The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-18

To THE EDITOR OF The SuN--Sir: Now that
Mrs. Halliday has boon quietly confined in the
county Jail for five days. ald during that time
has been utterly free from the excitement in
cdent to her examinations and informal GUS
tody ear BLOOMING burg. better opportunity
has been given TO the county officials TO de-
terminc whether not the woman's insanity
is real or feigned. Not for one moment has
there been doubt in the mind Of Sheriff
Beechcr upon this vital question. lie is u
man Of sound judgment and Of rare discretion
Nor has he the reputation Of hastily forming
conclusions and obstinately maintaining them.
Probably his opportunities for studying the
woman actions have been m uch greater than
that Of tho mountain constables who first had
her in charge. and his opinion is. and has been
from the first. that Mrs. Halliday is not in.
sane.
Now. what is there in the line OF conduct
pursued by her to warrant this opinion
There IA not In asylum records a case of
marked lunacy-puerperaI manla-that this
woman's actions have not resembled. The first
three days of her incarceration she showed in
Il marked degree that uttor lack of molestv
and cleanliness 50 ordinarily exhibited BY in
sane women. and at the sight Of visitors in
duIged IN periods Of apparent frenzy. Her
conversation was utterly incOherent and for
eign to the subjects upon which she was nd
dressed. 1t was Just this sort Of thing. Of
during her former asylum career, and She Ger.
taihIy nnHenrs to lie an apt imitator, if she lie
not FSn.Iy insaH", her very neriection in Thus
itself suspicious circumstance She is MA "
ing l tof mrSe stats Gnd to resort TO tie
insanity Is fully. in keeping with her
character and previous conduct But there il
one little point on which the woman's actions
might be improved. Shs should have learned
during her stay in Mattewan that tho haIu-
hi
Th. netient IN that stage Of the disease Is
harassed ar night by tho ianres of her brain
and converses with unseen foes. There is al!o
dllatton and incpualitv OF the pupils OF the
not so with Mrs. aa" SDF W fHSeH"ts'g sho Bnt
seeping Or nor during the first iour nights OF
lively stnted. but it is certain that sbo wna
passahly quiet. and that the night hours were
marked by n4.p OF tho irony that was al once
mnniio stch at tho nhpcaranre OF strang" rs. 1t
Was Tor mo heneiit OF observers that her
strength n Of yoicG and limb seemed to 10
called npon to vast" these frantic exhihitions
upon the desert air. Moreover on saturday
brought into use. managed to obtain /. view
OF the woman unseen BY her. Quietly and dc.
and puzzlng how bost to obtain release Iron,
u very unpleasant predicanont.
mo sy,mptP ms OF ncute mania that cannot
eyes are natura and the pupils equal and OF
normal size There is absolutely no muscrlar
a woman o! stout build and phlegmntlc tem
perament. II export testimony is called these !
facts will tell against Mrs. Halliday and Will
experts more than with tho public at large b"r |
attempts at nth and noise Will |
count for little. That these ATTEMPTS at feigsm!t
ing INSANITY are 50 extremely clever shows /
That the woman improved her time when size
was herself IA lunatic In the eyes OF the law
The opinion Of the mora learned and inteII |
gent mem ers OF the community hercabDItt |
Is that Mrs. Halliday Is more an actress than a |
lunatic. II " -
MONTICELLO N. Y. Sept. l9. 1899. We