Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-09-01
DENIES SETTING FIRE
TO HOME UNLESS It
WAS AN ACCIDENT
PATHETIC LITTLE FIGURE IN
COURT TODAY TO HAVE MEN,
TALlTY TESTED-TEARS SWELL
FROM EYES OF MANY, AT kATH-
ERNIE TRoYER'S PLIGHT.

Katherine Troyer, fifteen year old
Ottawa girl, who was found missing
at midnight Monday, after the home
of her widowed mother, Mrs. Margar
ct Troyer, was found in flames, de-
MED in court this morning that she
had Intentionally set fire to the dwell
ing. She admitted, however, that
she might possibly have accidental
ly set fire to the place, by dropping
matches which she was lighting to
look for things before she left home.
The question as to whether she was
responsible for the fire was put to
her by Drs. Nv. H. Jameson and A. j.
Roberts, who subjected her to SAN
ity test. The physicians found the
girl was suffering from mental dis
turbances, and pronounced her IRA
tional. At the close of the hearing
Judge B. Harry Reck ordered her
committed to the state hospital at
Bartonville. After the hearing Kath-
crime was taken back to the county
farm, where she has been held since
her apprehension on Tuesday. She
will be taken to Bartonville tomor-
row.
Katherine declared that she had no
knowledge of setting fire to her wild
owed mothers home. At the time
the blaze was discovered Mrs. Troy
er, her daughter Margaret and
seven year old child from Streator,
who was visiting there, were forced
to fee the flames attired only in their
night clothing
The hearing was extremely brief.
The girls grandmother, Mrs. Mer-
dick of Streator, her mother, Mrs.
Margaret Troyer. 1899 La Sale street
and her sister, Miss Esther Troyer,
were the only witnesses examined by
the state Mrs. Merrick stated that
the girl had lived with her off and
on each year, for long time, and
that she was afflicted by nervousness.
had suffered of st. Vitus dance, and
had been under the care of a Strea-
tor physician. She alleged that the
girl had for several years been the
victim of queer spells, and that when
suffering from these she would lose
control of herself, and frequently
throw herself, sustaining bad bruises,
Mrs. Troyer and her Oldest daugh-
ter Esther testified, substantiating
the statements of Mrs. Merrick.
The history sheet OF the physicians
showed that Katherine was said to
have attempted suicide on two occa-
siOns.'
Katherine's queer spells were
said by relatives to have dated back
to 1910, when her maternal grand
father was killed in the Cherry mine
disaster. The child was said to
have brooded deeply over his death.
She was but three year old at the
time
Katherine talked in the court, and
answered questions in an almost ra-
tional manner. She was dressed in
neat red and white checked sum
mer dress, and presented an immacu-
late appearance, which was in strange
contrast to the appearance she pre-
sented Tuesday when she was ap-
pretended in Utica, dressed in her
older brothers clothing, with a badly
sOiled face and hands and presenting
wild appearance.
The history sheet of her case rs
compiled by the physicians showed
that she was suffering of a goitre,
of thyroid trouble and of extreme
nervousness.
At the close of the hearing Rather
inc wept. Members of her family
We're also brought to tears at the
/ idea of parting with her The phys.
isians who examined the girl pre-
dicted that with the proper institu,
tional care, which she will receive
at Bartonville, she will soon become
perfectly rational.