The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-09-18
SAD CASE OF INSANE WOMAN.
A Native of Charleston in Atlanta
Prison---ReIatives Cast Her Off.

Slowly dying in prison cell, incar-
! cerated in a building set apart for the
detention and punishment of crlm-
nails, is Concha Balaguer, woman
sorely afflicted, but whose characer is
without blemish. Too i'll to work,
without money, deserted by relatives
and homeless, she is being. cared for
at police headquarters; cared for where
criminals are kept; sleeping IN a
cell where murderers have slept ano
where outcasts are brought fresh from
their haunts of vice. The songs and
curses of drunken men and women ring
in her ears as she goes to sleep and
greet her as she wakes.
"Poor Concba Balaguer! If she re-
mains around here much longer she
will certainly die. She is wasting
away day by day. -
Policemen, men of the world, who
see all of the dark side Of life and but
little of the better side, except within
their own home circles, sympathlze
with the poor woman and were 1t pos
sible for them to do so would care for
her themselves, but this is impossible
and the best they can do is to carry
her delicacies, which is often done. !.
The woman's mind is deranged and
at times it is necessary to contine her
in cell, so violent does she become,
but at other times she walks around
the corridor at headquarters and talks
as intelligently as any one. She was
in such mood yesterday and talked
in brilliant manner to several vlsl-
tors.
Owing to the fact that she is non
resident of the state none Of the pub
lie institutions can, under the law,
care for her, and as she is at times
violent the hospitals are unable to give
her treatment. Her mother has cast
her of, saying that she is dangerous.
Chief Ball sent her to Charleston,
which is her home, and the authori-
ties there refused to do anything and
sent her back on the next train. They
told the unfortunate woman that she
was going to New York and then gave
her a ticket to Atlanta. When she
arrived at the union depot she was
put off the train.
If the young woman is ever placed
in an asylum or retreat where she
will have necessary medical attention
it will be through the efforts of Chief
Ball alone. This official has worked
hard to get the unfortunate young
woman in some place where she could
receive the proper treatment, but she
has alUavs been returned to him.
A letter was received from Governor
NJ. 3. McSweeney, of South Caro-
lima. Yesterday. It is dated Septem-
Der 9. and reads as follows:
-. ". Ball, Chief Police, Atlanta,
Ga.-Dear Sir: Yours received. As
stated to you in my last communlca-
tion I referred all of the papers to the
superintendent OF the Home for the
Insane and as yet have heard nothing
from him. am sure when [ call his
attention to the matter today he will
communicate with you and see that
something is done for the unfortunate
woman that you write about. l will
give the matter my personal attention
this morning.
(signed) NJ. B. M'sweeney:'
Al the time Of her return from
Charleston, S. c., where she was sent
bv Chief Ball to her brother, she had
only small hand satchel and what
clothing she wore at the time. She
still has on the same dress that she
ore then. and iwt is all she has.
The young woman is educated and
very bright when her mind is clear.
She is well read and will converse on
almost any subject of interest.-Atlan-
ia Journal.