Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-07-20
piss 1Ii!chcI:'s Trial.

The second cay of the inquiry into
the mental condition of Alice Mitchell,
in Memphis. yesterday, showed undi-
minishcd public interest, the audience
being somewhat larger than on Mon
day. Promptly at $50 O'Clock the de-
iendant entered! the courtroom. accom-
panied by her two brothers.
The jury was promptly on hand. but
the Judge did not arrive until nearly 3
o'clock. when court was convened. The
gist of the testimony introduced tended
to confirm the impression Of hereditary
insanity having been transmitted from
mother 10 child Testimony and depo-
stions by numerous relatives were TO
the effect that Mrs. Mitchell, the mother
of Alice. had been stricken with insani-
~ On the eleventh day after the birth oil
her first child.
7jIrs. Mitchell was then placed in an
asylum. where she remained from June
10 to August 20. 1857. and was scarce
ly herself for a good many years there
after. DR.. Comstocls, Of st. Louis. was
physician in attendance upon Mrs.
Mitchell after she was delivered of her
first child. She was suffering from
acute mania, puerperal mania. when he
saw her. and was Mt times fcrociously
ielirious. She fanc;ed she was dead
and sent to an asylum. 1t was re-
marllablc typical case of acute mania.
In 1858. 1859 and 1860 ne attended
her. and the expression OH her face IN
dicatcd that she had suffered from
acute mania. lie had studied insanity
in the hospitals OF Europe and America.
Hereditary is the chief cause of insan-
ity. and hereditary transmission is the
most potent cause. The mother is
more likely to entail insanity than the
father, and that to 9 daughter than TO
son. lie has had several years eX-
perience in the Good Samaritan Hos
pital.
Mitchell family, said she always
thought Alice was cranky; but she said
nothing to the family about it. She
would build houses for the cooks baby:
and curried and washed her horse after
cleaning the animals feet. About two
months before She tragedy she said she
would rather be dead than alive; that
she loved some one, and couldn't speak
to her. She said her family were
against her, and she had q notion to
Kill herself She on one occasion placed
the ,nuzzle of gun against her ear.
and said she would kill herself.
Sle had boz of letters in the kitchen.
which She often examined. She would talk
around and worry. The cool, would tel! her
there was no use 10 worry rs she had plenty
ofmoney.
She showed Lucy an engagement ring and
said she and Frcda were going to marry and
her mother told her It was rot right. She
told Lucy not 10 allow am enc to interfere
with the box. She had not seen the box
since the tragedy. She told her that she and
Freda intended 10 marry. but the cook thought
she meant that She AID Freda intended to
marry two men. Alice went driving almost
every day except Sunday.
Witness did not know whether Miss john
son and she met young men on these drives.
She denied that Alice had ever made threats
against Fred; Ward. One day Alice accident
ally discharged Il gun in the kitchen, nearly
killing the COOK. After ;iie reading ofscvcral
disjointcd epistlcs written by Miss Mitchell
to Miss Ward, court adjourned until to-day.