The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-14
HOPELESSLY
UNBALANCED.
Judge Tcrry's Widow Deranged
Through Spiritualism.
Her Case Is Probably Incurable and She May
Have to Be Sent to an Asylum-she
Telephones With Picture.

Adversely. followed by misfortune, seems TO
have Overtaken every one who champiOned or
assisted in the cause Of the plaintiff in the cele-
brated Sharon case.
Beaten at every turn since Judge Sullivan rem
dered the famous decision granting her a divorce
from William Sharon. Sarah Althea HilSnaron-
Terry has at last been stricken by the most cruel
blow OF her life. In short she Is seriously, per-
haps hopelessly, insane on the subject Of spr-
itualsm.
Night and day she sits alone In a room on the
TOP floor OF a pretty McAllister.street residence
continuously cOnVeFsing with friends IN the
spirit land. Her method Of communicating
with departed frends.is by peculiar imaginary
telephone of her own invention. AS trans
mItter she uses a Photograph OF her late hus.
band, ex-Judge David S. Terry. who was also a
victim of adversely from the day lie became
Sarall's attorney unIlshOt down by United States
Marshal Maggie, Justice FIELDS bodygnard, al La
thrOp In August, 1890.
THE SYMPTOMS ARE NOT NEW.
His widow has manifested evidences Of an un-
balanced mind for several years. 1t was not until
a few months ago that she became troublesome.
About two months ago she began TO haunt The
Central Police Station, declaring that she had
been robbed OF thousands OF dollars worth OF
silks and laces, which she never possessed. She
persisted that her trunks had been broken open
and the valuable wearing apparel taken.
Finally detectives were detailed TO investigate
her alleged grievances and soon discovered that
her complaints were grOundlesS. Soon after this
she Tetul ned 10 her home AT Stockton Then
new mania entered her dlsOIdered head.
Ii was that she was the greatest OF all me-
dlumS, and could not only communicate with
the unknown beyond, but could find any hidden
or stolen articles as well This newly discovered
power she tested by trying TO trace her stolen
hneIy. but Without avail.
RETURNED FROM THE COUNTRY.
On Thursday She returned TO this city and
took up her abode with her Old and true friends,
Mr. aud Mrs Robert r. Culbreth, of All Nc
Alllstsr street. AT times she became 50 violent
that DR.. A A. Gilmore was summoned ana has
siuce attended her. little bird winged its way
into HE CALL editOrlal-IOomS last night aud
related au inkling OF The affair.
Yes" said DR.. Gilmore, when questioned
about his patient, Il am treating Mis- Judge
Terry for mOnonania. Her deiirium Is cOEtued
10 one object She IS pursued day and night by
the same ideas and affections, 10 which she gives
profound ardOr and devotion. The character OF
her deiusouS Is tue continual presence of splI-
its, 10 whom she talks and from whom she re-
ceYes messages. AT times size Is extremely
violent, even without apparent cause lying into
a passion OF fury.
''If size Is dangerous to any one, l should say
II is herself. Previous TO her excitement she has
a burning head, with pulsatiOn within her skull,
which sire allays by pouring cold water on her
head by tie tGmDlerful, every half minute Tor
nouns at a time. She talks necessarily 10 spirits,
running rapidly from one subject TO another,
Omrtiin-s Ia The most bOlstefOuS manner, linen
she will suddenly lower her tone.
BRAVING THE ACTION OF COLD.
She can stand The action OF cold In high
degree without suffering and seems TO be tor
men'ed with great thirst AT night she Is most
tuI bulent and Is better al the break OF day"
Has medicine relieved her any?" was asked.
10 certain extent. j am treating her with
brOmides, chiOtidcS aud Indian hemp TO quiet
her and produce sleep. While conversation Is
carried on with the unfortunate woman she con-
tinuOuSy holds picture OF her deceased nus
band 10 her right ear. Wien alone she imagines
that she Is studying clAiTVOyancy and mutters
continuously. She viii not obey me or any one
else unless tile spirits command her 10. II hand
her medicine she Will 60 through this formula
through her imaginary tel phone:
Shall take 1t In six hours""
la four hoursP
Ono?
"'NOw?
Yes she exclalms and swallows the potion
without further hesltaucy."
'DO you consider her incurab ?"
Time alone can answer that question Pres
ent indications are against her."
VISIT To MRS. TERRY.
MIS- Terry has no love for newspaper men,
and for tnat reason reporter announced that he
had been sent by Dr.. BLANK uuOn entering her
room. Tie news gatherer told her that DR..
Blank had heard she was III, and had sent him
TO INQUIRE If any service could be render her.
Mrs. Teny's first piecautlOn was 10 close The
door with a slam, and motion her visitor 10
chair. Then SHE paced the Dom eXcltrdIy. She
appeared pale, emaclated, gaunt-eyed, aud her
ewes shone ike Goals OF hie. Those who saw
often during tue tTlal OF btr divorce SUIT
would scarcely have recognized her. Sue is little
more than the ghost of her former self.
"hOw did DR.. Blank know | was sickP" she
asked and then hastily added, "Oh, yes the
spirits nu / have told him"
"Ah. pl see If you are 40 impOStor," and the
visitor became some whst uncomfortable as she
applied IN photograph 10 her ear and entered
into an marinary intefYi with some one In
he spirit land She mutered som thing that
sounded very much like David David, dear,
AIN l right?"
SHE SEIZED TERRY'S PICTURE.
81 can GET no answer" she answered. land
something is wrong How did you know l was
sick Have the newspapers published a story
that am lnsane?" and her eyes baZed "a sue
Wheeled upon her visitor with a threatening
gesture.
Being assured that the papers had not pub
llshed anything Of the kind, she once more
seized Tie picture of the once Chief Justice OF
Tie highest tribunal OF the state aud switched
her unbalanced mind 10 dreamand. For many
minutes she mumbled furiOusy. Her lnvestiga-
tiOus must have been satisfactory, for she al last
turned smile upon her visitor aud said IN
Trembling tones:
Yes, YOU are my friend. You can do nothing
for me, for need no assistance from any one on
this earth. You may go" And she held open
the door. The reporter did not stand upon the
order of going and hied himself away at once.
Mrs. ferry had no bars or padded walls 10
her rooms. and for that reason some enc remains
near 10 prevent her from committing violence 10
herself II she does not improve in day or TWO
she VIII be taken before the Commissioners.