The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-04
Insane Mother and Daughter
Stayed In Room 10 Years.
WERE UNSEEN BY Neigh BORS
Rusblna, Nh, Lived Elsewhere, Finally
Had Wife Committed 10 an Asylum
al EaVex.

Baltimore. Nov 4.-By the committal
to Bay View asylum Of Mrs. Theodore
Rosenorn as an insane person has been
ended the recluse life OF two women
mother and daughter-who for nearly ten
years have been living as hermits In the
heart OF the city.
Within a stones throw OF their abode
Is the riding school OF Professor The
odore Rosenorn. the husband and father.
who, though he has provided for their
wants, has been a stranger In their house
for four years.
During all these years neither Of the
two women has been outside OF the rooms
they occupied over the grocery store Of
Arthur Cowman, in West Biddle street.
No one has seen them for more than
six years and they have tried 10 shut
out sight OF all the world by stretching
newspapers across the window panes.
The old lady is by no means repulsive,
but pleasant in address. while the young
woman, who Ia twenty-three years old. Is
attractive in appearance. but extremely
timid from her lack of contact with the
world.
The case was brought 70 public notice
by Mr.. Cowman, who swore out a war
rant for the arrest OF Mrs. Rosenorn, on
a charge of disturbing the peace. Mr..
Cowman said she had been tumbling fur
niture about the rooms above his head
and ma ng annoying noises. His mo-
tive I'm getting the warrant, however, he
said, was a conviction that the sad case
Of the two women should be made known.
CLAD IN A HORSE BLANKET.
When taken TO the police station. Mrs.
Rosenorn had scarcely any clothing upon
her but an old horse blanket which was
thrown about her shoulders. She wore no
shoes or stockings. Her condition aroused
keen sympathy and for a time stirred
up keen indignation against her husba nd.
whom she charged with cruelty.
She admitted that she had not been out
OF the house for six years: that her
daughter had not seen any face but that
OF her mother for four years, and she had
not been out OF her room for ten years.
Mrs. Rosenorn accused her husband OF
DESERVING her OF keeping from her her
son. and of trying to send her to a lunatic
asylum. Her talk was disconnected,
Justice Sauber. after dismissing the
charge. advised her 70 obtain a warrant
charging her husband with failing 10 con-
tribute TO her support. This she did. and
the warrant was Immediately issued.
HUSBANDS SIDE.
In short while the professor appeared
i'm the court room. He said he paid Mr.
Cowman the rent regularly every month
and paid for all his wifes orders for gro.
ceries and provisions. He said he had
tried TO do everything he could FOR the
comfort of his wife and daughter, but
that about four years ago he became con.
vinced that his life was In danger. He
declared that his wife was insane or
two occasions he had sent dressmakers
90 the house. but they returned saying
his wife declared she did not want any
clothes
l-Qf44r- -pAfRaA-ealsla- -ha- found la thf
neighborhood who had seen Mrs. Rose.
norm IN three years and no one has seer
the daughter for six years. Persons who
served them with groceries and provi
sions never saw either OF them.
The apartments occupied by the mother
and daughter were as tidy as could bs
expected under the circumstances. but the
young woman was in many respects like
one who had lived all her life in tho
woods. Her education had not been en-
tlrely neglected, however as her mother
had taught her, using the old newspaper;
as text books
In view OF the situation In which III
was placed Professor Rosenorn conclud
ed 70 have his wife examined by Drs
Preston and Patton, and upon their certi
ncate she was committed TO Bayview
Professor Rosenorn now occupies IN,
apartments I'm Blddle street with hi:
daughter, who seems to show little re
luctance at parting with her mother and
says she is glad TO have her father
again