The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-11
ALICE IN THE ASYLUM.
FTeda Wards Slayer Will Never Be
Released.

Insane - The Pretty Monomania'
Grown More Beautiful-she Talks
Coherently, But Refuses to Speak Of
Her Crime.
From the New TO-k Recorder.
The second anniversary of the death OF
Freda Ward at the hands of her girl
lover, Alice Mitchell, occurred on Thurs
day last On the day Of the murder the
icy relics of a heavy fall of sleet and snow
covered sections of the earth sequestered
from the suns rays. 1t was in such spot
that the murder was done. The victim,
her elder sister, Miss 10 Ward, and Miss
Christina Purnell were pacing their way
slowly down the icy surface Of the in-
clined walk north Of the custom house,
en- route TO the wharf, where the Ward
girls intended to embark for their home
at Gold Dust, Tenn, after a visit of
several weeks duration to friends
in Memphis When about half way
down the walk the girls were overtaken
by Alice Mitchell, who carried an open
razor in her right hand. AS treda turned
TO see who was approaching so rapidly
from behind Miss Mitchell slashed her
across the face with the razor. 10 Ward,
In defense of her sister, raised her UNI
brella and struck the Mitchell girl, VINO
responded with sweep of her keen-edged
weapon that left a long, but not deep,
cash on her assailant'S throat. turning
again to F'reda, who had fed toward the
river, the murderess caught her from be-
hind, and with one quick sweep of the
razor, severed her victims jugular vein,
windpipe and carotid artery.
AS the facts developed, public opinion
veered around to the belief that the trag-
edy was the result of an unnatural pas
sion, such as is portrayed by Belot in
''Mademoiselle Giraud, My Wife"
Medical men of eminence and experts
on insanity all over the United States and
Europe agreed that Miss Mitchell was af-
fiicted with homicidal mania, superln-
duced by perverted SeXuaIty.
One thing that was never agreed on by
the theorists was whether or not there
had ever been any physical manifestation
of passion between the girls.
1t is believed by those who had the best
opportunities to study the case that there
had not, and this belief is strengthened
as time passes, and the conduct of the
murderess is scrutinized by those in
whose charge she is.
On July 3d. 1892, after an examination
of evidence lasting twelve days on plea
Of present insanity entered in behalf of
Miss Mitchell, she was declared insane,
and by order of the court taken to the
West Tennessee hospital for the insane,
located near Bolivar.
She was seen there on Wednesday by a
Recorder reporter, who went from Mem
phis for the purpose of securing informa-
tiOn as to her mental and physical condi-
tioD and her manner of life,
IN THE ASYLUM.
The Bolivar Asylum, as the hospital for
West Tennessee's insane is popularity
known, is a vast brick ediice built in the
style of the Renaissance and located on a
plateau between two ranges of the sandy
hills that abound in Hardeman county.
There were originally 100 acres of table
land in the site purchased by the trustees
for an asylum with the appropriation
made by the legislature of 1885. The loca-
ton is one of the most beautiful in West
Tennessee. The climate is salubrious,
and the scenery is as striking as is TO be
found away from mountainous regions.
The water supply of the hospital is a
border Of which Mrs. J. Augusta Evans,
the novelist, passed her childhood and
conceived the plot of est. Elmo, g"
that popular romance of a quarter
Of century ago. The hos
pital was completed in 1889, and opened
for the accommodation of the insane resi-
dents of West Tennessee in the fall of
that year, There are at present 355 pa
Ients within the walls, all of whom are
white and most of whom are harmless
Among the number are several besides
Alice Mitchell who have more than local
reputatiou-but of these more hereafter.
DIR. John p. Douglass is the superin-
tendent of the hospital. Heis apparently
below middle age, but as he served with
honor as a confederate of1icer he must
have passed the meridian of life, He is a
man with a theory. 1t is that the only
cure for insanity is nature, assisted by
wholesome food, plenty of rest, enough
work to keep the muscles elastic and rec
reation sufficient to eradicate the unpleas-
ant memories of the past. He opposes
force in the treatment of lunatics, and.
except in extreme cases, forbids the use
of restraining mechanism such as strait
jackets, etc. Whether as a result of this
system or of the healthful climate of
Hardeman county it is not within the
scope of newspaper writer to say, but il
is fact that the death rate in the asylum
is lower than it is outside In the state.
Alice Mitchell is in ward | of that por-
tion of the hospital set aside for the oc-
wupancy of female patients, She is pop
ular with the attendants, and her sister
patients like her.
Adu L see MISS NlltCnGllFF SalQ the
Recorder man to DIR. Douglass, after ex.
planning the purpose of his mission.
THAT rests entirely with her" replied
the superintendent, but ] hardly think
she will agree TO it, as she is averse tc
publicity.
son visiting days she slways retires 10
her room, and cannot be induced to come
out and meet visitors. Even on the oc.
caslons of our weekly dancing parties she
will not attend unless she is assured that
there are no strangers present DESTROYS OF
meeting her. Wait a few moments and
we will see if you can meet her"
The doctor retired. and on returning a
few moments laJer said Miss Mitchell had
declined to meet the reporter. "ShC
doesn't like to get into the papers" said
the doctor.
He then showed the Recorder man
through the establishment. which an
peared to be well ordered, and was as
clean as human hands could make il. In
the corridor of the first ward Miss Mitch.
ell was seen. She was watching a new
patient, who was walking up and down
the corridor declaiming "Rienzrs AID
dress to the Romans" Alice was clad in
closely fitting dark blue dress that
showed her handsome figure to advant-
age. Facially she is a comely, wholesome.
healthy looking girl with dark-blue ewes
Somewhat too close together, perhaps
q clear, rosy complexion, full red iips,
white teeth, a slightly retrousse nose and
an average forehead, rather narrower