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Chapter 9 January 1–May 21, 1876 The holiday season and start of a new year did nothing to change Mary’s condition. In fact, as 1876 began, Mary seemed to grow worse. She not only threatened her son’s life, but also started to carry a pistol in her pocket. Robert had to decide whether to allow his mother to continue living in Springfield or return her to Bellevue Place sanitarium. Ninian Edwards to Robert Lincoln Springfield, Ill., Jan. 14, 1876 Dear Robert, I am sorry to say that your mother has for the last month been very much embittered against you, and has on several occasions said that she has hired two men to take your life. On this morning we learned that she carries a pistol in her pocket— we also hear from others that she has had a great many dresses made, and is still purchasing largely for her own use. She has everything she buys sent direct to her rooms. She says she will never again allow you to come into her presence. We do not know what is best to be done.Your aunt says nothing will ever satisfy her until she has possession of her bonds, and her advice is that all her rights should be restored to her as soon as possible. She does not believe that she will expend her income, and she can never come to want as she has her pension for life. Nothing else will satisfy her.Gov.Palmer advises me to inform you of her threats and of her carrying the pistol. He is of opinion that by consent her bonds may be restored to her.If you think it best to come down,you had better not come direct to our house but advise me where to meet you. Except on the subject of the restoration of her bonds and her purchases,she is as rational as I ever knew her.Please do not let her know that I have written to you on the subject. The information in regard to the pistol you can learn from others. N. W. Edwards She spends nearly ½ of every day with dressmakers and in the stores. Folder 17, Box 2, Mary Todd Lincoln Insanity File Emerson_Text.indd 167 5/18/12 3:37 PM 168 chapter 9 Ninian Edwards to Robert Lincoln Springfield, Ill., Jan. 15, 1876 Dear Robert I wrote to you on yesterday that your mother carried a pistol. Your aunt thinks she could get it from her, but she fears in so doing that my daughter Mrs. Glover would know of it and would be alarmed. We do not think she would use it to the injury of anyone. Do you know whether she [illegible] presented to your father in her trunks? She has given to Mrs. Dubois, Mrs. Hatch and myself a cane, with a request that Charlie (my son) should have mine at my decease but I intend to keep it to be disposed of as you wish. Besides a dress and shawl to her sister Frances,she has made no present except a few toys to the children, in all including the dress and shawl not to exceed fifty dollars. Your aunt still thinks that she should have all her rights returned to her and especially is she would put her bonds in trust and that she ought not to be sent to an asylum.If this is done she would probably be again reconciled to you.The danger is that she might visit or [illegible] her bonds, and they might be stolen. Yours affectionately N. W. Edwards Folder 17, Box 2, Mary Todd Lincoln Insanity File Elizabeth Edwards to Robert Lincoln Springfield, Ill., Jan. 16, 1876 My dear Robert, Your uncle is perhaps unnecessarily excited upon the subject of the pistol. There may be danger to herself and others.I think that it will be best,that you write to her, saying that you have obtained such information from outside parties—at the same time,write to Mr.Edwards,it will give him an opportunity of investigating and demanding the weapon,without exciting the suspicions,of our being the informants. She has been very petulant for the past two months,but I will endure very much, for the sake of seeing her occasionally cheerful. There is no doubt that her chief enjoyment consists in purchasing and storing. She is very secretive—errand boys go to her room—and the merchants, disguise from...

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