The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-23
Twice Youths Cause Her to
Become Desperately In
fatua ted.
EXPERTS ARE IN THE DARK.
1t Is More Likely That Miss Mitchell
Killed for Hatred Than for
Love.

beautiful June day IN lS9Z Alice Mitchell,
in charge OF officers, after being adjudged
4 lunatic, was conveyed from Memphis to
Bolivar, eighty miles away, and there con-
fined in the West Tennessee Asylum for
the Insane. There is no doubt of her in
, sanity. Her last act was that of an insane
person. Before leaving the city she was
conveyed TO Elmwood cemetery, where she
scattered flowers over the grave of Freda
Ward, whose throat she had cut few
months previous. This browning of her
murdered girl-sweetheart's grave would
have unstrung any other person than
Alice Mitchell, but her nerves are like
iron.
The asylum at Bolivar is pleasant
place. The officers are humane and the
best possible provisions are made for the
comfort of the inmates. A correspondent
spent yesterday at the asylum. The day
was hot, but the immense shade trees on
the lawn made it an inviting spot
On one side the men played croquet and
watched pitcher curve baseball in a
manner that would make crack doff
his hat in admiration. On the other side
200 women OF all ages enjoyed the serene
calmness OF the day under heavy-leafed
trees.
Alice Mitchell stood apart with two
other patients. She was daintily dressed
in pink. She wore the latest thing in
pulled sleeves, the very latest sailor hat
and was thoroughly up to date young
woman. She was cheerful, too, for when
something happened that excited laughter
Alice clapped her hands just as she would
al boarding-school.
Alice Mitchell's case is still puzzle to
the two doctors at bolivar, Drs Douglass
and Nelly. The latter is close student
of psychology He has seen Alice
Mitchell daily for three years and has
closely studied her case, yet to him the
motives that prompted her to take the
life OF Freda Ward has not been reduced to
a philosophic certainty.
Alice Mitchell's daily life at Bolivar and
the little things in her life are what this
scientist watches in studying her case. 1t
was stated and greatly emphasized, too. by
those desiring to throw certain unhoIy
coloring around the mysterious romance
III the lives of Freda Ward and Alice
Mitchell, that she was not fond of the
society of men, that she, unlike other young
women, rather repealed the attentions of the
stronger sex and being strong herself she
lavished her affections on young girls, and
proved it by saying that she killed Freda
Ward because she loved her. In view of
her whole life at Bolivar one might with
better reason say that she cut Freda Ward
throat because she hated her.
Alice Mitchell is not capable of the
strong and enduring love that is the glory
of women. When she loves it is with fear
full intensity, but her affection NAV be
turned into hate by sharp remark, a
quick retort or a frown. While at Bolivar
she fell in love with two men, one was an
inmate of the asylum and the other was an
attendant The first was young man of
artistic and refined temperament. He met
Alice at the balls given at the asylum every
Friday night. He was a graceful walter
and so was she. The young man treated
her at times with the utmost courtesy and
consideration. Alice received his attention
with all the maideniy modesty and pleas
ure of any young woman. She looked on
1t as her right that she, as all other women,
should be admired by young men.
Little presents were exchanged. and soon
one would detect that there began to exist
in the hearts of botn something that asso-
N'ehAAO4A hObAA ooOh I4pSA 4ulO lON6. his
was a revelation to the doctors. The
whole theory of the case under which Alice
was tried, and upon which the learned in
sanity experts SO profoundly testified, was
that AlicerMitchell's mind and her emo
tons were as if she were man, and that
she loved Freda Ward as a hot-blooded
youth loves young woman, and thus the
theory of the eminent men of both Cont
nents was knocked galley-west by
lunatic.
Alice, remember, met this young artist
only at the weekly balls, but after time
her lover sickened and died The news of
his death was terrible blow to her. She
received it with no outward demonstra-
ton, but with calm dignity, characteristic
of any young woman. She became melan-
choly, lost flesh, and was in a bad way gen.
orally for some time.
Time, however, healed the wounds
death had inflicted, and Alice's affections
were again whole. Soon after Alice looked
with favor Oh one of the male attendants
whom she met at the weekly balls. The
young man was a likely fellow, and while
he in no way reciprocated her affections
he made study of her case. So far as he
NOoAN ghNS VIC CobCCA h1lCc uGlQ IOT MIN
was of the same kind that any intelligent
young woman would bestow on Young
man; but the attendant had a sweetheart
and he married her. This cut Alice up.
Like woman of spirit, she made no
demonstration. However, had Alice had
another razor and had she cornered the
fair bride in her room, it might have been
serious for the attendants wife.
Alice Mitchell's passion is to get even
for real or fancied wrongs. That is why
she killed Freda Ward-at least, one man
who has studied her case so holds.
But Alice at Bolivar has not confined her
regard TO young men alone. A young
woman about her own age was sent to
Bolivar from Memphis. She pleased Alice.
Their tastes were similar and they became
boon companions. In due time they were
separated. Soon after something turned
up that made Alice's regard turn to dis
like. The two young girls then hated each
other. From that time the superinten-
dent took care that they never came in
contact. When Alice Mitchell went to
Bolivar she took an interest in her sur
rOundingS and kept her room very neat