The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-07-16
HAYES ASKED PAY
Made Husband Give Him a
Quarter to Commit
Insane Wife.
SERGEANT HOPKINS WROTH
Told Police Justice He Must
Make His Claims to
Prosecutor.

A very pathetic scene was witnessed in
the Montgomery street station house
shortly after nine o'clock Saturday night,
when Mrs Victorienne Pichard, thirty
three years old. of No. 256 Jewett avenue,
was committed to the County Jail by
Justice of the Peace Hayes to await ex-
animation as to her sanity In the arms
of the irrational mother was a nursing
baby and to this child she c.ung desper-
ately, fearing that she was to be parted
from the babe. Her husband was there,
too, to see his wife committed on his
charge This action he took as a precau-
ton, for he feared for the safety of his
other children whom the mother had
threatened with bodily harm
Mrs. Pichard did not seem to be wholly
conscious of the proceedings. AT the
time she was forced to wait in the station
house she acted in an absent-minded
manner. constantly pacing the floor, hug
ging tightly her babe.
Sergeant Hopkins received word at the
station house that there was serious trou-
BILE at the Pichard house and he cent
Patrolman Higgins to investigate. He
found Mrs. Pichard raving about the
house, and her four children, all under
seven, screaming in fear of their mother.
Her husband could do nothing with her,
and in the excitement a lamp was over
turned, which threatened to consume the
entire house. Prompt work prevented the
flames from gaining any headway.
Mrs Pichard said he wished his wife
committed because he feared for his life
and the lives of his children. Often she
had threatened to kill the little ones and
destroy herself in her insane fits.
While the police waited for Justice
Hayes, great crowd gathered around
the station house and the reserves had
to be called down to disperse the curious
mob Hayes, thinking that warrant
was wanted, brought blank along with
him Sergeant Hopkins told him that he
was called to commit the woman to await
examination.
The Judge insisted:-'The woman must
be brought before me and then I will
issue the warrant for her arrest and COM
mittment.'
Sergeant Hopkins became disgusted
with the delay and went to the telephone
to secure another Justice who would do
his bidding. Hayes finally came to terms
and issued the necessary papers.
Before the patrol wagon took the
won9aia-to- the Oakland avenue station.
Justice Hayes insisted that the husband
pay him for his trouble. Pichard de-
INJURED at first, but eventually handed up
quarter to the Justice.
Sergeant Hopkins became angry at this
proceeding and insisted that Hayes had
no right to demand payment for such
services from Pichard. The sergeant said
Hayes should send his bill to the Prose
cutor, who would pay him for his labor.
Hayes, however, did not refund the
quarter.
Pichard accompanied his wife to the
Jail and left the baby with her to COM
fort her during her confinement.
The husband can think of no cause for
his wife's condition. She has been irre-
sponsible for some time he says.
Shortly after one O'Clock Saturday
morning. Patrolman Cleverling heard
woman screaming at the top of her voice
on Bergen and Duncan avenues. She had
the whole neighborhood aroused by her
shrieks. People in all stages of deshabille,
were looking out of their windows at the
woman, who proved to be Mrs. Pichard,
roaming amlessly about and screaming
loudly. The patrolman arrested her as a
disorderly person. Saturday morning Act
ing Justice Macs discharged her. She was
arrested later as described above.