The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-11
INSANITY EXPERTS SUED.
Woman They Pronounced Dement,
ed Wants $4,000 Damages.

NEW YORK, June 0.-Superintendent
William b. o'Rourke, of Bellevue Hospi-
tai, and Drs. H. Valentine Wildman and
Allen Fitch, insanity experts, have been
sued for $4,000 by Mrs. Abbie d. Shelley,
who claims that while perfectly sane she
was held as demented person. first at
Bellevue and later at Wards Island.
The suit. which was filed in the Su-
preme Court, raises an interesting ques-
ton of law. Mrs. Sheley's counsel con-
tends that many persons who are perfect
ly sane are illegally committed annually
as insane. Mrs. Shelley. he says. because
OF her position and influence and because
she is possessed of a little wealth, is more
lucky than the usual inmate in that she
secured her discharge
Mrs. Shelley is the widow of an army
officer and is about forty years cid Her
husband left her property that brings in a
small income, and she receives a pension
from the Government. Mrs Shelley a so
adds to her income by contributions to the
magazines under the name of "Lawren-
strone Gorke.''
The story told by Mrs. Shelley, through
her attorney. is one peculiarly pathetic.
In her sworn complaint she says that first.
before her commitment to Bellevue on July
10 of last year. she had been engaged in
writing a long novel under contract and
was within 10000 words of completing it.
She had worked hard for the preceding
forty-eight hours, sleeping very little and
continually hammering away at the type
writer.
Mrs. Shelley was then living at the Stew
art House. She had engaged in business
venture with friend and, needing money
and advice shasought a wealthy cousin,
who is prominent Mason. Mrs. Shelley
went to the lodge room while the lodge
was in session. She was very nervous,
and the hot night made her ill.,
The man at the lodge room door re-
fused to take her message and when she
persisted he called policeman.
At the police station Mrs. Shelley was
questioned. She answered in what was
intended to be sarcastic tone, saying,
for instance. that she had no home and
that she was bachelor. meaning that she
had no other home than hotels and lived
a bachelor woman's life. This intended
cleverness the police did not comprehend
and committed the unfortunate woman to
Bellevue. Mrs. Sheleys complaint con-
tinues:
Il was kept FIVE days at Bellevue, re-
iusSu peimiSSlOu 10 communicate WIFI
anyone and at the end of that time, with
out any opportunity to demonstrate my
sanity and without anything but the most
superficial examination, and after had
strenuously demanded my right to be
taken before a Supreme Court Judge be
given me, / was dragged off to Wards /
Island.
Il was shamefully treated there, and |
verify believe that the Wards Island au-
thorities tried to drive me insane. / lived T
in hell for ten months. came out en-
tirely sane, as l had been all the time,
and / know there are others whose names
l could mention in that place who are
sane and who should not be
there
Mrs. Shelley was released through the in
fnence and intercession of her friends,
May Is. Her lawyer contends that under
the laws of 1898 person to be committed
TO an insane institution in this State must
be granted the right of appearing person
iily in the Supreme Court to demonstrate
his sanity. This, the lawyer declares. is
rarely done, and that more than half the
TO Wards Island are there
lore Illegal