Year: 1875

At the time, the assassination o.


President Lincoln was understood tC


have had serious effect upon the


mental faculties of his widow, which


soon became visible in her movements


and expressions. The previous death


Of a son no doubt prepared the way


for the more full effect of that event.


The public, from time to time, have


been advised Of incidents showing the


unbalanced condition of her mind,
prominent among which will be re-


membered the sale in New York of
much Of her wardrobe. For years, 1t
was hoped that time and travel would
overcome the difficulty; hence her
visits to Europe and different parts Of
our own country. But all, it seems,
to no effect.


The recent telegraph report stated
the result Of aninquest in lunaey, in
Mrs. Lincoln'sE case, resulting in q
verdict Of insanity, and her commit
tai to an asylum at Batavia, Ill. 1t
seems that on Saturday last u cOun-
ell Of leading physicians and her per-
sonal friends was held to consider
what vas best to be done for her.
She was stopping at the Grand Pacific
Hotel, Chicago, and from the uncer-
tainty Of her demeanor it was felt
that something was necessary to be
done to protect her life from her own
hands, and to secure her from bodily
harm. The result of the council was
an agreement to petition Judge Wal
lace, of the County Court, to make an
order of warrant and venire to try the
question of her sanity. We quote
from the 1fi6suGe's report Of the trial !:


IN THE COURTROOM.


The unfortunate lady entered the
Courtroom scarcely observed, and
certainly without her sad mission be-
ing known, except by the friends who
accompanied her, and the large num-
Der of witnesses who had been sum-
mOned- The lady was pallid, her
eye was watery and excited, and her
general appearance that OF one suffer-
ing from nervous excitement. She
was attired in a plain black suit, and
was neat and cOmely in appearance.
In the party accompanying her was
her son, whose every feature was
marked with sadness. His eyes, too,
were sufused with tears, as were also
those of several others of the party.
The persons entering the Courtroom
had more the appearance of funeral
procession than anything else, and
their appearance was the signal for q
breathless silence among the few in
the room at the time.


She took q seat facing his Honor,
and by her side sat her counselor and
friend, and the biographer of her hus-
band, the Hon. I. l.. Arnold. The
petitioner, her son, Robert T. Lincoln,
took a seat near her and obliquely to
Leonard SWEET and 3. f. Aver, coun-
sci for the petitioner, while in front Of
them and on the west side of the
room were seated the jurors who were
to pass upon one of the most impor-
-tant and regretful cases ever presented
to Court.


The news of the case soon flashed
through the building and the streets,
and when the first witness was called
the room was densely packed with the
wondering and sympathizing popu.
lace.


SAMUEL NJ. TURNER,


manager of the Grand Pacific Hotel,
testified; Mrs. Lincoln arrived at his
Hotel March Is. The 1st of April she
visited him at the hotel Office and had
a shawl wrapped about her head.
She asked him to go into the recep-
tion.rOom with her, as she had some
thing to say to him. She said some-
thing was wrong about the house, as
she heard strange sounds in the rooms.
He went, with her, and, when about
to leave her, she said she was afraid
to be left alone. He left her in charge
of some female help and told her he
would return in few minutes. He
had scarcely reached the Office when
a messenger told him that Mrs. Lin
coin was at the elevator and wanted
to see him. She said there had been
a strange man in the corridor and that
he was going to molest her. He went
up in the elevator and walked with
her through the house, but did not see
any strange man. She was greatly
excited, and desired to go TO some OF
the lady-boarders' rooms that she
might be safe. He showed her to Mrs.
DOdge's room, who at this time was
at dinner, promising that he would
return soon. He was again summon
ed by her, when her appearance was
wild and her fears were repeated. He
believed her deranged. No one had
called to see her since her arrival ex-
cept her son. He did not regard it as
safe to leave her alone.