The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-12
Highly Connected.

MI Patterson saiu that his VIE . 'i1ne
WAS Virginia Knox. and that che was q
niece Of Senator Knox. former Un.;,.l
States Attorney-General She came from
socially prominent Pennsylvania fam
ily. and previous 10 her marriage was
extremely popular in society, bo.h i'll
New York and Pennsylvania. as we'd as
In Europe. for her great beauty and lie-
accomplishments. Mrs. Patterson. ne
said. was a linguist OF no mean ability
and spoke seven languages fiuen,ly. She
had also Travelled extensively.
Her husband said that her first mar
rage was extremely unfortunate and un-
happy. Very young, she married the
Count Carussi, of Italy. a prominent
member of the Italian aristocracy. Their
married life he claimed. up to the very
hour of the Counts death, was one In
which she suffered from his treatment
OF her.
Mr.. Patterson said that the Count was
n heavy drinker and treated her brutal
ly. AT one. time, he said, the Count
locked his wife UP in the castle in which
they lived. and she was only released
when King Humbert sent detachment
of soldiers TO the castle and overpowered
her guards. Mr. Patterson said that the
Count finally died In an insane asylum.
After the Counts death he married her
mud they came to live In this country
Her principal delusion. he said, was In
regard to wireless telegraphy, and she
believed she received wireless messages
from heaven from her friends and rela-
,ives who were dead. This. lie said. was
brought about probably. because of the
frequent visits of Nicola Tesla. the in
ventor. to Mr.. Patterson's house. He
said that tho latter was frequent caller.
During these visits In Mrs Patterson's
presence the subject of wireless teleg-
rapby was the principal topic, and was
one in which his wife also seemed to be
greatly Interested. Finally he noticed
that it had become a mania with her.
She also said she heard voices and
seemed to be in great fear of some in
visible persons, who seemed real to her.
and whom she thought intended to harm
hcr AT times. Mr.. Patterson said she
would become violent.
Had to Coax Her.
In getting her to leave her home which
is n handsome three-story brown stone
building, Sergeant Farrell and Policeman
Rider had to do n great deal of coaXng.
coupled with deception. Finally. on tho
plea that they We're going to take her to
n sisters house, they induced her to ge.
into n carriage with them. She was
gowned in a handsome dress and wore
over $1,000 worth of jewelry. She refused
to wear her hat, hut threw over her head
an expensive italian lace shawl.
At the hospital Mrs. Patterson seemed
aware that she was to be deprived of her
liberty, and refused to so in. She be-
came hysterical and violent, but was
finally Gained by DR.. Gregory, in charge
OF the psychopathic ward, and induced to
enter.
DR.. Gregory said that, owing to the
woman's condition from the use OF an
alcoholic beverage yesterday he was
unable to ascertain but little as to her
mental condition. but advised Mr.. Pat
terson to have her kept lin Bellevue
over night for observation, and then
taken to court to-day and committed in
the regular way prescribed by law
Nh. Patterson decided to consult with