The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-29
TESTIMONY against Her
Witnesses Testify That They Thought
Anna Dickinson Insane.
THEY DESCRIBE HER ACTIONS
Mr.. Egglcstou Was Very Firm in His
Belief That Miss Anna Acted Like an
Insane Pcrson-Mrs. Jcmimn Grif-
fiths Was of the Same Opinion.

The same public interest is still dis
played in the famous Anna Il. Dickin-
son suit before Judge Acheson in the
United States circuit court. Indica-
tions now point that the trial will not
come to an end before Saturday eve
ming.
Miss Susan Dickinson was recalled to
the stand when court resumed yester-
day morning. Her testimony was
principally in regard to the matters of
the household
Conductor Baldwin. of the train on
which Miss Dickinson was conveyed to
Danville, was next called to the stand.
He observed her on that occasion and
her conduct would not impress one as
that Of a person who was of sound
mind.
Miss Martha Brown, the servant, next
testified. The substance of her evil
dence about the actions of Miss Dick
inson was the same as what Miss Susan
Dickinson swore to yesterday.
Lagrange Eggleston, 10 years of age,
and a son of Allan Eggleston, one of
the defendants, testified that on one oc-
caslon he saw Anna hold Susan by the
throat and bang her head against the
wall of the room. Mrs. Elizabeth
Stanton, the dressmaker, at whose
place OF business the plaintiff has been
charged with exhibiting signs of in
sanity in her actions swore that Miss
Dickinson asked to have her fingers
and toes pulled to thwart the pain she
complained of suffering. This occurred
on more than one occasion. Miss Dick
inson once threw herself on the floor
and rolled around. screaming hysteric-
ally. She threw her feet up in the air.
She called for red pepper to apply to
her temples as relief from headache
Some Corroborativc Testimony.
Mrs Ira Marcy, mother of the pre-
ceding witness, and Miss Nellie Els
worth, who worked at the millinery
store, corroborated the testimony in
regard to Miss Dickinson's unnatural
behavior.
Mrs. Susan Glen, Of Waymart, was
the first one called to the stand in the
afternoon. She was engaged in Octo-
Der, 1SSS, to nurse Miss Dickinson's
mother, and remained until May u,
1890. a good part of the fall of 1883
doctors care DR.. Johnson was the
physician. At various times the wit
ness observed actions on the part of
Miss Dickinson that savored of insan-
ity She spoke of Susan B. Anthony.
Mrs. Frances Livermore, Rhea. Mod
jeska and Fanny Davenport and
charged that they were conspiring to
ruin her reputation.
The witness thought that such senti-
ments were evidences of insanity She
carried jug Of alcoholic stimulants
up to Miss Annals room once. No one
in the house was in the habit Of indulg-
ing in the flowing bowl but Miss Anna.
The treatment of Anna by Susan while
the witness lived with them was kind
and indulgent.
Allan EgglestOn, of Pittston, one OF
the defendants in the suit. was called
and he went over practically the same
ground as Miss Susan Dickinson, in her
direct and cross-eXamination.
Judge Daley cross-eXamined the wit
ness, whose blunt answers kept the au-
dience in cheerful humor. Mr.. Egglc-
ston related all his part in the eXcit-
ing occurrence that took place in the
plaintiffs room the day she was taken
to Danville. The witness stood apart
from the other gentleman present in the
room, and left no hand at all on the
plaintiff. For some time antecedent TO
the day that she was removed to Dan
vile, Miss Dickinson acted like one who
was crazy or under the influence of IL
quor. The witness did not think that
she was suffering from over indulgence
in alcoholic stimuants.
The Liquor Purchased
c. w. ST. John, of Pittston, was the
next witness. He keeps a liquor store
and sold alcoholic stimulants to Miss
Dickinson during the fall of 1889 and
spring of 1890 The exhilarating beyer-
age was sold In quantities from a quart
to a gallon. Sometimes the purchase
was plain whisiey, and sometimes the
order was for gin, brandy. porter etc.
Miss Anna Dickinson called in person
at his store on one or two occasions.
but the most of the times some mes
senger came. The messenger was not
sent, as far as the witness knew, by
Miss Anna especially. The orders came
from the Dickinson household and were
charged to the family.
Mrs. Jemima Grifiiths, of West Pitts
ton, was called to the stand. She was
on the closest terms with the Dickin-
son family, particularly with the moth
er. She was only slightly acquainted
with Miss Anna. On the morning OF
February 25, 1891, the date Of the plain
tiff's removal to Danvllle, Miss Susan
II Iii. A..
come to the household and assist in
preparing Anna for removal to hos
| pital for mental treatment.
Mrs. Grinlths testified that she re-
| sponded to Miss Susan's appeal and
| arrived at the house about 10 o'clock in
the morning. She proceeded with re-
cital of the details that led up to the
| moment that the defendants went TO
| her room to take her away.
Miss Anna wanted to know the mean
| ing Of this outrage, and one of the
| gentlemen told her they had come to
| take her away to a place where she
would have rest and treatment. At
| this she stormed and raved and in
| formed them that whenever II became
necessary for her to be treated for any
| trouble, then she would be entirely COM
| petent to manage her own affairs.
No unnecessary violence was used to
| prepare Miss Anna for removal, and
whatever force was used resulted from
her own resistance.
Thought She Was Insane.
| From the actions of Miss Anna on
that occasion. the witness was and Is
still under the impression that she was
crazy. She described the restraining
jacket put upon Miss Dickinson. 1t
was made out of strong black cloth and
laced In the back. Mrs. Grifllths and
DR.. Heilman put the jacket upon Miss
Dickinson, who fought and struggled
with them.
They had to take It off again because
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