"Mrs. Packard's mother was an insane woman, and several of her relatives
have been insane; and, therefore, Mrs. Packard's insanity is hereditary,
consequently, she is hopelessly insane."
This base and most cruel slander originated from Mr. Packard's own heart;
was echoed before the eyes of the public, by Dr. McFarland, Superintendent
of the Insane Asylum, through the Chicago Tribune, in a letter which he
wrote to the Tribune in self-defence, after my trial. The verdict of the
jury virtually impeached Dr. McFarland as an accomplice in this foul
drama, and as one who had prostituted his high public trust, in a most
notorious manner. This presentation of him and his institution before the
public, seemed to provoke this letter, as a vindication of his course. And
the most prominent part of this defence seemed to depend upon his making
the people believe that the opinion of the jury was not correct, in
pronouncing me sane. And he used this slander as the backbone of his
argument, to prove that I was hopelessly insane, there having been no
change either for the better or worse, while under his care, and that I
left the institution just as I entered it, incurably insane.
I think I cannot answer this slander more summarily and concisely, than by
quoting, verbatim, Mr. Stephen R. Moore's, my attorney, reply to this
letter, as it was published at the time in the public papers.