The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-23
MRS. MhCKBY'S SANITY
Her Husband Declares That She is
Irresponsible.
He Institutes Lunaey Proceedings in
the Supreme Court of the District,
and Other Dangerous Tendencies,
and Is Unfit to Be at Large.

AT the instigation of her husband. for
meE Judge Thomas ]. Mackey, of South
Carolina, the District Commissioners,
through Attorney A. L. Sinclair, today in
stituted iunacy proceedings against Mrs.
Katharine s, Mackey, who was released
from the insane asylum on a writ of ha-
heas corpus about ten days ago. The
proceedings were begun by the filing of
petition in the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict of Columbia by Mr. Mackey. He
charges in his petition that Mrs. Mackey
is believed by him to be a Iunatie of
homicial and otherwise dangerous tehden-
cies; that she has been such iunatic since
TIE 10th day of October, 1850; that the
cause Of her Iunacy is unknown to him,
but If the representations made to him
are true, his wife is unfit to be at large,
and if 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 foF two years, is
INDECENT and without property or estate.
Justice Coles attention was called
this morning to the matter by Attorney
Sinclair and the court by order desis-
mated and appointed Drs. Frank Z. vale
and Charles c. Marbury TO examine into
the mental condition of Mrs Nackey, and
has directed that they appear in court
on Friday next and testify to the re
suit of their examinations. The hearing
viii take place III Criminal Court, No. g.
City Hall.
This is the second time lunacy proc ed
tngs have been instituted against Mrs.
MaeIley. Her father, Col. George A pr
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,
Iva. They remained there for a couple
Of weeks, and the hearing was had during
Mrs. Maekey's absence. Upon their re-
turn to Washington shortly aftergari
she was turned over to the police by
her brother, and was committed to St
EIizabeth's.
Mrs. Mackey remained az this institu-
ton until about ten days ago when she
was discharged by Justice Cole on writ
OF habeas corpus. Judge Mackey petit
toned for her release from the insane asy-
Ium on the ground that she was not in
sane and OF the further ground that she
was adjudged insane at the former hear
ling 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 heI
husband as requested in the petition fol
| a writ of habeas corpus.