Mary Lincoln's Insanity Case: A Documentary History

4. Trial of 1875: Newspaper Editorials

Chapter 4 Trial of 1875 Newspaper Editorials Newspapers around the country, but especially in her hometown of Chicago, not only reported on Mary Lincoln’s insanity trial but also offered their editorial comments on it. The majority feeling was that Mary had been insane for a long time and deserved nothing but sympathy and understanding, while her son Robert had done his brave and manly duty in having his mother committed. Editorial Chicago Tribune, May 20, 1875 The proceedings in the County Court yesterday in the case of Mrs.Lincoln will have a painful interest.Nothing but an imperative sense of duty and of filial devotion could have compelled the institution of the inquiry.It has been generally known in thecircleofthelady’sacquaintancesandpersonalfriendsthatsomethingofthiskind would eventually be necessary. The terrible event of which she was an eyewitness has at last completed the dethronement of perfect reason.The long years of painful brooding over the dreadful homicide of her husband have gradually produced the necessity of the proceedings taken yesterday.To the Court,the gentlemen comprising the jury, the physicians, witnesses, relatives, and friends, the action taken was distressing in the extreme, but its necessity made them unanimous. Judge Davis, of the Supreme Court, the executor of the estate, and the Hon. John T. Stuart, of Springfield, Mrs. Lincoln’s cousin, also approve of what has been done. As will be seen from the evidence, Mrs. Lincoln’s mind has been for ten years the prey to growing madness, and this fact, now made public, will cast a new light on many of her past actions, which were harshly criticized by those who did not know her, and which, while understood by her personal friends, could not be explained by them,since to have done so would have been to have exposed her mental condition, which it was then hoped might improve. Chicago Tribune, Thursday, May 20, 1875, 4 Emerson_Text.indd 51 5/18/12 3:37 PM 52 chapter 4 Editorial Chicago Times, May 20, 1875 It will pain our readers to learn that Mrs. Lincoln, the widow of our martyred president, has been adjudged insane, and sent to a private lunatic asylum. The symptoms of her mental derangement have of late been painfully apparent to those around her, and, within the past few days, although her relatives and friends have striven to avoid it,it has been manifest that it would be necessary to place her under surveillance. However repugnant such a step might be, justice to the unfortunate lady and those related to her imperatively demanded that it be taken.Mrs.Lincoln andherfamilywillhavethesinceresympathyoftheentirecountryinthisemergency. It is to be hoped that her malady will give way under skillful medical treatment,and that she will soon be restored to the full possession of her mental faculties. Chicago Times, Thursday, May 20, 1875, 4 Editorial Chicago Inter Ocean, May 20, 1875 The County Courtroom was yesterday the scene of one of the saddest trials that has ever appeared on the docket of any court in this or any other country.A writ de lunaticoinquirendowasissuedagainstMrs.MaryLincoln,wifeofAbrahamLincoln, the nation’s martyred President, upon petition of her son, Robert T. Lincoln. The testimony of the witnesses examined was conclusive as to her insanity,and the jury adjudged her a fit subject for a hospital for the insane. Among the witnesses were her son, her physician, several friends, and others who from their association with her were qualified to speak. It has long been known that Mrs. Lincoln was subject to hallucinations, indicating mental derangement, the exciting causes being the assassination of President Lincoln and the subsequent death of her idolized son, “Little Tad.” Latterly these eccentricities have assumed a more pronounced form, as will appear from a perusal of the evidence published elsewhere, and it became the sorrowful duty of her son to institute proceedings to determine the facts as to her sanity.She will be removed to a private hospital at Batavia,Ill.,where it is to be hoped she will fully recover. Chicago Inter Ocean, Thursday morning, May 20, 1875, 4 “The Case of Mrs. Lincoln” Chicago Tribune, May 21, 1875 We refer to this case with no purpose grieving the friends of the lady or of panderingtocuriosity ,butsimplytoexplainthatinallthepainfulproceedingsMrs.Lincoln Emerson_Text.indd 52 5/18/12 3:37 PM Trial of 1875: Newspaper Editorials 53 has been treated in the kindest and gentlest manner by her own personal friends, and that from...