Mary Lincoln and Suicide

[RJNorton]

Last night Vicki and I watched an excellent show on the Smithsonian Channel. It was part of its series on First Ladies. This episode was entitled "First Ladies Revealed » In Times of War." The emphasis was on Laura Bush, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Mary Lincoln.

The segment on Mary included a brief discussion of her years after the assassination, and the commentator noted that on two occasions Mary attempted suicide. No details were given. I can think of one supposed attempt: Mary allegedly tried to commit suicide with laudanum right after she was found guilty in her 1875 insanity trial and told she must go to Bellevue. I use the words "supposed" and "alleged" as I do not believe there is unanimity among historians as to whether this was really a serious suicide attempt.

My mind has gone blank on a second suicide attempt. Does anyone know what the narrator was referencing when she said "two suicide attempts?"