The Washington times., 1895-03-27

Miss Mary Delaney, the ALLEGED insane
arsonise. was brought up before Judge Miller
yesterday to have the question OF her sanity
| determined judicially. Warden LEONARD
notified Judge Miller Monday afternoon
that she had been so violent that it required
the united efforts of two men to hold her,
and in view OF this. the judge ordered the
investigation to be held yesterday, a day
in advance OF the time originally set
In spite of the statements in regard to her
violence at the jail, Mss Delaney was as
mild and tractable as any nervous and
rather frightened woman could well be.
She made no outbursts of any kind, and at
the close Of the case, the Judge remarked
that If she had conceit, she certainly knew
how to manageit.
She was a little more haggard than when
she was first arrested, but she showed no
evidence of weakness, and walked to the
witness stand with a quick, firm step.
She was not as talkative as usual. yolun-
teering very little and answering the ques-
tions addressed TO her in an apparently
straightforward manner.
so prominently in the descr ption by which
she was identified. The odor OF coal oil
had entirely disappeared.
SYMPTOMS OF A DELUSION
Drs. Jackson and Shute and Health
Officer w. c. Woodward, who made the
examination into the mental condition of
the prisoner. testified that she had shown
evident symptoms OF a delusion in regard
to religious matters, but aside from this
delusion, she was able TO appreciate the
difference between right and wrong They
thought, however that she could not COM
prehend the nature of the charge against
her, as it formed part OF her delusiOn. 1t
was their opinion that she needed treat
ment.
The prisoner was then placed on the
stand. and told the court that she came
here from Milwaukee in January and had
since been giving concerts for a liyiHg. and
with success. Her first trouble. she said.
was at Carroll Institute Hail. where the
manager, Mr.. Lynch, told her after the
concert, when she was about To leave the
hall. that there was no money for her, and
demanded a balance on the rental. which
she said She was unable TO pay. She had
had some trouble on the evening of her
last concert. she said. in regard 10 getting
the ban lighted. but that had been ar
ranged.
In reply TO a question from the court as
to the methods of persecution adopted by
the church. she said that she had often seen
men at the various hotels at which She
stayed, without the clerical collar, but
whom she thought 10 be disguised priests,
who were watching her movements. She
never held any conversation with these men,
but believed that they prejudiced the hotel
men against her, and attributed the neCes-
sity for her frequent change Of residence
to this fact.
What method. IL any, have you or had
you OF protecting yourself against these
prosecutions" asked the court.
HER WAY TO ESCAPE.
II see no way unless it is to put the
authorities on their track" answered the
prisoner. The only way I can escape them
now. for time, is To go from one city
to another
She said that she had never used coal
oil on her supposed enemies. and explained
its presence on her clothing by saying that
the servants had heen cleaning the wood
work at the Elsmere with it, and she
thought she might have rubbed against
il in some way.
You know that it would be wrong to
set church or any building on fire. do
you not?" inquired District Attorney Null
lowney.
Yes. sir; do she replied very en-
phatically. And l did not set them on
fire, and have never set anything else on
fire. 1 did not have anything 10 do
with it"
Why do you think you are justified IN
shooting or iniunng hotel clerks, when
they present their bills?" asked Mir
Mullowney.
Miss Delaney evidentl ythought the ques-
ton referred to the officers who arrested
her, for she replied that she did not know
the men were officers. and they did not
tell her so. They simply dragged her
out, and she naturally resisted. Had she
known they were detectives, she said, she
would have gone with them quietly, know
ing the law. She reiterated her state
ment that she had never set fire to a
church or anything else in her life, and re-
quested the judge not to send her back to
jail.
Judge Miller said he regretted that there
is not in Washington q house of detention in
which such prisoners could be kept for a
short time until their cases could be dis
posed of. but as it was Miss Delaney would
have to be detained at the jail until to-
morrow at least. He thought, in view of
the prisoners apparently rational state
ments. she was entitled to hearing, and he
ordered that all the witnesses in the case
be summoned to appear to-day, when the