The morning call., 1893-01-05
NO LIGHT THERE.
Mrs. Terry Is Pronounced
IncurabIe.
SHE IS H0PELESsLY INSANE.
Rurnors of Her Recovery and False
imprisonment Are Found I'm
true Upon investigation.
SHE IS HOPELEssLY INSANE.

Rumors have been ahogt for some time to
the effect that Sarah Althea Hili-Terry,
who last March was committed to the Asy-
lum for the Insane at Stockton. has long
since recovered her reason, but that she is
still. kept prisoner in that institution
through the influence Of people interested
IN having her deprived Of her liberty.
These reports have been generally accom-
panied by expressions of Indignation and
there has been so much talk of late On this
subject that CALL reporter yesterday
visited The Stockton asylum 10 ascertain the
true state of affairs.
This investigation not only resulted in
proving all the rumors OF Mrs. Terry't re-
eoyery false but they also brought the sad
fact TO light that, In the opinion or the ply
sicians who are in attendance on her. the
light of reason will never again reach her
darkened brain.
Dr. Clark, the Superintendent of the asy-
lum, has been appointed to that position
quite recently and therefore expressed HIM
self as not sufficiently familiar with the
case as to venture positive opinion, but
both Doctors Young and Phillips, who have
alternately treated Mrs. Terry ever since
her removal to the Stockton institution are
positive that her malady is incurable.
/ DIR. Young, whose special charge the
patient has been for nearly ten months.
said that he firmly believed Mrs. Terry was
insane long time before she came to the
asylum.
81 do not care to talk about this matter"
said he. because it is on the urgent desire
OF Mrs. Terry's friends that we have con-
cuded 10 give as little Information as pos
sble about her to people who come here to
ask questions. especially to reporters"
Then putting it on sentimental grounds
DIR. Young volunteered his opinion that no
yon1 pOiJld pnmp n tHa nuhlicatlOn of the
facts in the case.
However, he reluctantly made the admis-
sion that he had absolutely ne hope OF ever
being able to cure Mrs. Terry's mental
disease.
When asked about the lady's physical
condition DIR. Young said that she was in
perfect health, although not so tieshy as she
was some months ago.
DIR. Young would say 10 more, except
that he added Mrs. Terry would under no
circumstances be permitted to receive WIS.,
iiors.
Assistant Superintendent DR.. Phillips,
who has given Mrs. Terry's case much at
tention and is thoroughly familiar with all
its phases. was great deal more cOmmuni-
cative than Dir. Young.
''0n the books Mrs. Terry's malady is
called acute MANIA" lie said, and then he
very courteOusly explained the situation
nearly as follows:
''fhs unfortunate patient is not de-
mented; her reason is perverted, only.
''She remembers occurrences, dates, faces
ard erylhng else she has ever known,
and quite frequently when addressing any
one she will commence her talk quite ra-
ttoDally, but before she has uttered Who'll 9
sentence the conversation becomes hope
lessly tangled up and is utterly with out
sense.
Then, again, she suffers from hallucina-
tons. and constantly imaeines things have
occurred or are occurring which never ex-
listed at all except In her imagination
''She will near voices and feel electric
currents or complain of having been in
suited by some fellow-patieut without the
slightest foundation for such talk.
''1hele is also q trait of yiclousness in
her disease and she quite frequently be-
comes so spiteiu toward the other patients
in her ward that she mas to be temporarily
confined TO her ROOM
DR.. Phillips then said that one of Mrs.
Terry'S faYorite occupations is to make
drawings on pieces of paper which RESENT
bic the crude pictures one sees at spiritual
istic seances, and are known as spirit draw
ings.
When she is so occupied she claims TO be
working under orders from spiritlaHd.
The confined life she must necessarily lead
is very iTksome to Mrs. Terry. and she con-
stantly wants 10 be discharged, think ing
that she was sent TO the asylum only for q
short time and that her term has expired.
When in the eXercise-yard she will fire.
quently hail passers-by over the fence and
tell them that she is Mrs. Judge Terry and
| is being kept confined against her will.
On such occasion she will also throw let
tiers addressed to all kinds OF people over
the fence.
These messages invariably contain nom
sensical lamentations or meaningless
phrases, but some of them may have been
picked up and caused the circulation OF the
rumors referred to at the beginning of this
article.
DR.. Phillips is as much convinced of the
hopelessness of Mrs. Terry's case as DIR.
Young. and he says that the only treatment
applied in her case is to keep her as free
from all excitement as can be possibly done
under the circumstances.
Mrs. Ierry's surroundings are all that
they can be in her lamentabe condition,
and everything is being done to make them
as cheerful as the regulations permit.
Whether it would be better for the much
to-be- pitied woman were she placed outsid g
of a public institution and whether other
specialists would diagnose her case more
hopefully is an open question, but that ali
the stories of a recovery or ill-treatment are
without foundation is beyond any further
tnuht