New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-10
MRS. WILHERDING'S TROUBLES.
SHE DECLARES THAT HER HUSBANDS
TREATMENT DROVE HER TO EN-
rrSSINr DRINKING


Mrs Marie F Wnmerding wife of John c. Viii
merdinc IT, who is confined in Bloomngdae Asy-
lun appeared before the commission appointed by
Justice Keogh. of the Supreme Court. to inquire
into her sanity at the courthouse in White Plains
Yesterday morning She brought from the
asylum by two female attendants. and while she
was being examined the attendants sat beside her.
She seemed TO be in good health and spirits
Notwithstanding the report that her husband had
refused 10 interest himself in the case. II was sad
in court that he had sent representative TO watch
he proceedings. The couple nave been separated
for two years and since the beginning Of this year
Mrs Wilmerdlng has been confined in Blooming
dale Asylum.
The commission, which is composed of Eugene b.
Travis. a lawyer. OF Peekskill. Or. Carlos r.
Macdonald and Dr. II. Ernest Schmidt or Whlte
Plains, will determine whether Mrs. WilmerdihS
shall be released or not The details of her separa-
ton from her husband her trip 10 Italy, from
which she returned last winter and sent to the
asylum, have been told in the columns OF The IT'D
une. Her story of her troubles was told by hersei
the commission yesterday. Before she took the
stand Mr.. Gleason. representing Franklin Allen ana
John Wallace. the committee Of Mrs. Wilmerdins
person and property presented a return from the
committee to the commission. Mrs Wilmerdns
ascrioed all her troubles TO the treatment she hau
received from her husband. TO whom she was mar
ried in 1891 Even before she became his VIE ne
struck her in ballroom in the presence OF many
Il married him because Mrs. Allen toiu III!
father that Jack had compromised me and that
ought to marry him. and then had TO- was
made to-"
Her husbands attitude toward her. she continued
drove her to seek TO forget her sorrows In drihK'
After she began 10 drink everything went wrong.
She drank mostly absinthe. cocktails and mixed
liquors. and sometimes pure whisky; she sald that
her husband began to ireaI her ohd{ onYee Ssn5
toward her he should. When her husbands con
duct toward her became worse her father ala not
act rightly toward her she said. and the latter
actions caused her to drink more than she had
ever done. She left her husband when they were
living in Orange, y. j., but was advised to go pacK
Mrs Wilmerding also spoke Of her visit to her
prostraton. She testified that she and her father
frequently sat up all night and at one OF these al
night sittings she drank a quart OF WhlSkey. hhe
abroad she often smoked forty or fifty cigarettes
day: ,,, , ..
and notes written by her. In which she said she
illegitimate child and that her family were
explanation Of the letters that she had written
them when she under the influence OF liquor.
She replied to several questions asked her by Dr.
Macdonald that she did not think that she was IN
sane. although she might have been mentally de-
ranged at times owing TO her troubles; She did
injustice In placing her I'm an asylum In reply 10
a question as to why she had sold her interest In
her fathers property for many thousands
she supposed she did not know what she was doing
DR. s b Lyons Of the asylum testified that Mrs
Wiimerdng when admitted 20 the hospital had
Authorizations and he added that he believed that
would not make the Journey from the courtroom to
thu railroad station az White Plains without get
ting drunk Mrs. Wilmerding interrupted the doc
This ended the hearing Mrs Wimerding will be
Of a week at the end OF which time they VIII give
their decision 10 Justice keogh