The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-24
THE TINES WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER a. 1902
HER SANITY QUESTIONED
Proceedings Again Instituted
Against Mrs. Katherine Mackey.
This Time Her Husband, Who Sc
cured Her Release From the Cow
eminent Hospital for the Insane
Two Weeks Ago, In the Petitioner
Alleged Homocidnl Tendencies.

Last night for several hours the where
a5outs of Mrs. Katherine S. Mackey, wife
of Judge Thomas j. Mackey, formerly OF
South Carolina, was a mystery. Judge
Mackey reported at Police Headquarters
that his wife had suddenly disappeared
from the boarding house of Mrs. Sophia
Schaeffer. 22l d Street northwest. SeIrch
was instituted and Judge Mackey went TO
Alexandria. where he formerly resided
with his wife Meanwhile Mrs. Mackey
returned to the Shaeffer home. AT q late
hour Judge Mackey also returned to this
city. I-r
Since the institution Of lunacy prs coed
inas against Mrs. Mackey, who was re-
leased from st. Elizabeth's Asylum for
the Insane ON a writ of habeas corpus,
sworn out by her husband two weeks ago,
Judge Mackey claims to have found diff
Guilty in restraining her. lie Te.ates that
on several occasions his wife has tried t.
, escape from him prior to yesterday after
noon. The couple took quarters ct the
Schacffer home Monday last. Mrs. Mack
ey appeared quiet that night, but yester-
Z
ing in her final escape from the house
Il wish you would locate my wife, Mrs,
Katherine s. Mackey." was what Judge
Macked told Detective Horne last night.
she escaped from me about $40 O'Clock
this evening. We were together in our
room, at 221 Street northwest, when
Mrs. Mackey asked me to hand her a cape.
AS l stepped to another part of the room
to do SO she dashed down stairs. fol-
lowed but was too late to learn which
direction she had taken. l think she has
gone to Alexandria, for We formerly re-
over" stated Judge Mackey, II have had
trouble with Mrs. Mackey for some time.
She is not responsible. however, for her
acts. as she is undoubtedly insane. Only
yesterday afternoon. in Judiciary Square,
she attempted to escape from me. She
left seat in the park upon slight pre-
text. ran several blocks, and was over
taken only by the exertions of several
men, who gave me assistance" Judge
Mackey also explained to the detective
that Mrs. Mackey had but so cents when
she left home. Her description was taken
by the police.
When a Times reporter called at the
Schaeffer home last night he learned that
Mrs. Mackey had returned. She had been
to house on New Jersey Avenue south
east he was told. Judge Mackey had not
returned from Alexandria, but was mo-
mentarily expected. AS the reporter was
about to leave Mrs. Mackey started from
the house, despite the rain, to purchase
some quinine'' she stated. Her actions
on the street were somewhat unusual. but
friends finally persuaded her to return
home, and await the arrival OF her hus-
hand.
Among the persons whose mental con-
dition Justice Cole will be called upon to
enquire into on Friday next is Mrs. Mac
key. The enquiry is asked for by Judge
Mackey, who, in his petition de lunatico
inquiFendo, declares that his wife is of
homicidal and otherwise dangerous tend
encies.
Judge Mackey petitioned for the release
of his wife from the asylum fortnight
ago on the ground that she was not in
sane and on the further ground that she
was adiudged insane at the former hear
ing. without due process Of law, in that
Justice Cole passed upon the question
touching her sanity without the aid OF a
jury. After hearing somewhat lengthy
argument by Judge Mackey as-to the con-
stitutionality Of the law under which she
was found to be insane and evidence as to
her then mental condition, Justice Cole
released her from custody, without passing
upon the questions of law raised by Judge
Mackey. Justice Cole stated that the tes-
timony presented 10 him indicated that
Mrs. Mackey was not dangerously insane
and he. therefore. turned her over TO her
husband as requested in the petition for
a writ of habeas corpus.
In his petition filed yesterday Judge
Mackey declares that Mrs. Mackey "is
believed by him to be a lunatic of
homicial and otherwise dangerous tenden-
cies: that she has been such lunatic since
the 10th day of October. 1900; that the
cause of her lunacy is unknown to him,
but IL the representations made to him
are true. his wife is unfit to be at large,
and IL permitted to remain at large the
rights of persons and property will be
greatly endangered and the preservation
of the public peace imperiled. and the
commission of crime rendered probable"
1t is further alleged in the petition that
Mrs. Mackey, who. it is stated. has been a
resident of the District for two years. is
INDECENT and without property or estate.
Justice Coles attention was called yes
terday morning TO the matter by Attorney
Sinclair, and the court by order desig
mated and appointed Drs. Frank p. Vale
and Charles c. Marbury to examine into
the mental condition of Mrs. Machey. and
has directed that they appear in court
on Friday next and testify as to the re-
suit of their examinations. The hearing
will take place in Criminal Court. No. 2,
City Hall.
This is the second time lunacy proceed
ings have beer instituted against Mrs.
Mackey. Her father, Col. George A. Por-
terfeld, of Charlestown, w. Va. brought
about a judicial enquiry into her sanity
some time in May last. Judge Mackey
at that time protested against such a
proceeding. and shortly after the pro-
ceedings had been instituted and before
the hearing. he took her to Alexandria,
Va They remained there for n couple
of weeks, and the hearing was had during
Mrs. MacEey's absence. Upon their re-
turn to Washington shortly afterward
she was turned over to the police by
her brother and was committed to st.
"