Did Mary Lincoln need committal?

[Donna McCreary]

Let's just take a moment to list what had happened in Mary's life up to her trial.
Two of her sons had died before the age of 12.
She lived in Washington during the Civil War where the sounds of cannons, guns, clanking spurs and swords, and screaming men surrounded her nearly 24 hours per day.
She lived in the White House under a constant threat of death, a constant public eye, and a constant list of accusations from the press.
She was constantly accused of being a Confederate spy.
When she could just begin to relax, she attended the theatre. As she sat resting her head on her husband's shoulder and held his hand, a gun fired.
She had to fight her friends, relatives, politicians, and the citizens of Springfield about the burial spot for her husband. (Being men, they believed they knew best where Abraham should be buried.)
Her son, Robert married a girl Mary Lincoln adored. (a good thing) So, thinking Robert was happy and content, Mary began to travel. While in Europe, she read in the newspapers about how she was a horrible person for taking the President's son out of the country. She also read reports that she had gone off to Germany to marry a prince.
She returned to America, and within a few weeks, Tad Lincoln died.
She was in Chicago during the Great Fire (could explain her fear of fire in latter life)
She suffered from back pain, head aches, and countless other medical issues and takes medication. These medication had side effects.
Her behavior became more and more strange. Her fears were more profound. She feared being poor. She was afraid of fire. She was afraid of strangers. She felt that she was being followed (oh, yes, Robert hired men Pinkerton's men to follow Mary). She shopped, and shopped. Retail theraphy gave her some comfort.
Then, it was suddenly 1875 . . . 10 years after Lincoln was killed and the entire country had its nose in her business.
Herndon began making a living by giving lectures. He claimed that Lincoln never loved his wife.
Robert's wife was expecting their second child and began to pressure Robert about his mother. Mary H. Lincoln left Robert and went to her family in Iowa . . . . again.
To try to find a little peace, Mary Lincoln traveled to Florida. While there, she thought that Robert was ill. She returned to Chicago.
Robert consulted lawyers, family members, and doctors about his mother's condition, and decided she was insane.

The trial was set-- Robert made all of the arrangements. He paid people to testify. He arranged for the judge, lawyers, and witnesses to be present. Mary was arrested (yes, arrested) placed in a carriage and brought to the courthouse. Her fate was sealed.

Was it the 'right' thing to do? For Robert . . . yes, I believe he acted in what he thought was the best interest for his mother. Based on the knowledge and evidence he had, based on the law of the day, he did what any Victorian man would do.
However, for Mary . . . it was the wrong thing to do. She was not convicted to a nice quiet rest home. She was convicted to be placed in the state mental ward. Robert did not want her there and made arrangements for her to be treated by Dr. Patterson. Whether it was a nice place or not, Mary was there against her will and could not come and go as she pleased. She was a prisoner in a nice place.

[L Verge]

This is an excellent overview of the situation, Donna. Any chance I can get you to contribute a full article to the Surratt Courier on this? Of, may I publish this narrative?

[Gene C]

And remember her treatment and embarassment by Elizabeth Keckley's book.

[LincolnMan]

I agree with Laurie-what a great summary From Donna.

[Donna McCreary]

(06-16-2013 07:27 AM)JMadonna Wrote:  "Insanity" is a legal term not a medical one. Was she a threat to herself or others? Robert thought she was a threat to herself and the court agreed.
Was this the best course of action for her medically? Probably not, but those were the choices at the time.
Luckily she didn't live in the 1950's when she probably would have undergone electro-shock therapy.

Excellent point! We forget that "insanity" is a legal term - thus she had to have a legal trial.

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(06-16-2013 07:32 PM)L Verge Wrote:  This is an excellent overview of the situation, Donna. Any chance I can get you to contribute a full article to the Surratt Courier on this? Of, may I publish this narrative?

Let's talk about this. I can rewrite and clean it up - but this version was written in the 'heat of the moment' and needs editing.

[ReignetteC]

Donna,

You've written a clear and concise overview of the troubles in Mary Lincoln's life; it really puts them all in perspective. Thank you.

Reignette

[Laurie Verge]

(06-17-2013 10:33 AM)Donna McCreary Wrote:  

(06-16-2013 07:27 AM)JMadonna Wrote:  "Insanity" is a legal term not a medical one. Was she a threat to herself or others? Robert thought she was a threat to herself and the court agreed.
Was this the best course of action for her medically? Probably not, but those were the choices at the time.
Luckily she didn't live in the 1950's when she probably would have undergone electro-shock therapy.

Excellent point! We forget that "insanity" is a legal term - thus she had to have a legal trial.

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(06-16-2013 07:32 PM)L Verge Wrote:  This is an excellent overview of the situation, Donna. Any chance I can get you to contribute a full article to the Surratt Courier on this? Of, may I publish this narrative?

Let's talk about this. I can rewrite and clean it up - but this version was written in the 'heat of the moment' and needs editing.

Would love to have it in whatever form. E-mail me at laurie.verge@pgparks.com if needed.

[LincolnMan]

Is the hospital where Mary resided still open? I don't remember reading on previous posts if it is or not.

[RJNorton]

Bill, I believe it is now an apartment building.

[L Verge]

Several years ago, the Lincoln Group of D.C. had a speaker who had been raised at the hospital during the 1940s and 50s. His father was in charge of the institution at that time, but I cannot remember his name.

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I just read a 2006 article online that wanted to insert once again the theory that both Mr. & Mrs. Lincoln suffered from syphilis. However, the article stated that an autopsy was performed on Mary Lincoln and a brain tumor was found. Did I miss something along the way?

[Eva Elisabeth]

(06-16-2013 07:27 AM)JMadonna Wrote:  "Insanity" is a legal term not a medical one.

If “insanety” is just a legal term, what is the corresponding medical one? And what does it embrace? Does it include the possibility to recover, or, moreover, to be completely cured? (To me “insanety” sounds a bit like a state beyond the point of no return).

Donna, thanks for your illustrative summary. I’d agree on your last statement, especially regarding that later on Mary was able to think clearly and rationally enough to manage to free herself from institutionalization and being ruled sane in a second trial.

[Sally]

(06-17-2013 05:46 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Bill, I believe it is now an apartment building.

Yes, it is an apartment building. I live nearby and frequently walk past it. I've never had a chance to go inside, but it looks pretty nice. Evidently, Mary's spirit does not linger there, at least according to this article.

Not far from Batavia is the town of St. Charles, which Mary visited shortly after Tad's death. A well-known psychic of the time lived there and Mary came to her looking for comfort. The psychic's house is still a private residence, but it's designated by a plaque. The hotel Mary stayed in is also still standing. It too has been converted into apartments, but they are a little seedy.

[Houmes]

(06-17-2013 03:40 PM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Is the hospital where Mary resided still open? I don't remember reading on previous posts if it is or not.

Mr. Norton is correct. The original stone building (Bellevue Place) still stands and is a very nice apartment residence. You can see some of her belongings on display in the local historical society - http://www.bataviahistoricalsociety.org/mtodd.htm My next door neighbor was the grandson of one the doctors providing medical care for the "clients." When Mary Lincoln was released, she left eleven trunks of belongings plus her personal furniture. Most of the furniture ended up in the historical society museum--you can still see the holes in the legs of some of them, where they were nailed to the floor to prevent her from nervously moving the furniture back and forth all day. I acquired Mary Lincoln's rocking chair from him several years ago.

[LincolnMan]

(06-17-2013 06:04 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Several years ago, the Lincoln Group of D.C. had a speaker who had been raised at the hospital during the 1940s and 50s. His father was in charge of the institution at that time, but I cannot remember his name.

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I just read a 2006 article online that wanted to insert once again the theory that both Mr. & Mrs. Lincoln suffered from syphilis. However, the article stated that an autopsy was performed on Mary Lincoln and a brain tumor was found. Did I miss something along the way?

I raised the issue of Mary having brain tumor on this Forum last year. Someone (was it Donna?) reported that it is simply not true-she was not found to have one.

[Donna McCreary]

(06-17-2013 06:04 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Several years ago, the Lincoln Group of D.C. had a speaker who had been raised at the hospital during the 1940s and 50s. His father was in charge of the institution at that time, but I cannot remember his name.

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I just read a 2006 article online that wanted to insert once again the theory that both Mr. & Mrs. Lincoln suffered from syphilis. However, the article stated that an autopsy was performed on Mary Lincoln and a brain tumor was found. Did I miss something along the way?

There was never an autopsy performed on Mary Lincoln. I would love to find the orginial source for the rumor about the tumor.