The San Francisco call., 1904-12-21
INSANE ASYLUM
As A HOSPITAL
Sophie Norris Says She Was
Committed to Institution
Through Misrepresentation
SUES FOR DAMAGES
Woman Accuses Her Tenants
of Sending Her to Agnews
When Her Mind Was Sound

Recommending an insane asylum as
a hospital. inviting rest for a daughter
worn with nursing an invalid mother,
would seem TO be an ironical jest, but
the suggestion is made in a complaint
just fled in the Superior Court.
The story is told by Sophie Morris
against Hugh Hughes and his wife.
Louisa, sister of Miss Morris. She
sues them for $4,000 damages as the
price Of her mental anguish and injured
reputation. Her attorney is c. w.
Eastin.
Il is recited that for three and half
years the plaintiff and her mother lived
at 1916 Green street. The mother was
an invalid and unable TO perform any
household duties. and the daughter had
the sole care Of her. On January /,
last. Hughes and his wife moved from
San Jose to this city and rented a part
of the house occupied by the Morrises.
Then the defendants are said to have
represented TO Sophie Norris that Ag-
news was q hospital where she could
get resi- from the long and constant
care OF her mother. She was told, she
says, that il would be necessary to get
the consent Of a Superior Judge be-
fore she could go to the institution and.
committed TO the asylum and was sent
there in charge of public officer.
She was confined for two months and
twelve days among the insane, al
though, she says. she was not insane
herself. She declares that she did not
know that Agnews was an asylum.
During the period Of her confinement
her mother became very i'll. The
daughter, in charge Of an attendant,
she saws dragged from the dying wo-
mans bedside by the Hugheses and
sent back 10 Agnews. She declares that
the authorities were so shocked at the
inhumanity of her treatment that they
returned her TO her home, and next day
the mother died. The plaintiff was
taken back 10 the asylum, and on the
ninth Of June the medical superinten-
dent discharged her. Of his own motion,
as Hughes would not consent to her re-
lease.
ALLEGES CRUELTY.
When she came home, she says.
Hughes would not let her in. He
struck her. seized her by the neck and
threw her. down the steps. according
10 the allegations, and then had her
taken TO the Emergency Hospital.
There, continues the plaintiff. an ef-
fort was made TO have her committed
70 the Stockton asylum on a charge of
insanity. but il failed. Next, she de-
clares, proceedings were instituted in
the Probate Court 10 have guardian
appointed for herr witnesses We're sub
penaed and the action stood four
months before it was dismissed
While she was in the asylum, and
after, il is alleged, the defendants cir
culated the report that Sophie Morris
was insane from the excessive use of
intoxicating liquors.
For the commitment to Agnews she
demands $4,000 damages and for the
acts committed after her release she
asks as much more.
HUGHES DENIES ALL.
Hugh Hughes. speaking Of the suit
fled against him by Sophie Morris.
said:
Her claims against me for damages are sim
ply absurd Everything in this house belongs
20 me, except one small becstead. Her state
ment that struck her is false. ] have lived
on this coast for forty years ana I think my
reputation for honesty is pretty well estab-
3ished here I DO not wish 10 20 into snx de-
tail statement OF her conduct, as the manner
IN which she has acted is well known to many
of the leading physicians OF this city, among
whom are Dr.. Kerr and Or. Devlin. She is
unfortunately entirely controlled by an all alb
sorbing love for liquor. have done everything
IN my power 70 assist her have spent $1,000
for her treatment at different hospitals and
sanitsriums- But IL has been all Of no avail.
When her poor mother was lying here in m,
house At deaths door We sent down 10 the
egnews Asylum, where Miss Morris was under
treatment, and had her brought up here in
care OF a nurse that she might be with her
mother during her dying hours. On arrival
ere she acted like q raving maniac She
abused everybody in sight and kept up such
Ere OF talk that the was obliged 20 take
Der away again Her case IS a pathetic one
she has q splendid education and were II not
tor her terrible thirst for liquor would be a
~oman OF exceptional brillisncy.
This statement was entirely corrobo-
rated by Mrs. Hughes, the sister Of
Miss Morris.