The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-04-15
Annals BRAIN MOBILES
Opinions of Medical Elk
perts as to Her Sanity.
She Was Surely Demented
When Committed.
Frances Willard Does Not Be
lieve the "Herald" Story.
Miss Susan Dickinson Makes a
Statement.
The RESIDENTS OF Pittston Indignant
Over tho Report.
Miss Susan Dickinson Makes a
Statement.
The RESIDENTS OF Pittston Indignant
Over tho Report.

story relting to the incarceration of Miss
Anna Dickinson, the famous lecturer, in
an insane asylum.
The Hrald will say that Miss Dickinson
came to New York today with DR.. Fred
erick ". Seward OF Goshen, n. Y,
at whose house she has been since
she escaped from Danville, April 2.
They cane for the purpose of apprising
Miss Dnkinson's friends in New York of
the wrong she had suffered and to secure
legal advice as to the steps necessary to in
sure her freedom if she should return to
Pennsylvania
Miss Dickinson lays the blame for her
Incarceration upon her sister, whom she
accuses OF harboring an intense feeling of
jealousy and hatred. She also accuses her
sisters physician, Dr. Hileman, of being
in the plot against her. Miss Dickinson
saws that on the day on which she was
removed TO an asylum the door of her
room was broken in and six men
and a woman rushed in and over
powered her. One of the men, she
says, was DR.. Hileman, and the woman,
she understands, was the doctors aunt.
her TO Danville, where they said she
would be better off. Miss Dickinson
struggled until the skin was torn from her
wrists and her garments were ripped
for her rags and tatters. Finally, she
saws, her prosecutors got her hands down
and tied them together and she was COM
PEELED to submit. DR.. Seward, it appears,
became informed of the facts OF the case as
alleged by Miss Dickinson and obtained her
release under pretense that he intended
to take her to private asylum where she
would be moro benefited. DIR. Seward
expressed himself today as entirely con-
fdent of the sanity of Miss Dickinson.
The Herald reporter who interviewed
Miss Dickinson says that her manner was
calm and rational and that she at no time
during the interview betrayed the least
evidence of insanity Miss Dickinson
will prosecute her sister for the mental
and physical suffering she has undergone.
Miss Dickinson says the Danville asylum
is a horrible place. She was among the
least dangerous patients, but she says
when she looks back on the dreadful
things she wonders she did not 90 insane
On April DR.. Seward went to the asy-
lum and Miss Dickinson was placed in his
charge. Louisa Mcdonald, an old family
servant OF the Dickinsons, accompanies
her mistress and the doctor.
DR.. Seward was reticent of his part in
the affair. His only interest had been TO
secure justice to woman who had been
shut up In an asylum without shadow
of right.
miss Dickinson is perfectly sane" said
DR.. Seward. "Of that can assure you.
l have studied her case and there is
nothing the matter with her.
have investigated some OF her
statements and have found
them to be true When Miss Susan Dick
inson sent for me she told me
that her sister was dangerous
lunatic, and 1 went to Danville
with the expectation of seeing such a
person. The moment l looked at her was
Convinced that that statement was not
true, and subsequent examination es-
tablished her complete sanity. l am pre-
pared to do whatever | can to assist her
in securing her rights and came here with
that purpose. We shall consult legal ad-
visors as to the steps that are necessary TO
be taken"
Louisa Mcdonald corroborated the
points of the story with which she was
acquainted.
PHILADELPHIA, April l0.-The story
that Anna Dickinson was a sane woman
when she was committed to the Danville
insane asvlum, and that her commitment
was irregular; that the state lunacy laws
were in her case fagranty violated, and
that Philadelphia physicians and officials
were concerned in the injustice done her,
Is officially and particularly denied here.
The letter which Miss Dickinson says
she sent to the cha rman and secretary OF
the state board of charities, Drs Thomas
q. Morton and Henry NJ. Netherill of
~ fNy rNaa sr.1 H. H. I'LL
who visited her immediately upon receipt
OF the letter, having shown it TO Dir.
Morton. Thomas Barlow, the attorney
OF the board, accompanied DR.. We;heril
20 Danvile. In telling of the visit, DIR.
Wetherill to-day said:
1--WE found Miss Dickinson installed in
the most comfortable ward of the whole
institution. The Danville asylum, Ike
other state asyluus, is oyer-croWded, but
only on the mems side. There is room
among the women still for the comfort
able accommodation OF number of new
patients. Miss Dickinson's ward has a
handsome parlor and a large dining-room
Her room itself looked out upon beauti-
full view, was tastefully furnished, and
had pictures, mirrors and every decora-
ton and appurtenance that refined
woman could desire. 1t had all been put
In order by the attendants a couple OF
hours prior to our arrival. Yet it was al
ready in such a condition as is always
found in the apartments of persons vio-
lently or aculely deranged 1t was con-
fused and upset and was in keep
ing with Miss Dickinson's appearance
and manner. The interview was neces-
sarily brief. because she declined to
talk to us, or, at least, would say very lit
tie. When not actually talking to US, she
walked excitedly up and down the room,
giving utterance to incoherent words and
phrases and acting in exactly the manner
that insane people are accustomed to act.
She told Us that she was sane and that
DIR. Shultz, the superintendent, suppressed
her letters. / told her of our receipt OF
the letter she mailed TO US, and we had
forwarded to Howe & Hummel of New
York the letter which she had enclosed
addressed TO that firm. Dir. Barlow did,
as she states, request her 10 sit down
quietly and talk it over, but he said moth
ing about anticipating legal proceedings.
Very little more was said, because she de-
clined to talk. walking the floor in great
excitement and reiterating that her law
Fers had the matter in their hands.
son inquiring of DIR. Schultz afterward
What be thought of her condition, he
.,sl - ~. xr-1fo.l <xxsr.or, th.t 81 :.