The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-03
Commission on Insanity Disa-
grees as to Her Condition.
A BRICK-MAKING MACHINE
The Woman Wanted Him to Pay Her
$1,000 Moses Kaufman, Charged
With Insanity, Held for
Further Investigation.

noon, but the doctors disagreed and one
of the accused was discharged and the
other was held to await further develop
ments in the case. The first case was
the eccentric old woman, Mrs. Mary
Curtis. who threatened the life OF John
IL. Curtis because he weuld not pay
her 81, 600 which she claimed he owed
her. The doctors who examined the
woman were Donald Campbell, w. NJ.
Shultz and r. Is. Moore. AT the re-
quest Of Judge Lindsay the chief dep
uty county attorney, Mr.. eN-
amined the witnesses.
John H.. Curtis was the first witness
ana said he mad known the woman for
l6 years. He said she had accused him
of dlsposing of a brickrnsking machine
belonging to her husband and threat
med TO expose him. Last Sunday even
ing she called at his house and threaten
ed him with death If he did not give
her 81. 600. She also threatened 10 XIII
his family and cursed him and used in
decent language. The first intimation
he had Of her imaginary claim was upon
the receipt of a letter from her and he
answered It and told her he knew moth
ing about the machine. The witness
said the woman husband, William
Curtis, before he left her. told him that
she was a hard thinker and continu-
OuSlN unQeT tue IlllutbCE u hHNS' 49,
tina was why he left her.
DO you know whether or not she had
n weapon when she threatened your
II don't know. but Mrs. Lowery SAID
she saw a pistol In the woman's hand
MIR. Curtis said the woman had
stopped him no less than 10 times ana
talked to him about the brick machine.
she returned from Portland about two
years ago and since that time has talked
about the machine.
Did you at that time think she was
OF an unsound mind?" asked Judge
Lindsay.
mo. / did not; 1 just thought she was
off her base"
Mr.. Curtis said that last Sunday even
ing when she called at his house and
threatened him. she laid particular
stress on being a Corkonian.' She told
him that he was not as good a man as
i. A. Largey was, and she would see TO
II that he went the same way. She
said that was her last warning. Mr..
Curtis said the woman was no relative
of his.
Captain f.. A. Nichols. the next wit
ness, testified that he was present at
the Curtis residence when the woman
came there last Sunday evening. She
acted like a crazy person and threat
ened Curtis. The latter told her To go
away and said he would call a police
man if she did not. She then dared cur
tbs to come out and put her on the
sidewalk. She finally went away OF her
own accord.
Mrs. Lowery, who lives opposite the
residence of Mr.. Curtis, testified thai
she heard the threats made by the
woman
Under Sheriff Murphy was called as a
witness, but he knew nothing about the
. woman.
: !. NJ. Bowes testified that he bought
/, the brick machine In question from MRS
|. Curtis husband Is years ago and thai
! ]. Ii. Curtis knew nothing about II ano
: never had anything TO do with the ma
chine.
. Mrs. Curtis was then examined by th'
doctors n she said she was 5S years
of age and that her husband died sever
years ago. She came to Butte IL year.
ago and had known this little curtis
u that long.
Excuse me for using the word,
mean MIR. ]. ii. Curtis" she said.
I She said her usban bought tn
brick machine and afterwards turned l
over to this little Curtis to sell.
Did YOU threaten to kill him?' asked
a DIR. Campbell.
n ''Threaten him Why, no. l woul'
not dirty my hands with him. ] aske'
a him If his conscience troubled him ant
= If ne slept well. lie said How do 70
n do?' and ] said 1 would do better II yo'
e paid me what you owed me. lie SAID
n called him bad names. / called him
'runt.'"
= Mrs. Curtis said she was second COO
J. in a restaurant and was on her wa,
n. home when arrested and the policema
n used language which she would not re
lie peat before so many nice gentlemen.
n Were you drunk
II drunk? Me drunk? DO I look lIk
y a drinking woman? Here | have a Re
ie man shawl 20 years old and there Is nt
III a spot on st. Does that look like
2, drinking woman? | drink an oCcasion'
glass OF beer, but that is all. | neHe
aid a wrong thing in my life. i am a
honest woman and work hard for m
living. My friends are pretty well o
in the East and l am the only poor on
-, in the family. ] have two nephews WI
y, are lawyers In New York. l came Oh
m here to earn my living and TO cole
"a the money due me. and there is lots Of
- due me in this town from people WI
bought brick from my husband ar
is never paid him for them. There IS OF
nd woman here now who does not recognl
he me any more but her husband owed n
he husband over $500, and now she Is II
is ing in a nne house. while / have to woI
on hard for my living. and when ] a
&c SEX ] have to go TO the county 20
ne house"
he Mrs. Curtis said she did not kno
on why she was in court, but hoped l
Jury would give her a verdict again
J. II. Curtis for the money he owed h
&C. She said she was charged with threate
ing MIR. curtis when she was arrest'
At 4 talk very loud, and l want TO I
YOU how that is. When l was a girl
years of age l worked in a silk factor
Irn The machines made so much noise N
lge We had To talk loud to make ourseiN
m heard. II became a habit with us gi
en- and have always talked loud. ! do
like IL. but l don't think IL Is a Grim
The doctors held a consultation a
they found that they could not agree
ast to the woman's mental condition. II
81 Campbell and Moore did not believe
was a tit subject for the asylum,
DIR. Shultz thought she was though
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