The Washington times., 1901-08-11
A woMAN's STRANGE ACTIONS.
Found Twice Under u locomotives
Wheels and Then Arrested.

middle-aged woman who gave the
| name of Mrs. Alyda Pittman, and who be-
| trayed evidences of intense mental dis
turbance, was twice taken from beneath
the wheels of {. large passenger Ioeomo-
tive in the vicinity of the Pennsylvania
depot yesterday, and for her own safety
was detained at the Emergency Hospital
to await the action of the police surgeons,
who have been instructed to examine her.
Mrs. Pittman called on Sanitary officer
Frank yesterday morning with n letter
of introduction from one of the physicians
at the Garfield Hospital, where she said
that her husband, Frederick Nathan Pitt
man, was I'll with appendicitis. She said
that he had been an assistant examiner
for one of the prominent insurance COM
panies. but that his mind had become
impaired and that she wished to make
application for his commitment to the
Government Hospital for the Insane.
After the necessary papers had been
signed by her asking that her husband be
examined, she left Headquarters and was
next seen in the vicinity of the Peunsyl-
vania depot, where she quietly and with
the evident intention of avoiding notice,
made her way to the side of one of the
huge locomotives that was just about to
lay down on the track beneath the wheels
with a little black dog that she carried
beside her. She then waited for the en-
CINE to start. The railroad people saw
her and rescued her from her perilous
position. and had no sooner turned away
after escorting her from the property &C.
cupied by the company into Sixth Street,
than she returned and secreted herself
beneath the wheels of another locomotive.
This time she was turned over to De-
tective Pratt and conducted to Captain
Boardmans office at Police Headquarters.
She there stated that she had suffered
from sunstroke some years ago and that
every spell of hot weather affected her.
She did not remember placing herself
upon the railroad track, she said, and
had only been looking for place to sit
down for a while. she was tired after
having been walking around seeking
apartments.
She said that she had but recently
broken up housekeeping and that She was
at present stopping with her father at
So K Street northeast. lexington. She
said that she also had a brother, Jesse
Parker, who lives in Brookland. Her
moth RS physician, DIR. Tuppy. she con-
tinued. had always attended her. and she
wanted him sent for. She objected to be
ing sent to the Emergency Hospital or
anywhere else, but as il was thought that
she was not in a proper condition to be
released until she could be examined by
the physicians, or her relatives could be
with. she was sent to the /
hospital her little dog NiclouSiN resented
the efforts Of Mr.. Frank and the doctor I
in charge of the Emergency ambulance |
in taking charge of her and snapped at !
tht IN until he was Driven away.
II vas deemed imperative that she !
should go to the hospital. as there We're |
slight evidences of opium poisoning. and |
the authorities thought that it was best |
not to take any chances. but to place her /
where she would receive proper treat /
ment Unless her relatives take charge
Of her she will probably be transferred |
10 the House of Detention as soon as her |
will Justify the change. and /
here be examined by the police surgeons
rs to her sanity.