The Washington times., 1901-10-06
WOMAN ADJUDGED INSANE.
Mary Ball Renner, n Former Belle,
Committed to st. EliZabeth's.
Discovered juno Last Living in
SqunIor and Seciu~ion with He-
Mother-iifc of At Once Social
Queen BIiShtcd by Early Romance

SqunIor and secIu~ion With He-
Mother-i4ifc of Once Social
Queen BIiShtcd by Early Romance
Mary Ball Renner. who formerly resided
at 1l2 Fourth Street northwest was yes
terday committed to st. EiiZa5gth's Hos
pital for the Insane, as the result of the
investigation Of her sanity by marshal 8
jury. She is forty-two years old. and is
said to belong to a famous old Virginia
family. the house in which she lived is a
three-story brick building, where in
June last. Miss Renner was discovered in
most pitiable condition. She was ifnme-
diately sent to St. Elizaboth's Hospital for
the Insane for treatment, and has re
mained there since
Twenty-Five years ago Miss Renner is
said 4 have been society belle and had
numerous admirers. when found on June
is last, however, she was living amid
most revolving conditions She was sur
rounded by filth and dirt, and with scarce
1y any clothing. She was attended by her
mother, Mrs. Corneiia Bail Austin, who is
about ninety years of age.
1t was stated at the investigation yes
terday that Miss Renner has an interest
in real estate valued at sea, which is en-
numbered to the amount of $500
1t is stated by neighbors that the Rem
ners moved into premises 1921 Fourth
Street about nine years ago. The prop
erty was left to her and her brother,
William B. Renner, by their father, Sam
uel Rcnner. Prior 10 moving from their
former home S24 Four-and-a-haif Street
northwest, Mrs. Renner, already past the
prime of life, had married a second time.
V. Gage Austin was her husband. To-
gether with mother and children came
Ially Renner and Nannine Renner, her
sisters. aunts of the children, who appear
to have lived in seclusion for years
Mystery hoVerrd over the home of the
family, to which none gained adIlittance,
except TheOphilUs +. Mills, a son Of the
late Clark Mills, who made his home with
the RennerS.
Steps to abate what neighbors claim
was a nuisance led on June is last to the
discovery of horrible conditions. An in
spector OF the Health Department called
at the house shortly after noon that lie
might investigate complaint as to the
house and its occupants. The Second
precinct police We're also there. and an
investigation was made In front room
on the third story was found Mary Rem
ner. She crouched low in a corner; her
eyes stared vacantly, and she said moth
ing. Not shawl even covered her emac-
lated form, which for years mad been
wasting away under strain OF illness and
surroundings of the worst kind. She be-
held the inrruders. the Health Office Of
hcials and the police without emotion.
while her mother, ninety-one years Of
age, stood tottering beside her. The
room was hole Of Nth, breeding disease
and death.
Theophilus F. Mills. who said he is a
sculptor, WAS appealed to by the police
for information of the woman, her con
dition, and friends. Mills said he had
lived with the family for years; he had
advised removal of Mary Renner to an
institution, but had met with refusal from
the family.
The ambulance was summoned, while
the Health Department made prepara-
tions to clean and disinfect the premises.
Years had elapsed since the house had
been cleaned. Within the odor was sick
ening. Preparations 10 remove the woman
from the house were hurriedly completed
by Sergeant Sprinkle, although objection
was met with on the part of Mrs. Austin
Efforts to explain the matter to the aged
mother brought about reconciliation in
Home measure, and she assented finally TO
the change.
; shawl and a blanket were procured to
W . about the form Of the unfortunate
m. As the police entered the room
shS ouchnd in the same posture as when
frst discovered over the floor of the
room was a heavy coating of dirt: in one
corner a rickety bed. the covering Of
which was reeking with filth; in another
lures hanging on the walls. Mrs. Austin
preceded the police into the room She
totterod to the side of her daughter. The
shawl and then the blanket were thrown
about the emaciated FORM and Policemen
Smith and Tompkins carried the woman
downstairs out to the street She was
placed in the ambulance and taken to the
asylum.
There are these who say that Mary Rem
ner fell in love while yet young. only TO
meet bitter disappointment 1t is said
that mind and body alike began to give
way under this strain; that insanity re
suited, and that for twenty-five years she I
has lived the life Of a recluse.
Nobody has yet explained what has he
come of a man who barked at passersby !
from windows of the dwelling occupied by
the Renners as late as few months ago. I
Miss Mary Foley. whose home ad1Oins T
tnat Of the Renners on the north. says .
she has seen this being. whose identity 1
and whereabouts are alike unknown. /
Miss Foley says positively she saw the /
man at a window of the Renner home
Mrs. Jenkins living at 1I25 Fourth Sire Il /
northwest. next door on the south 70 the 4
house of mystery. has corroborated this /
statement.
To reporter TheOphilus Mills, who is
about sixty-five years old. said his life 1
had been in danger, because he once sug-
kested the removal of Mary Renner to an
asylum. Not alone Mrs. Austin mother
of the woman. but Lally and Eanninn
Renner. well, according TO Mills. wee
man with them.
u have reasoned with the woman "
Mills said. Since William B. Renrer
died. more than year ago, things have
been going from bad to worse. He was
a brother of Mary Renner: he cared for
her. LalIy and Nannine Renner appear
Incapable of doing anything toward i'm
provement, while Mrs. Austin is too old
apparently. to change matters at all. So
we have lived on in this fashion; that is
ALL