The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-07
MRS. MACKEY
DISAPPEARS
FROM VIEW.
~
wife of a Judge Who Created a Great
rurore, Said to Have Lost Her
Reason, But Fails
70 APPEAR IN THE COURTS.
Strange Case Again Brought Before
the 9ubMo-wOrry the Pri-
mary Cause of Lunaey'

e,eral Dispatch TO the fAnkelHBeuCer'
wAsRtNGToN, May B.-The exam
,,o,Ion get for yesterday to determine
as 10 the lunacy of Mrs, Katherine
wsckey was necessarily postponed ow-
Inc 10 the fact that she could not be
brought into court, having suddenly
disappeared. 1t is understood her hus-
band retains great influence over her,
and that, being opposed to the inquiry
into her mental condition, he has hid
den her from her father and the ofti-
GERS,
Tinged With Unhapplness.
According to the accounts of the mar
rIpge of Judge Mackey and Miss Por-
terdeld, published at the time, their be-
ginning was tlnged with unhapplness.
Soon after the ceremony was per-
formed, and while they were on their
wedding tour, 1t was alleged that hp
had been married before. and his sec
oud wife 1t was thought was then liv-
ing In the city Of New York. Upon
learning Of this fact the husband was
arrested in Charles Town at the in
stance Of the father Of Mrs. Mackey,
Colonel Porterneld. on the charge Of
blgamy 1t is stated that the affa!r
was amlcably adjusted, however, and
a nolle proseQu was entered in the big
amy case.
The ox-judge and his young wife left
Charles Town shortly afterward and
took up their residence in this city,
where they lived together until about
SIX weeks ago. 1t is further stated that
Mrs. Mackey has since been boarding
ut house on First street northeast.
She began to write frequently to her
father about this time. and from the
tone OF her letters he reached the con-
clusion that his daughters mind was
unbalanced. He at once came on to
Washington to look after her and on
his arrival, 1t is understood, found her
to be in very serious condition.
Placed Her in an Asylum.
Steps were at once taken looking to-
ward the placing of Mrs. Bfackey In
St. ElIzabeth's asylum for the INSANE.
A petition was filed, in which II was
alleged that she was insane and indl-
gent and when the petition was pre-
sented to Justice C. C. Cole, Of the Dis
trlct supreme court, he signed an order
providing for a hearing of the case
Friday at 2 o'clock Drs. j. Ramsey
Nevitt and Frank P. Vale were appoint
ed by the court to examine Mrs. Mack
ey in the meantime.
The ex-iudge seems to be opposed to
the lunacy proceedings against his
wife, and 1t ls said Immediately took
steps to prevent the accomplishment OF
his fa,her-in-l laws purpose. When the
case was reached at the hearing yestar-
day Mr.. A. Leftwich Sinclair, assistant
attorney for the District of Columbia.
who had charge of the lunacy case,
Informed Justice Clabaugh TINT Mrs.
Mackey had been spirited away by her
husband. Justice Clabaugh thereupon
ordered that the hearing be continued
until Mrs Mackey can be found.
Was Present in Court.
Mrs Mackeys father was present in
court a, the time and was very much
disappointed that the hearing could not
take place, He asked that the case b.
tried In the absence of his daughter,
saying that she was clearly of unSound
mind and in a most serious condition.
He stated that the constant worry she
had been subjected to since her mar
rIage to the ex-judge is alone RESPONSE
bic for her condition, and he says he
intends to take her home as soon as she
rccovers.
The physicians who have officially
tested Mrs. Mackey's mental capacity
have declared that she Is unnistakably
insane.