The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-27

The closing scene of the Mackey lunacy
proceedings which took place yesterday in
Criminal Court room No. 2 was very pa
thetic. While her husband was protesting
to the court against the mode of procedure,
Mrs. Katherine S. Mackey, alleged to be
insane. was making touching appeal to
Justice Cole not to commit her to an asy-
lum for the insane.
The matter was called to the attention OF
the court through the petition of Thomas
]. Mackey, the husband of the subject Of
the enquiry, on Tuesday last. The petit
toner alleged that his wife was of I'M
sound mind and OF homicidal tendencies
and otherwise dangerous to persons ana
property Yesterday, however, feS min
utes after the investigation had been com
menced he withdrew the petition and
stated that he would himself care for his
wife.
DR.. Frank P. Vale, who had been ap-
pointed by the court to make an examina-
ton of Mrs. Mackey's mental condition.
was the first witness called to testify. In
brief, he stated that Mrs. Mackey's condi-
ton was such as to warrant that she be
treated in 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.
After hearing DR.. Wales testimony JUS
tice Cole signified his intention to commit
Mrs. Mackey to the Government Hospital
for the Insane. 1t was at this juncture OF
the proceedings that Mr.. Mackey protested
against the mode Of procedure. He stated
to Justice Cole that he questioned the right
of the court to commit anyone unless after
a trial by jury. Justice Cole informed Mr..
Nackey that the law under which he was
proceeding and under which Mr.. Mackey
had filed his petition did not require a
trial by jury. The justice then said to S.
Leftwich Sinclair, Assistant Attorney for
the District: Hand me the commitment
and l will sign it, Mr.. Sinclair started
toward the Judge with the commitment
in his hand. when Mrs. Mackey grasped
the attorney with one hand and the COM
mitment with the other. AS she stood thus
she pleaded with Justice Cole not to
send her to the asylum. In the mean
time Mr.. Mackey stated to 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withdrawn and endorsed across the face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 1t: Dismissed because the petitioner
withdrew the petition in open court.
While Justice Cole was making the en-
dorsement Attorney Sinclair asked Mr..
MdcRey Wnen lie INTENDED 10 HE another
petition for a writ de lunatico inquirendo.
Mr. Mackey replied: Never again, sir;
not till the crack of doom"
When the proceedings ended Mr.. and
Mrs. Mackey left the court room together.
Mrs. Mackey is the daughter of Col. George
A. Porterfield of Charleston. w. Va, and
at his instance was committed to the Gov
eminent Asylum for the Insane in May
last. About ten or twelve days ago her
husband filed petition for habeas corpus
to secure her release from that institution
and upon investigation Justice Cole or
dered that she should be released.
Since her release Mrs. Mackey has been
living with her husband at 221 d Street
northwest. On last Tuesday night Mr.
Mackey lost sight of his wife for a while
and went to Police Headquarters and asked
to have detective find her. He said she
had ESCAPED from him about $50 D. M,
having suddenly left her room and the
house in which they were staying. Later
in the night Mrs. Mackey returned home
and it was learned that she had been at
the house of neighbor in the vicinity of
her own home.