The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-19
SHE WAS INSANE.
Result of the BarkduII
Inquest.
Or. Potter and NJ. Debret Testify Re.
garding the Woman's Men
tai Condition.

The inquest in the case OF Annie Y. Barkdull,
the woman who committed suicide IN The Home
for lnebriates several weeks ago by hanging,
was resumed and concluded yesterday by CorO-
neT Hughes. 1t Will be remembered that at the
time OF her death il was reported that she had
been i'll treated by DR.. S. o. f. Potter. the man
ager OF The home. and that in consequence of
said bad treatment she had ended her life.
There were even letters written by the woman
before her death produced, in which she al
legged that she was Ia the hands Of those who
were seeking her life.
DIR. Potter was the first witness examined
yesterday, and he was called upon 10 testify
principally as to his management of III e home
and his treatment Of patients, especially those
who are naturally unbalanced. He Told about
The wOman's first appearance al the home. She
said she had father and folks living in Hum
boldt County. but she did not want TO communi-
cate with them.
DO you ever report on insanity cases ?" was
asked he doctor.
"Well, there is no law TO compel me TO re-
port such cases when they come to my knowl-
edge. / usually do So"
The witness then showed Il letter which be
had written 10 the relatives OF one of his pa
tients In order 10 Illustrate how lie acTed in GER
tam cases. AS regards the deceased, DR.. Pot
Ter ala not consider 1t bis duty 10 notify her
relatives.
DIR. Potter was then asked regarding padded
cells ana THEIR use Tor insane DatenrS. He re-
piled that such cells had NOT been used in in
sane asylums for TWENTY-FIVE years past as they
cannot be kept clean. 1t was now he custom
TO put patients under mechanical restraint in
clean cells There were no padded cells In the
nome. Regarding tile case OF Mrs Bark dull,
De had not put her under strict restraints be-
cause he thought she would be quiet. She had
mad no special nurse night ana day, as that
would have entaled an expense of about SO a
week.
Nj. Debret, who had placed Mrs Barkduil In
the nome, was recalled, and testified that the
woman had acted strangely three months be-
the letters IN The case as having been written
by her He denied that he advised her TO con-
ceal her address, and also that he tried 10 hide
the Tact that she was In The home. The witness
had also supplied her with necessaries. She
had Informed him that she wrote letter 10
her brother.
Coroner Hughes then recalled Dr. Potter and
asked him bis opinion as 10 The wOmans men
tai condition. She had, he thought, the mono
mania OF suspicion and persecution. Her let
terS showed that she had suspicion that
people were trying to Kill her, and Mr. Debret
had also Informed the witness that the woman
showed signs OF mental trouble While she bad
been IN the home she had been well cared for
and received the best of attention.
DR.. T. y. Emerson was the last witness. He
told OF making the autopsy and OF the cause OF
death. IN commenting on the letters he said
they showed signs OF ballucination on the part
OF the writer.
After the testimony was all IN IL did not take
the jury long TO decide that the woman had
come to her death through strangulation, and
mat she had caused the same herself at time
when she was of unSOund mind. Mrs. Bark
Qull was a native OF this State, aged 81 years.