change. The
einbalmer had done his work well, and
more beautiful corpse could not be con-
ceIyed. Tuesday March IS, came three
weeks from the date Of death, and the girl
was still uninterred The day was per-
Iect one About O'Clock Undertaken
Bright came back TO set time for fun
elal. His mind referred to Jessie, and he
thought it would be good day for burial.
DrlVlng up to the house with his hearse he
proposed a burial At first the mother
opJecte1, but was finally prevailed
upon to consent The undertaken hurriedly
summoned the pall-bearers of three weeks
oeIore and in half an hour the sleepy old