The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-23
THO DAYS. FASTING
DOESN'T HURT HER
REBA EDELsON's CASE AROUsEs
ANARCHISTS AGAINST
TORTURE.
TO ORGANIZE PROTEST
CASE SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO GIRL
L. w. w. WHO WAS SENT
TO MATTEAwAS
ASYLUM.
TO ORGANIZE PROTEST

New York, July 22.--Reba Edelson
submitted to an examination by DIR.
Anna Hubert at the BlackwelFs
Island workhouse today and having
convinced herself and the physician
that she was in. excellent condition
despite her two days Of fasting, she
went right on refusing the food that
was served UP to her. Just why Reba
submitted to have her heart and lungs
tested was not divulged. All that
could be learned was that she was
very nice about 1t.
One got the impression today In
talking with Commissioner Davis that
food might be forced upon Reba
without any public announcement Of
the fact. AS that procedure would
nuliify Mas Edelson's purpose to OBJ
tain notoriety 1t may be that she
figured a gradual submission would
keep her in the limelight However
that may be. she as in excellent ply
steal condition. according to DR.
Hubert and forcibie feeding will not
be resorted to SO long as the prisoner
remains healthy. When the time
comes Reba will be rolled In a blanket
and forced to receive nourishment
through her nose. according TO the
most approved methods of dealing
with such cases
Miss Davis said today that she had
never thought of sending Miss Edei-
son to Matteawan as an insane per-
son.
Indication of Insanity.
The only indication Of insanity Is
that she talks great deal about the
cause" but does not know what the
cause is. Commissioner Davis Is
convinced that Reba's vagaries are
not of the kind to justify sending her
TO Hatteawan.
Her case differs entirely from that
OF Jane Est, the l. w. W. agitator.
who was sent to the Island on June
10 as a disorderiy person. Miss
Est also refused to eat or to work
and the mental weakness that had
been observed by those who watched
her even before she was arrested
seemed to increase. She was accord
ingly examined and sent up the river
as an insane person. Although
sentenced for three months she will
remain at Matteawan until pro-
nounced cured.
Alexander Rerkman is very much
excited about Reba- He said today
that he would start a movement Fri
day night for the organization OF an
s'anti-torture committee" and that he
and his friends would handle the case
with their own strength. Berkrnan
said:
Anti-Torture COMMITTEES
"At $50 O'Clock there Will be an
important meeting anarchists
from Boston. Paterson. Hoboken.
brooklyn. PhiladeIenia, and New
York 10 consider ways and means
and what action shall be taken with
reference to Miss Edelson. We will
decide on some public sentiment
a>nyt forcih1e feeding. We shall
notify the authorities and organize
an antf-torture committee DO you
contemplate violence?" he was asked
1T the authorities inture her In any
way / should not be surprised II vso-
lence resulted You know she has a
great many friends. We will not APP
peal to the law or any higher court
Berkman said also that he would
send his own legal and medical repre-
sentatives TO Blackwelfs Island to see
the prisoner. He did not say how his
representatives were going to get