The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-27
The anna Dickinson Case
Plaintiff Subjected to Searching
CrosS-ExaminatiOn.
WENT OVER HER LIFE HISTORY
Examination Enlivened by Sharp Retorts
and Bits of Rcpartco Mado
by Attorney Ferris in Opening the
Case for the Defendants.

case Tor the DcfcnunutS.
Miss Anna r. Dickinson's suit for
United States circuit court before Judge
Acheson and jury in court room No.
= at the court house Is one of the most
important events in legal circles in the
history of Lackawanna county's court
Miss Dickinson, the celebrated wo-
man whose name is familiar in almost
every state of the union, with the as
siStance OF her counsel Attorney Nc
Lain, of Wilkes-Barre, and cX-Judge
Daley, of New York. is endeavoring to
convince u court and jury that Drs. Un-
deiwCod and Heilman and others of
Plttston, on February %, 1891, by force
and against her will, removed her to the
Danvile Insane asylum, while she was
in her right mind and capable OF man
aging her own affairs and that by rea-
son OF such confinement she has sus-
tained damages to the amount speci-
fled.
Isaac Block, of Tioga county. was
called as the first witness yesterday
morning What he had to say was of
not much account Miss Dickinson her
self was called to the stand by her at
torneys and asked to state what ar
rangements for lecturing had been in
terrupted by her incarceration in the
asylum. Major Warren objected and
the court sustained 1t. Then the wit
ness was given over to the attorneys
of the defense for CrOsS-eXamination,
which Major Warren conducted.
Something of Her History.
She was born on Oct 2S. 1912, and
branched out as public lecturer at
the age of q years. From 1863 until
1875 she had as many as 1000 applica-
tons year for lectures, but would de-
liver only $50 year and re-
ceived iDr each a sum ranging
between 500 and $1,000. She could lee
ture on any subject. but had very pro-
nounced Views and feared that she
would be sure to give offense TO some
of her hearers.
Major Warren carried on a most eX-
haustive examination and questioned
her closely concerning the incidents of
her life up to the time of her incarcera-
ton. The impromptu bits of repartee
that frequently passed between him
and her caused many a smile in the
court and Judge Acheson exhibited
signs of mirth as well as the audience.
She was asked if she had not often
made use of opprobrious eplthets to the
servant, a young lady named Martha
Brown. She admitted that she once
called Miss Brown liar, and that the
term properly characterized her. She
did not use profane language in the
presence of Mr.. Hall, of Pittston. Her
health was good and she slept unusual
ly well. She was not in the habit of
going out on promenade or in public
places not suitably dressed. She did
not remember going out clad in light
wrapper a red straw hat and a thin
shawl.
She Was Not plimentary.
In answer to the question whether
the defendants had acted as gentle
men when they called to take her away,
she replied that they demeaned them
selves more like housebreakers, kid
napers and ruffians. She denied that
on the train she wanted to send mess
ages to Jay Gould, Ex-Governor Patti
son, Whtelaw Reid, and other distin-
guished gentlemen. She allowed a re-
porter Of the New York Herald to in
tervlew her after her liberation, and he
used no stenographic notes, but wrote
up an interview with her from hearsay.
During the campaign of 1883 she re-
ceved for her services on the lecture
platform in the interests of the Repub-
lican party a sum of money, only a few
hundred dollars short Of $1,000. Mrs
Jessie Wintersten, of Danville, Mrs.
Sallie Ackley, OF New York. and Mrs.
Louise Mcdonald, of Wilkes-Bar
We're the next witnesses examined, and
testified as to Miss Dickinsons health,
appearance and personal possessions.
That closed the case in chief for the
plaintiff.
A few minutes before 3 o'clock At
torney Ferris, of West Pittston, opened
for the defense. He referred to the
nobleness of an institution designed in
such elaborate manner as the Danville
asylum, and said that the defendants
We're actuated by the most worthy mo-
tlves in incarcerating her. The defense
would show, he said, that Miss Dickin-
son was not in her right mind previous
to her Incarceration. That she exhib-
tied an undue infatuation for men,
threw kisses at men in public places,
used to go out riding and applied the
whip to the horse so that the whip had
to be taken from her.
Actions She Is Charged with.
That she made purchases of large