Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-03-04
A SAD CASE.

klllSOu, Vi OtOlSltt, iao pSSh '@NeA ~
her husband for treatment in sani-
tarium with view to having her mind
restored. The culmination of the story
is distressing in lis nature. Several
DAYS ago Governor w. Y. Atkinson re-
ceived an enclosure from the American
Notion Company. through its attorney,
Mr.. Hamilton Douglass, containing
bill for 81 600
If the bill astonished the Governor,
the story of how it came to be con-
tracted astonished him still more. 1t
was that some time ago the proprietors
Of the store had noted Mrs. Atkinson
in the act of secreting articles about
her person and carrying them Off.
Memoranda were kept Of the various
articles until it was decided that some
thing should be done. Knowing that
the lady was the Governors wife and
that any action against her would have
to be well sustained, close watch was
kept. she was greatly surprised and
spoke incoherently, and seemed alto
gether unable to gather her senses
when detected. Getting the afiidavits
OF witnesses, Mr.. Winslow, the man
ager, placed the matter in the hands Of
his attorneys, and hence the enclosure
| to Governor Atkinson.
! The governor was utterly Frustrated
by this charge, which be could not be-
lieve. He revolved in his own mind
the fact that his wife had lately shown
evidence Of nervous prostration brought
on by eyactine domestic duties. He at
once sent for his friends, ex-Chief
Justice Logan Blacllley, Attorney John
NJ. Terrell, Supreme. Court Judge
Samuel Lumkin and John l.. Hopkias.
Into the hands OF these discreet gentle
men he placed the enclosures from Mr..
Winslow and begged them to probe
the matter in all its details to the
bottom. and TO ascertain every fact
possible.
The revelations which met the in
vestigators were painful, indeed. They
ascertained the fact that Mrs. Atkinson
| had become addicted to the use OF
narcotics. that by their use her already
weak constitution Was broken down;
that her mind was sadly weakened aud
that there were other cases Of klepto-
mania (besides that one brought out by
Mr.. Winslow), which had been sup
pressed by considerate shopkeepers,
who realized that the lady was not
responsible for her acts.
There was, in the opinion of these
gentlemen, only one thing for the hus'
band to do; that was to place his wife
under expert treatment for the eradica-
ton of the passion for narcotics and
thus restore her mind. This report
was made to the governor on Monday
last.
The lady's father, who lives in Flor
ida, was tclegraphcd for, and upon his
arrival it was determined that the gov
ernor should place his wife in some in
stitution where she might find relief.
Without telling her of the ugly disclos.
ures-which would have only distressed
her she was spoken to as one sick who
needed treatment and she at once con-
sented to 60. 1t is believed that Mrs.
Atkinson can be cured In her lucid
moments she has no recollection of her
wanderings through the stores or the
other signs she has given of alteration.
AS late us last Monday she received
visitors who noted nothing unusual in
her demeanor Rest, it is thought, will
restore her to health.
Mrs. Atkinson is beautiful woman
of the brunette type, highly educated
and deeply religious. The story Of
her married life is q romantic one.
Governor Atkinson was poor wagon
boy, who saved money enough to pay
his term through the State University
in Athens. Situated in the same city is
Lucy Cobb Institute. AS young At
kinson was passing the institute he saw
the girl who was afterwards to be-
come his wife. She was the daughter
of proud and wealthy family, the
granddaughter of one of its governors.
The poor student did not hope to as
pire so high. but that did not prevent
him from carrying her image in his
heart. He became lawyer, prosper
ed in his profession and was elected to
the legislature. He now claimed the
hand of his sweetheart Of college days,
and their marriage followed.
Mrs. Atkinson entered at once into
all of her husbands ambitions, and
when he aspired to the governorship,
still Young man, it was her influence
that pushed him on. They were poor
and unable to stand the expense of a
campaign. This Mrs. Atkinson simpli-
fed By taking charge of the campaign
headquarters herself. She made maps
of the State divided it into districts,
appointed leaders for every district,
aud kept in personal communication
with ali the leaders in the State.
Her husband was absent on the
stump and thus his wife was every day
cal Ell upon to decide questions of the
utmost moment. 1t was remarkable tina
she never made mistake, never failed
to answer letter and had the
"a npaign so we'll in hand that there
was 70 other name but her husbands S
presented to the convention. Her work
thus done drove her to the use of mar
cotics, which resulted in the breaking
down of her system and the sad devel-
opment OF kleptomania.
The Legislature of which her hus-
band was a member was of the hay
seed variety and opposed to the expen-
diture of money. Mrs. Atkinson put
| herself in communication with the