Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-14
AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA
STATEMENT RESPECTING ALLEGE ED
INSANITY OF MRS. MACkEY.
Her Husband Denies the Charge and
Declares He Will Resist Proceed
ings Against Her.
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 1O1 King St.
Bell Telephone No. Jog,


ALEXANDRIA, Va. May II. 1900.
Former Judge Thomas j. Maekey, who Is
stoppine with his wife, Mrs. Catherine >
Mackev. at the residence of Mrs. Dollie Pa
tram l1o3 Prince street, stated this morn
ing TO reporter for The Star that he
would resist to the utmost extent allowed by
law any attempt on the part of the DIS
-rict authorities to take Mrs. Mackey into
custody as an escaped lunatic. pursuant 20
the ruling of Judge Cole Friday last When
the reporter was announced TINS morning
Mr.. Mackey, accompanied by his WIFE
entered the room and both greeted the
visitor very courteousiy. Mrs. Mackey APP
pearcd to be entirely rational. exhibiting
not a single sign indicative OF impaired
mentality Her composure was most pro-
nounced except when she seemed disturbed
over the notoriety being given to her do
mesiic affairs.
.The proceedings in lunacy against my
wife were instituted in the first instance
at the ins;igation of her father IN the Or
phans Court in Washington, SAID Mr.
Mackev she was served with a citation
ON thar day to appear the 4th instant Tor
examination as 10 her sanity here ne
produced the document ana caiieu az
tention TO the fact that no hour OF me
day was set for the examination NAT
fact alone" he continued, Vitia'ed inc
summons. 49, H..
Continuing he said: 1T Is not true that
! prevented her appearance. Her own Jude-
mcnt and self-respect prompted her not TO
apuear. She received no notice of the last
proceeding. the first having been dismissed
until two hours after II had taken place on
the 18th instant. The general delivery
clerk al the most Office in this town can GER
tify that he delivered to her an official doc
ument directed To 424 King street. which is
the one in question, at about CLOCK the
afternoon of the 1lth instant. and the ex-
.ruiu took Mace at = CLOCK on thdt
day.
THE statement that my wife is insane is
utterly unwarranted. Upon that point she
furnishes in FER conduct, her conversation
and in her writing in her journal the best
demonstration of the falsity of the charge.
On the 9th day of March last l accom-
panied her at her instance to an interview
with DIR. Richardson, the superintendent of
St Elizabeth's Insane Asylum. because of
the sugi astion of her father that she was
insane.
AT this point Mrs. Mackey interrupted
remarkins that she thought the judge mis-
taken IN saying that the suggestion first
came from her father. He, however main
tanned that the statement was correct.
Continuing, Judge Mackey said: DIR.
Richardson Is the leading expert on in
sanity in the United States. and he decided
that my wife was not insane. but only sub
Ject to melancholia, and advised her treat
ment at her own hands, stating that she
needed no medical aid.
In the proceeding before Justice Cole
two physicians. who had not known her
for more than few days, testified as to
her lunacy.
at Is not true that / have ever treated
my wife with cruelty. as alleged. She is
a thoroughbred Virginian and would not
submit to maltreatment at the hands of
any person She Is the object of my most
devoted love and constant and kindly care
and service, and fully reciprocates my af-