The evening times., 1899-08-25

Mrs. Lillian de Merck, thirty five years
old, daughter of Prof. Charles B. Young,
of the Emerson Institute, and who is said
to be the divorced wife of German no.
bleman, was yesterday the object of a
search by the local police at the request
of her father. The search was the result
Of a call at headquarters by Prof. Young.
He stated that Mrs. De Marck was de-
mented and wandering at large and had
Wednesday night She returned yesterday
morning, Prof. Young said, but had again
absented herself. He asked the police TO
look out for her and his request was tele-
phoned from headquarters to the various
precincts. A diligent search was made by
the police but without result. At last re-
ports, according to the information pos
sessed by the police, Mrs. De Merck had
not returned to her home According to
the statement of James Irwin, Of 916 Four
teenth Street, at whose residence the a.
legged missing woman lives, she was at
home and had not been absent over night
as stated by her father.
According to information received Mrs.
it is said was established by two physi-
clans who examined her yesterday. Des-
pite this fact it appears that Prof. Young
has been of the opinion that his daughter
was in a mentally irresponsible condition
and, it is claimed, wanted to have her
treated at an asylum. The physicians,
it is said, after examining the woman,
stated that she was mentally sound and
that an incarceration in an asylum would
injure rather than benefit her. 1t was
further stated that while Mrs. De Merck is
known to be at times eccentric in her ac-
tions she is bright and mentally healthy
women and opposed entering an asylum, as
ii was alleged her father wished. This in
formation came from Mr.. Irwin who has
known Mrs. De Merck for over year and
has always regarded her as a woman pos
sessed of more than ordinary intelligence.
Mr. Irwin stated that Mrs De Merck has
lived at his house for some time. She has
always conducted herself as any sane wo-
man would and in fact has impressed both
himself and his wife with her marked bril-
liancy. Mr. Irwin stated that Mrs. De
Merck had lived abroad for twenty years
with her mother and two sisters and had
been educated in the best foreign schools.
He further stated that she spoke fiuently
five or six languages and had on occasions
given his child French lessons. Mr.. Irwin S
idea is that Mrs De Merck is addicted to
the use of some drug which renders her a:
times eccentric. He said the physicians
who examined Mrs. De Merck asked sher il
she was addicted to, the use Of intoxicants
and that she had replied that she used
them occasionally and wanted to know II
all women who did so could be called in
sane.
From what could be learned from Mr..
Irwin. Mrs. De Merck went abroad with
her mother and two sisters when she was
quite young. Prof. Young remained in
this city and has for years past conducted
the Emerson Institute at 9l4 Fourteenth
Street. in the house adjoining that in
which his daughter now has apartments.
When Mrs. De Merck, then Miss Lillian
Young, was still young she met and mar
ried a foreign gentleman After his death
she was apparently much grieved but later
married a German nobleman whose name
she now bears. The marriage, it is said,
was not a happy one, and the ultimate re-
suit was that the couple separated. Sub
sequently Mrs De Merck returned 10 this
city. She is supported, ii is said, by an
allowance from De Merck. Since her re-
turn TO Washington Mrs. De Merck has
led a quiet life. According, to- Mr. Irwin
he has not known her to be- absent. from
the house over night, except on three oc-
casions, during the past year. ~He felt
that she was addicted to- the use OF mar
cotics and stimulants, but, aside from her
peculiar humors. which he thought were
occasioned by the drugs, there was moth
ing about her actions which would indi-
cate insanity. Mr.. Irwin was surprised
when informed that the police had been
instructed to look out for Mrs. De Merck
and characterized the report when repeat
ed TO him as a farce 1t was apparent
from what Mr.. Irwin said that Prof.
Young was of the opinion that his daugh-
ter was demented and should be under
treatment and that the physicians who ex-
amined Mrs. De Merck did SO at his di-
rection.