14. Her belief that some calamity would befall her, owing to my being
there, and her refusal to shake hands with me when I went away.
15. Her viewing the subject of religion from the osteric standpoint of
Christian exegetical analysis, and agglutinating the polsynthetical
ectoblasts of homogeneous asceticism.
The witness left the stand amid roars of laughter; and it required some
moments to restore order in the court-room.
JOSEPH H. WAY, sworn, and said:
I am a practicing physician in Kankakee City, Illinois. I made a medical
examination of Mrs. Packard a few weeks since, at her house; was there
perhaps two hours. On most subjects she was quite sane. On the subject of
religion I thought she had some ideas that are not generally entertained.
At that time I thought her to be somewhat deranged or excited on that
subject; since that time I have thought perhaps I was not a proper judge,
for I am not much posted on disputed points in theology, and I find that
other people entertain similar ideas. They are not in accordance with my
views, but that is no evidence that she is insane.
_Cross-examined._--I made this visit at her house, or his house, perhaps,
at Manteno. I conversed on various subjects. She was perfectly sane on
every subject except religion, and I would not swear now that she was
insane. She seemed to have been laboring under an undue excitement on that
subject. She has a nervous temperament, and is easily excited. She said
she liked her children, and that it was hard to be torn from them. That
none but a mother could feel the anguish she had suffered; that while she
was confined in the Asylum, the children had been educated by their father
to call her insane. She said she would have them punished if they called
their own mother insane, for it was not right.
ABIJAH DOLE, sworn, and says:
I know Mrs. Packard; have known her twenty-five or thirty years. I am her
brother-in-law. Lived in Manteno seven years. Mrs. Packard has lived
there six years. I have been sent for several times by her and Mr.
Packard, and found her in an excited state of mind. I was there
frequently; we were very familiar. One morning early, I was sent for: she
was in the west room; she was in her night clothes. She took me by the
hand and led me to the bed. Libby was lying in bed, moaning and moving her
head. Mrs. Packard now spoke and said, "How pure we are." "I am one of the
children of heaven; Libby is one of the branches." "The woman shall bruise
the serpent's head." She called Mr. Packard a devil. She said, Brother
Dole, these are serious matters. If Brother Haslet will help me, we will
crush the body. She said, Christ had come into the world to save men, and
that she had come to save woman. Her hair was disheveled. Her face looked
wild. This was over three years ago.
I was there again one morning after this. She came to me. She pitied me
for marrying my wife, who is a sister to Mr. Packard; said I might find an
agreeable companion. She said if she had cultivated amativeness, she would
have made a more agreeable companion. She took me to another room and
talked about going away; this was in June before they took her to the
State Hospital. She sent for me again; she was in the east room; she was
very cordial. She wanted me to intercede for Theophilus, who was at
Marshall, Michigan; she wanted him to stay there, and it was thought not
advisable for him to stay. We wished him to come away, but did not tell
her the reasons. He was with a Swedenborgian.
After this I was called there once in the night. She said she could not
live with Mr. Packard, and she thought she had better go away. One time
she was in the Bible class. The question came up in regard to Moses
smiting the Egyptian; she thought Moses had acted too hasty, but that all
things worked for the glory of God. I requested her to keep quiet, and she
agreed to do it.
I have had no conversation with Mrs. Packard since her return from the
Hospital; she will not talk with me because she thinks I think she is
insane. Her brother came to see her; he said he had not seen her for four
or five years. I tried to have Mrs. Packard talk with him, and she would
not have anything to do with him because he said she was a crazy woman.
She generally was in the kitchen when I was there, overseeing her
household affairs.
I was superintendent of the Sabbath School. One Sabbath, just at the close
of the school, I was behind the desk, and almost like a vision she
appeared before me, and requested to deliver or read an address to the
school. I was much surprised; I felt so bad, I did not know what to do.
(At this juncture the witness became very much affected, and choked up so
that he could not proceed, and cried so loud that he could be heard in any
part of the court-room. When he became calm, he went on and said), I was
willing to gratify her all I could, for I know she was crazy, but I did
not want to take the responsibility myself, so I put it to a vote of the
school, if she should be allowed to read it. She was allowed to read it.
It occupied ten or fifteen minutes in reading.
I cannot state any of the particulars of that paper. It bore evidence of
her insanity. She went on and condemned the church, all in all, and the
individuals composing the church, because they did not agree with her. She
looked very wild and very much excited. She seemed to be insane. She came
to church one morning just as services commenced, and wished to have the
church act upon her letter withdrawing from the church immediately. Mr.
Packard was in the pulpit. She wanted to know if Brother Dole and Brother
Merrick were in the church, and wanted them to have it acted upon. This
was three years ago, just before she was taken away to the hospital.
_Cross-examined._--I supposed when I first went into the room that her
influence over the child had caused the child to become deranged. The
child was nine years old. I believed that she had exerted some mesmeric or
other influence over the child, that caused it to moan and toss its head.
The child had been sick with brain fever; I learned that after I got
there. I suppose the mother had considerable anxiety over the child; I
suppose she had been watching over the child all night, and that would
tend to excite her. The child got well. It was sick several days after
this; it was lying on the bed moaning and tossing its head; the mother did
not appear to be alarmed. Mr. Packard was not with her; she was all alone;
she did not say that Mr. Packard did not show proper care for the sick
child. I suppose she thought Libby would die.
Her ideas on religion did not agree with mine, nor with my view of the
Bible.
I knew Mr. Packard thought her insane, and did not want her to discuss
these questions in the Sabbath School. I knew he had opposed her more or
less. This letter to the church was for the purpose of asking for a letter
from the church.
_Question._ Was it an indication of insanity that she wanted to leave the
Presbyterian Church?
_Answer._ I think it strange that she should ask for letters from the
church. She would not leave the church unless she was insane.
I am a member of the church--I believe the church is right. I believe
everything the church does is right. I believe everything in the Bible.
_Ques._ Do you believe literally that Jonah was swallowed by a whale, and
remained in its belly three days and was then cast up?
_Ans._ I do.
_Ques._ Do you believe literally that Elijah went direct up to Heaven in a
chariot of fire--that the chariot had wheels, and seats, and was drawn by
horses?
_Ans._ I do--for with God all things are possible.
_Ques._ Do you believe Mrs. Packard was insane, and is insane?
_Ans._ I do.
I never read any of Swedenborg's works, I do not deem it proper for
persons to investigate new doctrines or systems of theology.
_Re-examined._--I became a Presbyterian eight years ago. I was formerly a
Congregationalist; Mr. Packard was a Congregationalist.
_Re-cross-examination._--_Ques._ Was it dangerous for you to examine the
doctrines or theology embraced in the Presbyterian Church, when you left
the Congregational Church, and joined it?
_Ans._ I will not answer so foolish a question.
Witness discharged.
JOSEPHUS B. SMITH, sworn, says:
Am aged fifty years; have known Mrs. Packard seven years. I cannot tell
the first appearance of any abnormal condition of her mind. I first saw it
at the Sabbath School. She came in and wished to read a communication. I
do not recollect everything of the communication. She did not read the
letter, but presented it to Brother Dole. She said something about her
small children, and left. She seemed to be excited. There was nothing very
unusual in her appearance. Her voice was rather excited; it could be heard
nearly over the house. I merely recall the circumstance, but recollect
scarce anything else. It was an unusual thing for any person to come in
and read an address. I do not recollect anything unusual in her manner.
(At this stage of the trial, an incident occurred that for a time stopped
all proceedings, and produced quite an excitement in the court-room; and
this report would not be faithful if it were passed over unnoticed. Mrs.
Dole, the sister of Mr. Packard, came in, leading the little daughter of
Mrs. Packard, and in passing by the table occupied by Mrs. Packard and her
counsel, the child stopped, went up to her mother, kissed and hugged her,
and was clinging to her with all child-like fervor, when it was observed
by Mrs. Dole, who snatched the child up--and bid it "come away from that
woman;" adding, "She is not fit to take care of you--I have you in my
charge;" and thereupon led her away. The court-room was crowded to its
utmost, and not a mother's heart there but what was touched, and scarce a
dry eye was seen. Quite a stir was made, but the sheriff soon restored
order.)
_Cross-examined._--I had charge of the Sunday School; am a member of Mr.
Packard's church. I knew Mr. Packard had considered her insane; knew they
had had difficulties. I was elected superintendent of the school in place
of Brother Dole, for the special purpose of keeping Mrs. Packard straight.