Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-05
THE JURY HAS DOUBTS
Miss Jessie E. Wilson Claims That She is
Not Insane.
Her Appeal to the Marshars Jury-The
Hearing Continued and More
Witnesses Summoned.

There was not little excitement during
an inquiry by marshals jury this after
noon into the mental condition of Jessie L.
Wilson, young woman of Anacostia, who
Is alleged to be insane. Usually these
lunacy proceedings are very tame and I'M
interesting. but in the one this afternoon
the alleged insane woman so stoutly denied
being of unSound mind and SO persistently
declared that if given the opportunity she
could show by her mother, sister, brother
in-law and neighbors that she rs perfectly
sane and that her father was simply con-
spring to get rid of her that the jury post
poned the hearing until noon tomorrow, in
order to allow the unfortunate woman time
in which to produce her witnesses.
Placed ia St. EIizabeth's.
Miss Wilson, who is said to be about
thirty-tive years of age, lived with her
father, James Wilson, said to be employed
in the navy yard, in Anacostia, and several
days ago was placed in st. Eiizabeth's In
sane Asylum. Her father testified that she
insane, and claimed that she had
threatened to poison him. explaining that
poison was subsequently found in her
trunk. Drs. ]. S. Harrison and II. " Pyles
testified that they had examined Miss Will
son, and were of the opinion that she was
suffering from acute mania. They. there
fore. recommended that she be placed in
an asylum for treatment.
Mr.. Mason N. Richardson, assistant at
torney for the District. stated to the jury
that some of the woman's acquaintance
believed that she was not insane, and he
therefore presented her to them that the
jury might question the woman and salts
fy themselves by personal observation.
Miss Wilson's Story.
Miss Wilson, in a greatly excited man
ner. and with tears and sobs, begged the
jury on her knees to believe her, as she
declared she was not insane. For a week,
gentlemen" she exclaimed II have been
locked up in mad house, unable TO see my
mother or my friends nv father is at the
bottom of it all. He has beat me and
cursed me, and only wants you to send me
back to the asylum that he may get id of
me l know. gentlemen. that l am eX-
cited and l am talking wild, but for Gods
sake put yourselves in my place and tell
me ii you wouldn't be wild and excited,
too. Remember your daughters and wives
and sisters. and give me time to bring
witnesses to show you that l am not
crazy"
Doubts of the Jury.
The woman's statements and the earnest
and apparently intelligent manner in which
she made them gave rise to considerable
doubt in the minds CT the jury, and Mr..
Richardson called as witness Miss Green.
an attendant at the asylum. But although
Miss Green stated that the woman had
been as wildly excited during her stay at
the asylum, the jury stiil entertained grave
doubts as to her insanity, and after de-
liberating for quite a while they decided
to postpone the case until noon tomorrow,
and directed that the witnesses desired by
Miss Wilson be summoned to appear be-
fore them at that time.
Miss Wilson tkereupCn became compare
lively calm and willingly accompanied the
attendant back to the asylum. Before she
went. her mother, sister and brother-in-
law, Mrs. Rose Bllfott and one or two
other persons We're summoned to appear
tomorrow in her behalf.