The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-26
TWO LIVES WRECKED.
Mrs. Samuel Emmons Lies Bare.
ly Alive at the Hospital.
Her Husband, Who Is a Gradu-
ate of West Point,
browns His Sorrows in a Continuous
Spree-Mrs. Emmons' Mind
is a Blank.

Mrs. Imogene Emmons, wife of Sam
uel Emmons, of this city, lies at the
Salvation Army hospital. her mind an
almost total blank and her body in
capable of voluntary motion, caused,
the doctors say, by great worrying and
domestic troubles. Her condition is
dangerous and her case is such an un-
usual one that it has attracted atten-
ton among the medical men of the city.
Three weeks ago Mrs. Ernmons was re-
moved to the Salvation Army hospital.
Three days after she was taken from
her apartments on Jackson street be-
tween Seventh and Eighth, her hus-
band, who is not in business, sold part
of the household goods to a second
hand dealer and with the money thus
gained indulged in dissipation extend
ing over two weeks. It was over his
past actions and the hard struggle to
get food enough with which to live,
that has preyed upon Mrs. Emmons'
mind until her brain is diseased and
medical experts who have seen her say
that her recovery is doubtful, and
should she become well her mind will
be affected.
Mrs Emmons Saturday evening made
known the first wish since her arrival a t
the hospital nearly three weeks ago
and it was a freakish wish. She asked
for bread and molasses. Once since
then when a nurse was caring for her
she smiled. These have 6een the only
evidences manifested by her that her
mind was at all active. Food has had
to be placed in her mouth. Most of
the time she has suffered no pain. AT
first the doctors thought she was suf-
1er1ng from form of dementia- But
conditions developed which led the med
ieal men to consider her ai1ment spe-
cies of brain paralysis.
Tl1- AToIS KT-,iIz A.
physician in charge at the hospital,
said of the case: There were unmis-
taxable evidences Of uric acid poison
ing. Whether that caused the brain
trouble, or whether the brain trouble
caused the condition which developed
uric acid, is a question of doubt. Her
trouble was caused by extreme worry.
She has had insufficient food and hard
work. Her husband does not visit his
wife at the hospital. understand that
he has sold her household goods and
has been on a spree for two weeks
DIR. W. S. Lindsay, who examined the
case, said today: Il considered the case
one of dementia. The woman was suf-
fering from great worry and anxiety. 1
doubt if she will get we'll"
A man who is well acquainted with
Mr. and Mrs. EmmonS said today ::
Mrs. EmmonS is an excellent lady. She
has had great troubles, and I under
stand that her mind is affected now.
When she was taken to the hospital it
was on Friday evening. The follow
ing MONDAY a second hanQ dealer went
to where the En1nons had lived
/, and took what he wanted. Mrs EN-
mons daughter, who is Mrs. Oscar
Sheaffor the barber's wife, had gone
there before that and taken some of
the belongings of her mother to keep
for her should she recover. About
three years ago the family moved here
from Emporia. It is a very sad case -
Samuel Emmons is a graduate of
West Point. He is well educated, but
it seems has let liquor get the better
of him. He represented to the Saliva
tion Army authorities that he had a
position at the state insane asylum
which he would take in a few days. But
he has not taken the position. Captain
Joseph Hawk said of the case: 'The
woman is in a sad condition. Her hus-
band told US that he had a job at the
asylum, but we didn't believe it, and
since found out that it wasn't true. We
hear that he has been drinking very
heavily of 1ate.''
Chief of Police Steele said: Several
complaints have been made to me lately
about this man Emmons. I find that
he has been intoxicated nearly every
day for two or three weeks and that
he hasn't been out to see his wife at the
hospital