Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-27
IS SHE LEGALLY DETAINED
The Strange Case Of Mrs. Caroline Kearns
at NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Evidence.


Especial telegram to the Dispatch.l
WILLIAMSBURG, Va, May 2G.-The hdbeds
DrpuS proceedings in the case OF MIS-.
Caroline n. Koarns wero continued until about
half-past 10 O'Clock last night at the Spencer
Hotel, evidence being taken up TO that hour and
continued this morning in behalf OF the peti-
Homer. During portion OF the evening mrs.
kearns was present, but her counsel deciding
Not 10 introduce her evidence at that time, she
soon retired from the room. il will be reinem-
bercd that this case, as telegraphed before Is
ON a writ Of habeds corpus gotten out by NIT.
Kearns through counsel TO obtain her release
from the Eastern Lunatic Asylum, in which ln-
stitutiOn she claims to be illegally placed by rela-
tlves. She has been an inmate since July :"
1889.
THE PETITIONER.
She Is quite a handsome woman, Of fine phy-
sique, and while before the court exhibited much
self-possessiOn Her letters &c her counsel, Wnlch
are In evidence prove her 10 be woman oil SUI
periOr Intelligence, and 20 ono who II not a medi-
cal expert she does not creaIe the impression OF
being Insane. The frsi question which arose In
the case was as 20 whether she had been pro-
perry received, which was raised by demurrer
10 the answer Of the superintendent OF mo
asylum. The Court oyerruled the demurrer, ana
thereby decided that she had been properly ad-
mItted. The question then arose as 70 whether
she was properly detained, which involved the
matter Of fact as 70 whether she is Mt this time
sane or insane. A brief resume OF the evidence
as far as taken on this point Is as follows:
n
Mrs Elizabeth Freeman, an attendant In
charge OF the ward In which Mrs. kearns Is
confined, testified as follows: have been at
the asylum about seven years; have never seen
anything about Mrs. Kearns TO make me think
abe wns insane. An assistant physician az tho
asylum consulted me as 10 whether Mrs. hearns
was capable 10 take charge OF a patient at tnis
institution private attendant, as the superln-
tendent did not wish 10 discharge her. For rea-
sons no answer was given this question, but on
cross-examination the witness said the appoint
ment was not made. She also said that the IN
curry was as to her moral qualifications and not
HER UNIFORM CONDUCT.
Miss Sallie McNair, also an attendant In the
ward in which Mrs. Kearns Is located, stated
that she did not think she was insane; her con-
dition IL always the same. She has Doen AT the
asylum two years She never exhibited any
strange ideas, fancies, orB entiments; had every
opportunity Of observing her closely ana never
saw anything 20 impress me that she was crazy
NO SIGNS OF INSANITY.
Miss Lizzie McNair, an attendant, testified that
she had been connected with the asylum Tor SIX
years and had been with Mrs. Kearns since last
February and have observed no signs OF insanity
In her; never saw her angry but once; heard her
express desire 10 be free, when she said she
would try 10 make an honorable living
NOT DETAINED FOR INSANITY.
DIR. John Clopton, who up 70 a year ago was
FIRST assistant physician at the asylum, stated
that he was acting superintendent at the time
AAD
papers explaining her case were Delivered at
The institution upon her arrival. The witness
stated that the cause Of her being detained here
was not necessarily insanity.
ARgfoRMATORY THE PLACE.
Dr. Henry Shield, an asylum physician, being
next called 10 the stand, stated that he was con-
nected with the male department OF the asylum
and has had no opportunity OF judging as 10 nor
condition, but did think she should be either
here or in reformatory. We now nave three
cases similar to the one on trial confined IN tue
asylum.
NOTHING STRANGE.
Misc Freeman, another attendant who occu'
pied the same room with Mrs. hoarns, also tesIl-
fed that she had never seen anything In her con-
duct 90 create the belief Of insanity.
DIR. Leonard Henley, local practicing physE
clan and Tor two years connected with the asy'
lnn, testified that he did not consider Mrs. X earns
an insane woman at this time; thinks she Il
worthy Of belief--that is, from mental stand
POINT.
AN INTELLIGENT STORY.
The next witness was the petitioner herself
Starting with the causes which led 20 her conttne-
ment, she gave a clear history OF her life, re
lating In singularly concise manner all OF the
facts connected with her removal here and hel
treatment since. She also stated that II her re
lease could be secured that she would not return
home on account OF family troubles, but woulc
live In Richmond, prominent lady OF that Guy
having offered Der a home. When speaking o.
her children she several times exhibited con
siderable emotion, but otherwise her manner
was cool and collected.
Whom this report closed the petitioner, Mrs
kearns, Is being subjected 20 a rigid cross-examt
nation by the respondents counsel