The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-19


Mrs. Lena Hillman. who disappeared from
her home at Oak Park one day last winter,
was fou~d .yesterday-an inmate of the
lunatic asylum at Dunning.
She was discovered by her husband,
George Hillman, who had been committed
TO the asylum through a mistake.
The mistake proved fortunate one, for
a. brought about the reunion Of a husband
and wife who had thought each other dead
and whose sufferings were due altogether to
the consequences that proceeded from this
belief. Their meeting under such strange
conditions was touching i'll the extreme.
Three of the county commissioners, who
witnessed the pathetic scene, said afterward
that they were never so much moved in all
their lives.
FOUND A RAvING MANIAC.
The story OF George aud Lena Hillman is
strange as fiction.
wife believes her husband to be in dam
ger OF losing his life, wraps a shawl hastily
about her head and goes forth to seek him.
Her anxiety proves too much for her brain
and she is found on the streets a rayipQ
maniac and committed to the asylum with
out Identification.
The husband returning to his home finds
his wife gone. He searches for her every
where, but without success. Work is
neglected and the house goes to wreck and
ruin. Finally he is picked up on the street
by the police and sent &c the detention hos
pital on the suspicion that he is crazy. The
court decides that his mind is not affected
and orders him sent to the poor house in
stead Of the asylum. In the court there is
another prisoner who is found to be a lunatic
and who is ordered sent to the asylum.
SENT TO THE ASYLUM BY MISTAKE.
The bailiffs in some way change both
men and the insane patient is taken to the
poor house while the pauper is carried off
TO the asylum. This pauper was George
Hillman, and it was the mistake of the
bailiffs that led to his meeting the wife
whom he believed to be dead, face to face
in q carriage at Dunning yesterday.
Supt Sawyer, in letter to the county
board on Saturday, called attention to this
particular case. He pointed out that while
John Lonson had been adjudged insane by
the court it was George HIllman who had
been sent TO the asylum.
The Hillmans are Hollenders and came
TO America five or six years ago. They
have no children, and the little cottage in
which they lived at Little Holland--a section
of Oak Parks described as a model of
neatness. Hillman is about 40 years old
and his wife is few years younger. He
was employed on one of the railroads, and
his wife used to care for the garden about
the cottage when her husband tended the
switch.
STARTED TO SEARCH FOR HER HUSBAND.
One night Hillman was brought home
with two big gashes on his head, said to
have been inflicted by union workmen who
disliked him because he refused TO Join their
organization. After that Mrs Hillman was
very anxious about the safety Of her hus-
band. When he was absent on an erraDd
or did not return from work at the regular
time she used to worry and fret for fear
harm had come to him. One Saturday
afternoon in November Hillman went over
TO the market in Oak Park to purchase
some meat for the dinner. The market was
closed and he waited for some time for the
proprietor to come back and reopen the
Ihop.
Mrs Hillman grew alarmed and hastily
wrapping shawl about her head started
out to find her husband. In some way she
missed him aud wandered into the city
She was frightened aud helpless and the
fright turned her brain. The police took
her to the detention hospital, and not being
identified she was adjudged insane and sent
to the asylum at DunnlDg. Hillman
reached home few minutes after his wife
left and sat down, expecting she would re-
turn shortly. When she failed to come back
he set out to search for her.
HIS SEARCH WAS HOPELESS.
Ignorant of the language and poor, his
search was hopeless. He appears to have
entertained sincere affection for his
missing partner, for he neglected work and
everything else and continued the search.
a few weeks ago he was found wandering
10 an aimless way in the vicinity Of Madi-
son and State streets and was locked up on
suspicion Of being insane.
DISCOVERED BY THE DOCTOR.
DR.. Loewey. physician at the asylum,
recognized Hillman on his arrival, and
Knew at once that a mistake had been
made The physician was in charge of the
mems insane ward and had not come in con-
tact with any Of the female patients. He
Knew the story of Lena Hillman, having
resided at Oak Park, and was acquainted
with her personally. He felt sorry for her
unfortunate husband and did what he could
70 comfort him,
Va Wednesday he happened to go into
one OF the cottages occupied by female
patents and was surprised to see a woman
~uo looked like the missing Lena Hillman
IN thu female ward Mrs. Hillman was
known as Gretchen" in default of knowing
her real name. The doctor looked second
time and felt sure he had found the solu-
ton OF the mystery. He informed
oupt Sawyer. who notified Com
mG n Spofford. Ballard and
Seauoer OF the asylum's committee of what
mad happened.
me commissioners went to Dunning yes
etaay and consulted with the officials as to
tmnat was best to do. 1t was decided to
efmR the husband aud wife together and
Gnst TO fate for the rest
MET FACE TO FACE.
Inc long separatedc ouple met in the
outage with the officials looking on as in~
crested spectators. Mrs. Hillman sat
alouonless on a chair and betrayed no feel
Cug al first. "Where is your husband,
ufetchenp she was asked.
o., he Is dead, dead" she replied mourn
%uiy, without raising her head.
-, where Is your wife, Georgem some one
use asked the husband, who is not as quick
He replied: '''' '0'
Lena is dead"
o.. LOOK at that woman" the doctor said
'ugTl.enIy. DO you know her9n
=, lie woman looked I'D at these words and
ST. nan liked his eyed eagerly on her face.
tb %s mad changed terriSly, but he saw some-
NJ That brought his wife to his memory.
me pair approached one another, the
s5 aosoles In the woman's face working as if
I So were endeavoring to recall something
~ nc nao forgotten. The insane look on her
ace disappeared.
M, ore you, Georgen she asked at length.