Evening star., 1901-06-19
The Local Authorities Take Charge
Of Miss Mary Renner.
COURT DIRECTS AN INVESTIGATION
The Patients Future improvement
a Matter of Doubt.
DIS T R ESSING DET ALL S

MISS mary Bell fenneT, the lHSdue W.
man who was found yesterday in a filthy
room at the home of her mother and aunts,
No. 1927 4th street northwest, as published
exclusively in yesterdays Star. is now in
ST. Elizabeth Hospital for the Insane.
She was taken there late yesterday after
noon, and the authorities are directing
their efforts toward putting the house in
good sanitary condition.
The removal Of the woman from the
room in which nine years Of her existence
were spent is the result of the action of
Star reporter who called the attention Of
the health officer to the case. Health Off
Ger Woodward acted promptly, detailing
medical sanitary inspector to accompany
the reporter to the house.
The horrible condition Of affairs found
was far worse than the inspector had an
ticipated. Neighbors expressed surprise
that the inspector was admitted to the
house, and those in the neighborhood who
have been spectators for years of the
strange actions of the occupants of the
house are extremely thankful for what
was accomplished yesterday. When the
representative of the health department
visited the house and saw the condition of
things ne conferred with Health Officer
Woodward, telling him of the extremely
filthy condition of the premises. and Of the
urgent needs in the case Of the insane wo-
man. In the meantime Star reporter had
notified Maj. Sylvester of the case, and
that official decided that the insane woman
should be at once removed. No matter
what the law on the subject might be, the
chief of police said, he would see to the re-
moval Of the unfortunate woman to place
where she could get proper treatment.
Sergt. Sprinkle of the second precinct was
detailed on the case, and In short time he
was at the house, demanding an entrance.
Officers Denied Admittance.
Policeman Turner accompanied the ser
geant, and when they knocked on the base
ment door Miss Lally Renner responded.
She informed the officers that they could
not go through the house under any cir
cumstances unless Mr.. Theophilus F. Mills,
the roomer, accompanied them. Unfortu-
nately for all concerned, Mr.. Mills was alb
sent from the house. The policemen had
no warrant directing them to enter, and
before taking a decided step in the case
they communicated with Maj. Sylvester.
The latter directed that he get the woman
out of the house. DR.. Vale, one of the po-
lice surgeons, was summoned. and he re-
ported that she was insane. Acting San
itary Officer Phillips was next sent for,
and an ambulance was soon on hand. 1t
was then after O'clock and there were
several hundred people on the street near
the house.
Mr.. Mills arrived during the excitement.
and he took occasion to inform Mrs. Aus
tin, the aged mother of the insane woman,
and the two aunts that long ago he had
predicted what was about to occur. The
condition of affairs had not changed since
noon, with the exception that the insane
woman had left her bed and was found
crouchtng in a corner Of the room. where
the hlth was perhaps deeper and more Of
fensive than t was in other parts of the
apartment. AS had been the case early in
the day when the health office inspector
and reporter called, the aged woman led
the way up the narrow stairs to the room
In which the insane prisoner had been de-
tanned
Don't open that window" said the aged
woman to Sergeant Sprinkle when the otti-
Ger started to let in the fresh air. You
see." she added, I'VE keep the windows
closed SO that people on the street cannot
hear Mary screaming
The aged mother then went to the cor
ner OF the room where her daughter was
and said something to her but there was
no response. Sergeant Sprinkle wrapped
the form Of the woman in a blanket and
carried her to the ambulance. Before leav-
ing the house the officer covered the wo-
mans head and face. but just as the am
bulance was reached the covering fell from
her head and the crowd Of curious people
got glimpse of her face. Two policemen
entered the ambulance and the vehicle sped
off In the direction of st. Elizabeth
Acting Sanitary Officer Phillips had ar
ranged with the asylum authorities to take
care Of the patient. although the papers in
the case could not be made out until today.
Arrives at the Asylum.
Miss Renner was received at ST. Eliza
beth Asylum for the Insane last evening
shortly after o'clock, being conveyed
there in one Of the police ambulances A
physician and nurses were in readiness to
attend to the case, and Elm ward, In the
female department, which Is in charge of
DR.. c. H. Clark, was named as the place
where she Is to receive treatment. This is
a hospital ward.
Those who made an examination Of the
woman recognized the case as one of the
most extreme in the history of the asy-
lum. The condition of the body was al
most beyond description. being covered
with filth and great callous places. A
thorough cleansing was at once begun by
the nurses, and the long, curved nails
were cut from the woman's hands and
feet, and she was shorn of her hair. She
was then put to ped. Her limbs, the doc
tors found, were contracted to such an ex-
tent that they will probably never again
be In their proper condition. There was
diminished motion In arms and legs, the
result evidently of being in a crouching
posture for long time. The woman, 1t was
found by the attendants, seemed unable to
bear the light and would almost constant
ly open and shut her eyes in blinking
fashion and would at times cover them
with her bed clothing
The attendants soon found that she was
able to understand and obey simple di-
rections concerning herself. DR.. Richard
son. the superintendent Of the asylum
Wneu aSkeu ABOUT the case today, said
the woman is resting now as comfortably
as possible. She is suffering from demen-
tia. he stated, and while under treatment
she may improve physically and in q de-
gree mentally. but her ultimate recovery
could not be looked for in view Of the
circumstances of the case. She is receiv-
ing every attention. Dr. Richardson said,
and will continue to have the best of care
and treatment.
Precautions at Renner Home.
During the investigation at the house the
police found that ropes had been used to
secure the doors to the filthy room, in or
der to prevent the escape of the woman, as
well as to keep her out of other apart
ments. While the officers were in. the
house the mother begged that the daughter
| be permitted to remain with her. She had
| been with her nearly forty-three years, she
| said, and she feared others would not treat
| her kindly. Mrs Austin said 1t was her
| hope that she would be with her daughter
! until death separated them.
| AT last" said Mrs. Austin to Mr.. Mills,
| ut has come you predicted, and we must
| make the best Of it. 1 have wished for