The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-05-08
SANE OR INSANE?.
Mrs. Beach, of Hoboken,
Wrote Strange Letters
to Mr.. Ralph.
DR.. SIMON'S STORY.
Chief Donovan Says There was No
Doubt About the Woman's
Insanity.

The story which was told in last nights
JERSEY CITY News about the alleged kid
mapping of Mrs Beach. of Hoboken, and
her subsequent incarceration at the Nor
ris Plains Asylum, has created no end of
talk in Hoboken. From what I could
learn this morning there appears to be no
doubt that at the time certificate of in
sanity was signed by City Physician
Simon, the woman was insane, however
rational she may be at present. This con-
clusion is arrived at by the testimony of
intimate friends of the family, who are in
position to know. But the question
which arises and puts County Physician
Simon in bad light is whether he had
legal or professional right to sign GER
tiftcate for insanity without seeing the
patient
City Physician Simon, when seen this
morning, said:-'I think that acted
right in the matter. About the first of
last month Dr. Atwell, of No. 238 Bloom
field street, this city, and gentleman,
who was introduced as Mr. Beach, called
upon me- Mr. Beach said his wife was
insanely Jealous and was acting strangely.
DR.. Atwell asked me to sign the certifi-
cate. refused until could make an in
vestigation. / called on the Chief of
Police, and found that he had been con-
suited by Mr.. Ralph, we'll known citi-
zen Mrs. Beach had been writing letters
that could only be written by an insanely
jealous person. The letter accused her
ruin his (Mr. Ralph's) daughter.
called at Mrs Beach's house
to examine her, but she could not
be seen. conversed with several of the
neighbors, who told of her strange ac-
tions, and after all this testimony | did
not hesitate to affix my signature to the
certificate. About week ago / learned
from a policeman in Hoboken that Mrs.
Beach had been released from the asy-
lum and was threatening to sue me for
damages. / was told by Court Officer
Stanton thai the Prosecutor would like
to see me. / called ON Mr.. Winfield in
the company of Mr.. Ralph mad let
ter in my possession from the State In
sane Asylum which certified that at
the time Mrs. Beach WAS placed in the
institution she was insane. The Prosecu-
TOR said he did not send for me and re-
fused TO listen to anything / had to say.
That is all there is in the story"
CHIEF DoNovAN's STORY.
Chief Donovan was next seem When
asked about the case he said he knew all
about 1t.
About six weeks ago Mr.. Ralph, a
prominent citizen Of this city, residing at
the corner OF Twelfth and Bloomfield
streets, called at my private office. He
said he had received an anonymous COM
munication signed "A Friend, which eau
TONED him to watch his eighteed- -year-old
daughter, as married man was trying to
ruin her. The letter was produced
One glance showed it to be
woman's handwriting l advised Mr..
communication as friend would have
signed his or her name. About week
later Mr.. Ralph again called on me- This
time he had another letter of the same
calibre. This time the name of Mrs.
Beach was signed. 1t accused her hus-
daughter. Mr.. Ralph was very indignant
and wanted the author punished. | then
started an investigation and found that
the woman was not in her right mind. Mr..
Ralph called on Mr.. Beach and told him
what his wife had done. Mr.. Beach
said that he was very sorry, but that it
was not the first time that he had had
trouble of the same kind. learned from
the neighbors that Mrs. Beach acted
queerly. understood she wished to see
me and sent a policeman to her house
asking her to come to my office. At the
time the officer did not know that the
woman was not rational. He returned
saying that she refused to come TO my
Office The policeman. said he thought
she acted rather queer"
CONSULTED DR. CONVERSE.
'sMr. Beach and Mr.. Ralph called on
County Physician Converse for advice in
the matter and to take steps TO place her
in an asylum for short while. The
County Physician told them that a GER
tificate signed by a physician was neces-
sary to place her in an asylum. A short
while after DR.. Simon called on me and
did not hesitate to tell him that the
woman was crazy. That is the whole
story. The woman at the time of her in
carceration was undoubtedly insane,
however rational she may now be.n
raf nd or ho Of
No. 396 Washington street, this morning.
The house is one of row of handsome
brick buildings. A servant answered the
call of the bell. She said that Mr.. Beach
was not home and Mrs. Beach had left
orders that she would not see any one.
learned that Mr.. Beach had to remove
from house on Jersey City Hights on
account of his wife's writing letters to
prominent people in that section. He
was also compelled to move away from a
house in Forty-seventh street, New York,
for the same reason.
Chief Donovan says that he thinks Mrs.
Beach is a confirmed morphine eater.
Councilman Stanton, who is also detec-
tive at the Prosecutors Office, is very
much incensed at statement which was
published in a sensational sheet this
morning to the effect that an attempt
was being made by him to prosecute DR..
Simon tor political reasons. He claims
that II he was actuated by any such spirit
ne would not nave acquainted Dr. simon
of the matter at all. He told DIR. Simon
that he. had better see the Prosecutor.
This was done out of friendship.
The Council DeadIocked.
All the members of the Hoboken Coun.
Gil were present at the meeting last
night, and it is probable that they will
all be present tor some time to come, as
they are dead locked on the appointment
of Street Commissioner. Kelly, the
present commissioner, has the votes of
Councilmen Erlenkoetter, Boncelet,
Kelly and Timken, while Ranges has the
votes of Councilman Stanton. Londrigen
Snyder and Bewig. If on some meeting
night any of the councilmen should be
taken suddenly ILL., or detained IN Union
Hill, an appointment would be made, a.
lit only required majority of the mem
sbers present to make it. So tits probable
THAT full Board viii be present for some
time unless an unlocked for break
joccurs.
At the meeting last uight there was one
hour ur's.squabbling over the Commissioners
|ship. Councilman Kelly thought that his
brother was the best qualified for the posi-
|tion, as during his term the work had been
lwell attendeuto Councilman Londrigan
5was sure that Kelly could not do the
work properly, and said that Ranges
hould give him points on cleaning streets.
Ia fter sayorai ouBn ballots the Board took