Evening star., 1899-03-02
OBTAINS HER LIBERTY
Fanny Gross Released From Custody of Hos
pital for Insane.
Result of Proceedings Under Writ of
Habeas Corpus The Evidence
Heard In Court Today.

Justice Bradley, in Criminal Court No q
this afternoon directed the release OF Fanny
Cross from the government hospital for the
insane, where she has been confined for
several years past The action was taken
as the result Of habeas corpus proceedings
recently instituted by Miss Cross, through
Attorneys D. William Baker and Joseph r.
Fague. She Will hereafter make her home
with the family of her brother.
Assistant District Attorney Ashley NJ.
Gould represented the government. He ex-
planned to the court that DR.. Godding had
no disposition TO resist the writ, but merely
wished the court to be In possession of all
the facts before disposing of the matter.
the only desire of the government being 90
have action taken looking to the best inter-
est of the patient.
Miss Cross Testines.
Miss Cross, the petitioner, was first ex-
amined. In response TO questions OF Attor-
ney Baker. she detailed the principal events
of her life, so far as they related TO the
matter at issue. Her first remembrance
was of being an inmate of an orphan asy-
lum. she said. Later, when about nine
years of age, she was sent to training
school, located uear Philadelphia, Pa.
After stay of ten years at that institu-
ton she was brought back to Washington
and detained over night at a police station.
While at the station she had a converse ton
with two physicians. Next she was taken
to St. Elizabeths Asylum for the Insane.
Some time thereafter, she said. she was
handed paper, informing her that she had
been pronounced insane by Jury. She de-
clared she had never appeared before a
jury, nor had she been notified that an in
QUESTION was to be held.
Miss Cross stated to the court that she
was desirous Of being released from the
asylum in order that she might go to live
with her brother. John Cross.
DIR. Emmoas' opiaion.
DR.. Charles Emmons, next called to tes-
tify in behalf of the petitioner explained
that he had made a thorough examination
Of Miss Cross and could pronounce her en-
tirely sane. Her hearing and eyesight are
slightly defective. but otherwise she is all
right. with the exception of not possessing
the knowledge of the world a sirI of her
age usually has.
John Cross of 300 X street southeast.
brother of the petitioner. testified that the
committing of Fanny to the asylum was
entirely without his knowledge He had
never noticed anything in connection with
his sister to imply that she is an imbecIle
Joseph r. Fague, OF counsel for the petit
tloner, stated that he had found Miss Cross
rational In his conversations with her and
considered her sane.
The Other Side.
DR.. I. Percy Hickling. a police surgeon:
Mr.. Herbert W. Lewis. superintendent OF
charities, and DR.. w. W. Godding superin-
tendent OF the st. Elizabeth Asylum, and
Mrs. OBrien. nurse at the asylum, we're
called by the assistant district attorney,
According TO DIR. Godding, Miss Cross is a
person of defective mentality, that being
evidenced by slowness of apprehension, par
TALLY due, however. to a defect in hearing
The petitioner, testified DR. Godding Is
insane in the eyes of the law, as imbeciles
and idiots are classed as insane.
Was Inclined to Suicide
According TO Mrs. o'Brden, the petitioner
soon after she entered the asylum was mis-
chiereus and endeaVored to end her life
with the assistance of her hair ribbon and
apron. Her condition, SO said the witness,
has greatly improved since she has been an
inmate of the asylum
Miss Cross was recalled to say in relation
to the testimony OF Mrs. O'Brien that she
never made any serious attempt TO end her
life.
In disposing of the matter Justice Brad
ley expressed the opinion that the Govern
ment Hospital for the Insane was not in
tended for the detention of persons Of such
mental capacity the testimony In the
case would indicate Miss Cross TO have.