Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-25

"She would howl for time and then
there would be short pause. From
man across the hall would come oaths
that seemed to be flung at heaven. From
the larger house at the rear came a shrill,
air-piercing treble. Then the voices were
Joined in fearful symphony 1 have
heard three voices. four, five united in tho
fearful all-night din I have never heard
anything that could be compared with It.
The sounds were unnatural, animal
sounds, but pervading them was some.
thing like devilIsh intent. =
Another OF the patients, a younger one,
used to delight in mimicking me. Being
OF light figure and nervous temperament
walk lightly and briskly. When 1 started
on my walks L would hear shrieks of
laughter from the attendants on the yer.
anda and the patients on the grounds
Looking behind me would see this wo-
man tormentor hurrying up the path after
me. walking with my gait. lifting her head
as lift mine. a
Trivial means were resorted to appar-
emily to exasperate me. was only per-
mftted one napkin a week. If this were
soiled the first day of the week had to
use 1t the remaining six days. To one in
whom neatness is inbred this Is an offense.
The nurses discovered this. One of the
coarser kind contrived to spill cocoa on it
the hrst morning Of the week asked her
to be careful. After that she would fling
the door open, swagger into my room, drop
the tray on the table with bang that
1ostled the dishes and spilled more cocoa
and slam the door as she went out
realized there was no hope for me
from my friends nor relatives. The let
could escape? planned long time 1
buried cloak under the Autumn leaves
and weighted 1t down by branches. hid
a muir In the same way, and pair of
overshoes and hat. Then one afternoon
wandered out, gothered them all up. and
shpped into them In the gathering dusk.
made my way not to the nearest sta.
ton. but the farthest one. knowing that
was the last at which they would look for
me. Five minutes after reached the sta
ton boarded train to Boston At the
station l passed the superintendent He
was doing police duty there as a volunteer
~nlie the police were on strike. Wrapped
iii my two cloaks ana wearing heavy veil
passed him unrecognized. took q train
to Providence and thence to New York
Il had been in New York but a short
while and was putting the. finishing
100000 VA Ahy bOoht no CACleQraIS OF
Europe which Harpers have accented.
when my sister, Mary Boyle O'Reilly. had
ME arrested as lost person. NV rela-
tives assembled in court and asked NV
commitment to the psychopathic ward OF
Bellevue. My attorney. Mr.. Foster, senior
member OF the firm OF Foster G. Cutler.
put his foot on the rail and said: 4 protest
Your Honor. II you will release her into
our custody we will take her to our own
home
Judge Robert F. Wagner permitted mo
10 go on parole in my lawyers custody.
Two months later he released me finally,
convinced that I was sane. am finishing
my book which I wrote while in duranoe
as a mad woman and am preparing for
other literary work
Before closing this awful chapter OF
my life. let ME say that have related tho
chief incidents of my relatives horrible
mistake for the benefit OF others who
may be threatened by similar fate.
The greatest peril IS the reiterated
statement. You are insane The brain
may reel before this suggestion. The rea.
son may fall at last before Il. I belieye
there should be legislation which wouid
REQUIRE, public hearing Of every person
charged with insanity" sS