The evening times., 1900-10-09
MACKHY CASE ON TRIAL
Hearing on the Petition for a Writ
Of Habeas Corpus.
The Wife Goes on the Stand-De-
ciares She Was Tricked Into Al
lowing Herself to BE Taken to st.
EIizabeth's Asyiuna-Her Treatme eDt
There Her Husband Testihes-

The petition of Thomas ]. Mackey for a
writ of habeas corpus. to secure the release
of his wife, Katherine s. Mackey. from st.
Elizabeth's Asylum for the Insane. came
up In court today.
Mrs Mackey was committed to the asy-
lum in May last, at the instance Of her
father Col George A. Porterheld. OF
Charlestown, w. Va.
The first witness called, this morning,
was Deputy United States Marshal K. 5.
Farmer. who testified concerning the serv-
ice OF the original papers in the case.
Mr. Mackey then offered his wife, the
subject Of the enquiry. as a witness. She
appeared calm and collected and answered
all the questions asked her promptly and
inteIIigently She said:
"I was born March L. 1870; was re-
siding at 2I1 First Street northwest
when the first papers IN this case were
served on me, in May last; was living
with my husband. / had been here only
two days. / came with my father. He
told ne he would take me tor a car ride,
but tool. me to physicians office. The
doctor told me that I might have con-
eussion of the brain, and I replied:
Well. then. might as well snap a bull
let in my head ] am now kept in
the Chestnut ward at ST. Elizabeth S
Asylum. There are six Others, who are
insane persons, locked in the room with
me.
When left this city went to Alex
andrIa. Va. From there my brother told
NE ne would take me to Fairfax Court
House. Va, and we got on car. When L
got near Washington and saw the Mon
uInent l knew I WAS not going to Fair
fax Court House, and tried to jump from
the car Ny brother held me, and when
we got to the station IN this city he put
me in a carriage and took me TO the asy-
Iunl,"
Speaking of her treatment at st. Eliza
beth's Hospital, Mrs. Mackey said that
until very lately she was made TO WASH
her hands and face every morning II a
trough Since she had been removed into
the Chestnut ward she was furnished
bowl to wash in She also said that her
husband had always been very kind TO
her-in fact, nearly killed her with kind
ness.
Since she has been confined at st.
EIiZabeth's Asylum Mrs. Mackey said that
none of her relatives had visited her. Her
father wrote TO her once, but that was
in reply to & letter asking him TO take
her to his home in West Virginia. He re-
fused to do so. Her husband was very
cousiderate OF her comfort, would visit
her. write 20 her, and bring and send her
fruit and flowers and clothes.
All her troubles, Mrs. Mackey said, she
brought on herself. She wanted money
and a home, which she did not nave, and
it worried her It also annoyed her TO
know that her father was opposed to Mr..
Mackey-
AT the close OF Mrs. Maekey's testimony,
Judge Mackey took the witness stand to
make a statement. Before touching upon
the circumstances relative to the ques-
! ton under consideration. Judge Aaekey
gave brief history OF his life. He fought
| in the Mexican war at the age OF thirteen
and was wounded He was also a captain
of engineers of the Confederate Army
and he emphasized the statement that ne
was the last Confederate officer VINO sur
rendered Speaking of his marriage to
| Miss Porterfsid, he declared 1t very IN
| judieious one. though his wife, he said
| was noble woman. Judge Mackey theI
reviewed his troubles which grew out Of
| his former maria ges. He said that Be-
| fore his marriage to Miss Porterfeld he
| informed her father of his matrimonia
| troubles He stated that the trouble VIII
| his former wife was instigated by CoioIe
| Porterfeld-