The times., 1901-06-20
MISS RENNER IMPROVING
The Unfortunate Woman Benefited
by Medical Treatment.
Application for an Enquiry Into Her
Mental Condition and for n COM
mittee to Care for Her Property
The investigation Progresses.

mittee to Care for Her Property
The Investigation Progresses.
The unfortunate Mary Bell Renner, who
was found by the police in a
condition worse than death, yesterday
showed some signs of a returning intelli-
Gence, and now that she has been removed
from her living tomb it is thought prob
able that she may stand a chance for re-
covery. How she could have remained
for nine years In the room, is wonder
that is past comprehension. A physician
who saw the place said 1T would be i'm
possible for a human being to live in that
room with that atmosphere for month, .
and yet she had been confined there for
nearly nine years. Had she been pos
sessed of the strongest mentality her mind
must necessarily have given way under
so terrible a strain as that to which she
was subjected. Scattered upon the floor.
amid the Nth and vermin, according to
the statements of the only persons other
than the occupants of the house who ever
entered the room, were crusts of bread
and meat bones. But even these had dis
appeared when the police took charge of
the place. Nothing was to be seen but
thesold tumble-down bed and the mass of
pestiIence-b breeding filth. The sight Of the
cowed and apparently abused creature
was heartrending and a creepy feeling
took possession of one on hearing the
terrible sounds which she occasionally
emitted. When spoken to she did not
alter the vacant stare which was present
in her eyes at all times, but looked at
her questioner with vacant expression
upon her face.
As she was taken into the insane asylum
the physicians shook their heads and
doubted their ability to de anything for
the poor creature. But they are deter
mined to try Everyone at the hospital
took the greatest interest in the case.
Yesterday morning when the physicians
visited the ward in which she had been
placed they found that in obedience to
their orders she had been thoroughly
bathed and provided with clean clothes
and was resting comfortably on a bed
that was covered with clean white linen
When spoken to a gleam of intelligence
fitted across her emaciated features, and
in response to a request from the attend
ing physician she held out her tongue
for him to see. He asked her how she
managed to walk in the crouched position
which has become second nature to her,
and she arose and showed him that she
could get about fairly well. Her improve
ment is no less wonderful than the cir
cumstarces that have produced the con-
dition in which she was found.
Much favorable comment has been
heard at the prompt and efficient meas
ures taken by Major Sylvester and his
men. under the immediate direction of
Sergeant Sprinkle. on hearing of the case
Patrolman Smith says that he has fire.
quently heard strange and uncanny noises
issuing from the house and has en-
deavored to investigate, but he could
never gain admission to the place. and in
the absence of some exigency he did not
have the authority to force an entrance.
Neighbors say that at times they would
hear cries of Murder! followed by
Don't you touch met Then all would
be quiet for time until a series of in
coherent yells would disturb the peace
of the quiet little neighborhood
Ono Of the neighbors at one time cir
culated petition seeking the assistance
of the authorities in abating what they
termed a nuisance, but it was thought
that the poor, creature was receiving the
best attention possible under the circum-
stances and a sufficient number of signers
could not be secured to warrant the
paper being sent to the authorities. The
sisters CT Mrs. Austin. it is said, spent a
great zeal of time on the street with
Mrs. Austin herself, but of late the latter
has been too weak to leave the house ex-
cept at rare intervals 1t was reported
Ia the neighborhoOd that they were in
embarrassed financial circumstances. and
Superintendent Wilson, of the Board of
CHARITIES, sent an agent to the house
yesterday TO investigate. He was met
with the statement that the occupants
OF the house were provided with an in
come and that no assistance was needed
Proceedings were begun before Judge
Hagner yesterday by John b. Larner,
as attorney for Mrs. Cornelia B. Austin
seeking an enquiry into the mental state
of Mrs. Austin's daughter, Mary B. Rem
ner. who was found in q third-hoor room
at IlZl tourth Street northwest on Tues
day, and asking for the appointment of
a committee TO care for her property.
The papers are accompanied by affida-
Wits from Drs. j. Ramsey Nevitt and
Lewis J. Battle, certifying to the inn
paired condition of Miss Renner's mind
The papers set forth that Miss Renner is
forty-fIve years of age and that for twen-
ty-hye years she has been of unsound
mind. They further cite that she is the
sole heir of her brother, w. B. Renner
who died February 5, 1900, and as such is
the owner Of the south twenty feet of
lot in square 3D. on which stands house
u25 Fourth Street northwest, the house in
which she has been confined for years.
The property is valued at $500 and Is
mortgaged for $500 The principal and in
terest are overdue and the holders of the
mortgage are threatening to foreclose.
In view Of these facts the petitioner
asks that a committee be appointed to
enquire into Miss Renner's condition and
take charge of her affairs.
Improvement is also evident in the con-
ditiOus at the Fourth Street house and
when Inspector Fowler. of the Health De-
partment called there yesterday he
found several persons at work cleansing
the place. The beds had been removed
and the bedding destroyed
The floors were being scraped prepara-
tory to a thorough scrubbing and for
the first time in years the front windows
were opened and sunshine streamed in to
purify the foul air.
To HETP HTS sTcx EAm1ru