New-York tribune., 1910-08-30
MISS SMITH TO BELLEVUE
Maoistrate Sends Her Back for
Further Observation.
SAYS SHE WAS MALTRE-, }
Shows Bruised Arms in Court
Member of Well Known Long
Island Family.

Miss Alice I. stanton Smith. Of the "a
--,ors Long Island family that gave us
name TO Snnithtown, was committed yesteT-
6sv 10 the psychopathic ward in Bellevue
h. Magistrate Murphy for observation as TO
her sanity. She had been in Bellevue since
last "Wednesday. and complained that she
had been brutally treated there and that
size had not had half enough to eat
She rrof fested vigorously in court that her
detention had been the fruit of conspiracy
iov some or her relatives. who wished 10 gel
her property. which she declared was worth
sl0e 00e.
on Wednesday Or. Philip Meyerowitz'
owner Of the apartment house at No 2l2
West 18TH street. got warrant for her
aatention. Dr. Meyerovitz. while now en-
,.yed IN the real estate business. has made
: speciaI study of nervous diseases. and he
said Miss Smith was a paranoiac- He said
she was soaring tenants in his house. where
she had rented an apartment She carried
: revolver IN her handbag. and was in the
habit of showing it whenever she went out.
She would also. according 10 the janitor of
the building. accost women in the building
and ask whether they had been following
her for two wears.
Magistrate Appleton issued the warrant
on Wednesday. and when Patrolman Long
brought the woman 10 the court it had
,,oses for the da- and no magistrate was
,7-eser- 10 commit her. Long took her 10
Relle,rle Hospital. and though DR.. Gregory
said he should have commitment papers,
he did not feel justified in refusing TO ad-
nit the woman The five days of ohserva-
lion ended yesterday. and she was there
fore brought before Magistrate Murphy in
the Harlem court.
When hoI case WAS called Miss Smith
arose and made a dramatic recital Of her
troubles. She said: ~EnYious relatives
Who have been prosecuting me for years
want 10 secure my property. Three times
they have had me committed 10 an asylum.
hut each time the jury released me. Last
week they had me sent TO Bellevue Hos
pital. and the brutalities l suffered there
were enough To make any sane person mad
] have stood eli that I can stand"
Miss Smith showed her arms. which
were black and blue. and said her body
vas covered with bruises. She appealed
10 the magistrate to release her as she
wanted 10 get a square meal and she had
been detained illegally for five days at
Bellevue
Frank Lawson. a cousin of Miss Smith,
who lives al ST. James Long Island, came
into court while the case was going on
ard said that for twenty years Miss Smith
had shown signs of insanity. Magistrate
Murphy, after telephoning to Bellevue
Hospital. decided to commit Miss Smith
10 that institution for five days, and ad-
Hised her cousin 10 have measures taken
10 care for her.
Miss Smith is the daughter Of the late
Nathaniel Smith, Of St James, Long ISL
and, and cousin OF Richard IL. Smith,
who was elected judge Of the City Court
last fall. She is a niece of former Mayor
William Nichham of New York She for
meTly lived on the property at ST James
hequeaJhed to her by her father. 1t is es-
timated 10 be worth s5o.0OO. General Mel
son H. Henry. Surveyor of the Port Of
New York. was the last tenant to occupy
the PROPERTY two years ago.
She Was released from Bloomngdale
Asylum by d sheriff's jury in Brooklyn
II 1907. but later was committed TO an
other institution and again released. She
i forty-siX wears old. Since her father $
death her affairs have been in the care Of
VI me Nan Norden Trust Company, of New
York.