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.