The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-28

''was that a sane thing to dor asked N.
Gleason.
II don't <hink It was sane thing to do:
do you, Mr.. Gleason7 I think It was very
insane"
Questioned about other letters she had
written and which were offered as evidence
after she identified them, she saids
How perfectly crazy they are. was
crazy at the time wrote 70 many Gb-
surd things. Butt tell you, Mr.. Gleason,
had such high fever thotI wasdelirious.
and didnt know what. was doing. If you
are going to bring up everything have
written 1t will certainly make nice reading"
Lawyer Bach objected to the admission
Of the letters, saying that they had no
bearing upon Mrs. Wilmerding's present
mental condition. He was overruled and
took an exception.
Drank and Smoked
when wrote those letters" said Mrs.
Wilmerding. my physical and mental con-
dition was terrible. had hardly slept for
two months. DR.. Cerio allowed me to sit
up every night nursing my dying father.
He had dropsy. and the bandages had to
be constantly attended to. Often had to
carrying lantern to light the way
"Then, Mrs. Wilmerding in writing these
letters you think you were insane"
at may have been what drank and
smoked and the life 1 led. My father and I
did nothing but drink-it was French
brandy most of the time. never smoked
or drank so much before in my lifc."
did you use opium?'
81 never took opium In my life."
"Morphine?"
'Never."
"Sure?"
Sure"
Witness mentioned men who had medo
love to her, she declared. She continued:
THAT worried me, too. Then l had my
portrait painted by cousin Of Dr. Cerio.
used to go to his studio and sit unchap-
eroned, and we drank great quantities OF
liquors. They affected me- strangely. l
used to think they were drusged or we're
knockout drops, or something Of that sort.
1 was never affected like that before
This ended Mr.. Gleason's examination,
and Lawyer Pegram, for the asylum, ex-
amined the witness, not on the subject OF
her sanity, but to show that she had been
properly treated N the asylum, and tnat
abundant clothing had been furnished her.
On the latter point she did not make al
firmative answers.
Mr., Levy, in redirect examination. asked:
"You recognize now, Mrs. Wilmerddng.
that the contents of these letters are un-
true and frivolousY'
eyes, naturally, Mr.. Levy"
Asked about her being placed in Bloom
lngdale, she said: t.ls
when Mr. Gleason took me there hs said
1 would only have to stay three weeks, but
when the three weeks expired there was no
Mr. Gleason to get me out"
when did you begin to be addicted to
stimulants. ?"
about three years. ago?"
"After your marrfage?"
Eyes. Before marriage drank. but never
to any terrible extent
"You became addicted to stimulants.
then, after your troubles with your hus-
band?"
Eyes. I suffered great pain In getting
my wisdom teeth, and he refused to allow
me to see a dentist. My married life was
extremely unhappy"
DR.. Carlos Mcdonald here asked Mrs.
Wilmerding If she did not know that the
law made it compulsory upon the asylum
officials to discharge her as soon as she
was cured.
YES" answered the witness; but you
know the law is very slow and might be
a year in getting around to met
Mr.. Levy asked several questions regard
ing her present health, and In reply to one
she said:
II don't know what property have left
or what I shall do when get out, but l
feel that I am perfectly capable Of taking
care of myself
This ended Mrs. Wimerd1ng's ordeal
after which she resumed her seat between
the two asylum attendants.
DR.. SamueY Il. Lyon, medical superin%
tendent of Bloomingdale, was called by Mr..
Gleason. DIR. Lyon said Mrs. Wilmerd1ng
was in a. state Of sub-acute excitement
when she was brought to the asylum on
Jan. 9th last.
II regard her as absolutely incapable OF
managing her own affairs She has lost
many Of her decisions. but her condition
Is somewhat chronic. / believe her con.
dition to be the result Of gradual growth
and development. fastened by her habits
of life.''
That closed the hearing. The commits
sion will make its report next Tuesday
after visit to Mrs. Wilmer1ing at Bloom
ingdale.-New York World.