Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-10-27
THE MACKEYS AGAIN.

TIE closing scene Of tbe Nsckey lun-
acy proceedings which took place yes
terday in Criminal Court room No. 2
in Washington was very pathetic.
While her husband was protesting t.
the court against the mode of pre-
ceeduIe, Mis-. Katherine 5. Mackey, al
leged 10 be insane, YVES making touch
ing appeal TO Justice Cole not TO commit
her TO ali asylum Tor the Insane.
The matter was called 10 the atten-
ton OF the court through the petition Of
rhomss ]. Msckey, the husband OF the
subject of the enquiry, on tuesday last.
The petitioner alleged that his wife wss
of unsouDd mind and homicidal ten
denotes and otherwise dangerous 10 per-
sons and property. Yesterday, how
ever, few minutes after lhe invesIiga.
ton had been cOmmeUced he withdrew
the petition and stated that be would
himself care for bis wife.
DIR. Frank 2. Vale, who ad been ap-
pointed by the court 10 make ali exam
ination of Mrs. Msckey's mental con.
dition, vas the first witness to testify.
10 brief, he stated that Mrs. Mackey's
condition was such as to warrant that
she be treated 10 some institution for
The care of the insane. He said that
she was not able to care for herself, nor
was her husband able to do So.
Alter hearing DR. Vale's les imonS
Ius ice Cole sigDiiicd his iuleDtlon {.
commit Mr. Msckty 20 the Governmeu.
Hospital ior the Ilsane. l. wss a. TINS
junctnre of the prOcel diDgs That Mr.
Mackey protested against the mode cl
procedure. He stated 10 Justice Cole
tbat he questioned the right OF III,
court to commit anyone uuless after b
Trial by jury. Justice Cole Informed
Mr. Msckey that the law under which
ne was proceeding and under which
Mr.. Mackey had filed his petition die
not require trial by jury. The justice
then sid to S. l.. Sinclair Assistant At
torney ior the Dlstricl; "HaUd me TIE
commitment and | will sign it," Mr.
Sinclair started towards the judge with
the commitment in his hand, when Mrs
Mackey grasped the attorney with one
hand and the commitment with the
other. As she stood thus she pleaded
with Justice Cole not to send her to the
asylutJ. In the meantime MIR. Mackey
stated 10 the court that he wished to
withdraw his petition and that he
would care for Mrs. Mackey in the
future.
Justice Cole allowed the petition to
be Withdrawn and endorsed across the
face of il: Dismissed because the
petitioner Withdrew the petition in open
court"
While Justice Cole was making the
endorsement Attorney Sinclair asked
Mr.. Mackey wnen he intended to file
another petition for writ OF de lunati
| co inquirendo.
Mr. Mackey replied: "Never again
sit; not till the crack of DOOM"
When the proceedings ended MIR
and Mrs. Mackey left the court room
together. Mrs Mackey is daughter
of Col. Geo. A. Porterteld, OF Charles
ton, w. Va, and at his instance wa
committed to the Government Asylum
for the insane in May last. About tel
or twelve days ago her husband filed
petition for habeas corpus to secure ne
release from that institution and upol
investigation Justice Cole ordered tha
she should be released.
Since her release Mrs. Mackey ha
been living With her husband at AL
street, northwest. Ga last Tuesda
night Mr.. Mackey lost sight of his wifi
for a while and went to police head
quarters and asked to have detecliv
| fad her. He said she had escape
from him about $50 .. M, having sud
denly lett her room and thejhouse /
which they were staying. Later i
the night Mis-. Mackey returned hom
snd 1t was learned that she had bee
at the house of neighbor in the v
cinity OF her own home.