7 Nov 1893 - The Elmira Gazette (Elmira, New York)
The Story of the Murdererss’ Prison Record in the Eastern Penitentiary
Philadelphia, Nov. 7 - Further investigation of the career in this city of Mrs. Halliday known while here as Maggie Hopkins, the now notorious murderess, shows that while imprisoned at the Eastern Penitentiary she became insane, and was so pronounced by the prison authorities and physicians. Warden Michael J. Cassidy of the Eastern Penitentiary told the following story of her prison record yesterday:
If this Mrs. Halliday is identical with the Maggie Hopkins sent here in 1888, I can tell you all that record shows that she was sentenced for two years for arson March 17, 1888, and was received at the prison on May 4. She said she was 25 years old, and did not look older, and was fairly good looking. She was five feet and half an inch tall and weighed 117 pounds. She was a model prisoner, and no infraction of the rules is recorded against her. She used to worry and often inquire about her little boy, who had been sent to some home. About two months prior to the expiration of her sentence she became insane and was transferred to the department for the insane at Blockley. She was pronounced insane by the prison physicians. Since then I have heard nothing of her. I am confident she was insane and not shamming when transferred to the almshouse.