Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-05
CHILD CLINGS TO
INSANE MOTHER
Girl Ia, Goes to County Hospital
Rather Than Leave the
Stricken Woman
PENNILESS IN STRANGE CITY
Daughter Escorting tuberculosis
Victim to Los Angeles When
She Loses Her Mind

Friendless in a strange city, penni-
less and with a mother in the last
stages of tuberculosis suddenly
stricken with insanity, the plight of
Bertha Gorzny, IA years old, yesterday
excited the pity of all city and county
officials with whom she came in con-
tact.
With her mother, Mrs. Anna Gorzny,
Bertha left Denver a few days ago for
Los Angeles in the hope that the eli
mate of Southern California would
stay the hand of death which already
seemed to have the mother in its
clasp.
According to the story told by the
daughter, Mrs. Gorzny left Denver in
a weakened condition as a result of
tuberculosis, from which she has long
been a sufferer. On reaching Albu-
querque, Thursday morning, she sud
denly lost her reason and few min
utes after the train left for Los An
geles she terrified the child by running
about the car like a wild woman,
threatening to jump from the train. 1t
was with the greatest difficulty the
girl, assisted by the conductor of the
train, kept her mother from 1nJuring
herself and other passengers.
The remainder of the trip was a
terrible experience for the little daugh-
ter, from whose eyes the tears hardly
ceased to fall throughout all the
dreary time in which she lovingly
tended her stricken mother, whose
mind still was wandering even after
the high attitudes were left far be-
hind.
REFUSES TO LEAVE MOTHER
When the train reached the Santa
Fe station here the mother and girl
were met by the station matron and
Miss Jessie Robinson, travellers aid for
the local Y. w. c. A., who turned them
over to officer Sheets. Sheets took his
charges to the receiving hospital
where the mother and daughter re-
mained until removed to the county
hospital
Thinking it better that the girl be
removed from the insane woman
physicians at the receiving hospital
tried to persuade Bertha to allow her
mother to go to the county hospital
alone. The child, however, clung des-
perately to the mother, weeping bit
terly and declaring she would moi
leave her parent. Unable to resist the
girls pleading, the physicians allowed
her to go to the hospital.
leave mother-and in this awful
condition?" moaned the unfortunate
girl. "Ill never leave her. When
left Denver [ told papa L would stay
with her all the time and help her all
I could. I must go with her."
In the afternoon the mother, strapped
to a cot and still accompanied by
Bertha, was removed from the county
hospital to the Hall of Justice to be
arraigned on an insanity charge. Upon
her arrival before Judge Bordwell and
the lunacy commission, however, she
still was so much under the influence
Of the opiates given to quiet her that
she lay in a stupor most of the time
and could not therefore be arraigned.
MoANs INTERRUPT COURT
The woman's means and the sobs
of little Bertha often interrupted the
trials and arraignments of other per-
sons similarly charged.
Finally Mrs. Gorzny, still with
Bertha constantly at her side and hold
ing and stroking the thin hands, was
taken back to the county hospital,
where she and the little girl will be
cared for until Monday, when another
attempt will be made to arraign the
woman and the problem of providing
for the faithful little girl will be con-
sidered.
Mrs. Gorzny is in the second stage
of tuberculosis. The daughter said
after treatment in Denver for years
the husband, Ignaz Gorzny, decided to
send his wife to Los Angeles, hoping
the mild climate here would benefit
her. At the girls request the author
tiles will telegraph the father, who is
a plumber, to come to Los Angeles at
once and take charge of the woman.
The family home is at 1922 Perry
street, Denver.