The Halliday Case
[Published in the Brooklyn Medical Journal, Published Monthly by the Medical Society of the County of Kings. Vol IX, January-December, 1895. 356 Bridge Street, Brooklyn, NY - starting on Page 162]
Read before the Kings County Medical Society, Brooklyn, Sept. 18, 1894.
It is not my intention to attempt this evening an exhaustive clinical study of the Sullivan County murderess, Lizzie Halliday, whose bloody work of over a year ago sent a thrill of horror through the land and whose trial was watched with so much interest by the medical profession. It seemed to me, however, on receipt of the kind invitation of your President to present a paper on this occasion that it might be profitable to consider the case briefly in some of its aspects and to vindicate, if vindication be necessary, the finding of insanity in virtue of which sentence of death was commuted to life imprisonment and the miserable woman was transferred as an insane criminal to a State hospital for the insane.
The brief time at our disposal and the freshness of the case in the public memory suggest the convenience of assuming that you are familiar with the main facts of Mrs. Halliday's history and of confining my remarks to an analysis of the case as it presetned and unfolded itself on personal examination in Clinton Prison and on subsequent personal enquiry into her antecedents in the village of Greenwich, Washington county, where she at one time resided.
The prisoner was examined in Clinton Prison, Thursday, July 12, 1894. Present: Drs. J. D. Spencer, J. M. Lee and G. A. Blumer, the Commission appointed by the Governor; Dr. J. B. Ransom, Prison Physician, and Warden Thayer.
She is a woman thirty-six years of age, 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing about 90 pounds, with brown hair and grey eyes. Her skull is noticeably asymmetrical, there being marked flattening in the right occipito-parietal region. Forehead high and somewhat tapering. Nose coarse and disproportionately large; bridge, flat; upturned; nostrils large. Malars and superciliary arches prominent. Mouth large; lips medium thickness; teeth, fairly regular. Palatal vault, average.
(I submit two excellent photographs showing profile and three-quarter face, taken in prison, and cast made by Dr. J. B. Ransom, as follows: The hair having been evenly pasted down to the scalp, rubber tissue was carefully fitted over the hair and pressed firmly down. The diaphragm was then placed aorund the head at a level with the eyebrows in front and immediately below the base of the cranium posteriorly. The cast shows very accurately the rough outlines of the cranial deformity, though allowance should of course be made for the modification of the asymmetry on account of the hair.)
The patient was crouching in a corner of the cell with her face to the wall, muttering and hallooing incoherently. When brought into the corrider she offered resistance, crying, "Don't let me go by the river." Her nostrils and ears were stuffed with bits of dress material. When forcibly seated in a chair she began to pick at her clothing; to spit, to stamp on the floor and, when not restrained, pounded her thighs violently with her fists. She paid no attention to her examiners and could not be induced to answer questions. The following were some of her incoherent mutterings taken down at the time: "Manure, Nicodemus, pitchforks. Don't you stay there. No. I don't want you. Yes, you did. You took my baby; 13 or 14 o'clock. Snow and bull frogs. Take its little dress out of the bureau drawer and bring my little Isabella. Take them snakes away. Nineteen cords, charcoal. Don't throw that over me. I can't eat that sawdust. These are not the rules of the Methodist and Baptist church. You must preach the Gospel. John the Baptist, John the Baptist. You've got small-pox in your heels. Diarrhaea. She broke a spine of my ribs. You've got that bear sewed up in me. It's you that done it. You sewed them up in me. You broke three of my legs. You pitched me down from the garret. YOu put a coat of shingle nails over me. They don't want you in their house. They're going to saw off my nose. Take them snakes off me. You brought them in a basket. You tied them around me."
(With reference to the hallucinations and illusions here exhibited I may quote a brief extract from notes of the case kindly forwarded by Dr. H. E. Allison as part of the record of the State Asylum for Insane Criminals at Auburn in 1892, as showing an apparent repetition of the symptoms: "Feb. 10, 1892. Mentally she is sull, stupid, unable to converse coherently, expression of face is very vacant, no amount of questioning elicits any response either in words or expression. Hallucinations of sight constant. She sees reptiles, bugs, birds, etc., on her own person and on all those who come near and will try to pick and shake them off. At times she is restless and uneasy and makes many movements of a rhythmical nature. April 6, 1894. Sees bugs of different kinds in her room and on her person; also says that she feels them crwling on her arms and neck. Claims that there is a turle, a lizard and a snake inside of her, and in order to not feed these bugs and reptiles, she has refused for the past week to eat a mouthful of food voluntarily, etc.")
To resume:
During the examination there appeared an excessive secretion of saliva, and a profuse discharged of glairy mucus from the nostrils. There was marked analgesia. Persistent pricking, almost stabbing, with the point of a sharp knife elicited no responsive reflex. Tickling of naso-labial folds and mucous membrane of nostrils made no impression. Tickling of the soles of the feet was also ineffective. The conjunctivae were markedly insensitive; the patient remained perfectly unmoved when the lids were raised and finger-tips rubbed over the conjunctival surfaces. On the contrary when these crucial tests of sensation were being made the patient continued her incoherent, snatchy talk. Flies - especially annoying to tall others present - were allowed to accumulate on patient's face and never brushed away. At the conclusion of the examination prisoner was lifted from her chair and taken, violently resisting, to her call and crying "Don't take me by the river."
At a second examination of the prisoner on the following morning the patient's condition and conduct were essentially the same.
It may be stated briefly that the notes (covering period June 29 to July 22) taken while prisoner was at Dannemora show that she was noisy, destructive, dirty in her habits, and frequently profane and obscene in speech; frequently disturbed and noisy during the night; occasional self-mutilation and violence to others.
The following data were obtained from personal interviews in Greenwich, Wash. Co., N.Y.:
Mrs. G. said that Margt. McNally entered her service as a domestic servant about fourteen years ago. She had solicited employment several times and was very insistent. Said: "I'll please you, if I have to crawl on my hands and knees to do it." Began to work with a will. Was thorough and neat. Always scrupulously clean about her work and person. At the end of the third week of service, everything baving progressed satisfactorily up to that time, something went wrong with the baking. Mrs. G. called Maggie's attention to it mildly, whereupon she flew into a violent passion, using vile language to her mistress whom she threatened to have "arrested at once". Forthwith the servant entered complaint again her mistress before a justice of the peac, alleging that she had been violently assaulted by the latter, given a bloody nose, etc. Although dismissed from the service of Mrs. G. she came back at noon, made no preparations to leave, had to have her trunk packed by the family and by summarily ejected.
Mr. E. W. Mandell, J.P., had had several dealings with prisoner. She first appeared in his court June 21, 1880, in a civil suit, aleging that one David Nichols, a reputable farmer by whom she had been employed, owed her $6.75 for wages. Defendant paid the claim and settled the case, although there is no doubt it was a trumped-up charge. Her second appearance was shortly after this occurrence when she tried to bring about the arrest of Mrs. G., as referred to above. She next began suit against the wife of an editor who, she alleged, owed and would not pay $10.00 of borrowed money.
Finally she appeared as defendant in a suit brought by Mary Barringer for assault and battery, July 24, 1886. At that time she was the wife of George Smith, who is still living. This man had stored a feather bed, of which he was especially choice, with the complainant. Maggie forcibly entered her house a=one day, struck her, knocked her down, pulled her across the floor, saying "By God, I'm going to have that feather-bed." The bed was dragged into the street, th etick opened and the feathers scattered to the four winds. The defendant was but scantily clad during this performance. When she entered the Justice's court she held her shoes in her hand, saying "I wonder whose shoes these are - I've just come off the cars." When the Justice said "The shoes fit you; you had better put them on," she did so. During the trial she paid no attention to what was done or said. She was sentenced to jail for fifteen days. As she left the office she appealed at once to her husband George Smith, to pay her fine which he did. "All these appearances and actions ended right there," said the Justice. "I was perfectly satisfied that she was fooling."
Mr. M/, milk dealer, said that Maggie had worked for him about six months. Was a good worker. "Never had a word with her in the world." First saw her in the streets of Greenwich. Said to her "Say, sis, do you know any girl who wants to hire out?" She at once said without any enquiry that she would go herself. Went to the Methodist church with his wife. Never violent in temper; nothing unusual noticed. Afterwards visited her former employer for two or three days.
Mrs. Duff Allen, sister. Said she and her parents, with Maggie, came to America from Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland, in 1873. Maggie was at that time about fourteen years of age. She soon went to work in Newburgh. Always good-natured and light-hearted as a girl. "Never saw the first thing wrong until she married Hopkins about fourteen years ago. She never acted right after her boy was born. I didn't know what ailed her." She appears to have been very moody and irritable. She did not live happily with Hopkings and told her sister that he used to get up nights and threaten her life, but that something kept telling her she ought to take care of him. On one occasion, after the birth of her childre, she sat mending in Mrs. Allen's house apparently depressed. She exlaimed, "What's the use of living?" and tore the dress she was medning into shreds. She complained at this time of singing in her ears and appears to hve had hallucinations of sight. Said "Don't you see that light? There's a light going around the house." Mrs. Allen would get up but saw no light. Maggie from this time on became so reckless in her conduct, especially in her dealings with men, that her sister denied her the house. Said her father was out of his head several years before he died, and that a cousin, John Wilson, is insane and in an asylum in Ireland.
Mrs. H. C. M., wife of editor, referred to above. Patient lived her a few weeks. Was afraid of her. Subject to outbursts of violent temper without adequate provocation. Once took up a carving knife and threw it at a young man in the house because of some bantering remark. On another occasion while sleeping with Mrs. M.'s adopted daughter, a young girl with whom she had had no quarrel during the day and with whom she was on friendly terms, turned on her in the night and deliberately, withtou slightest warning and without any apparent motive, spat in her face. At this time expressed desire to be converted and took great interest in a revival then in progress.
Mrs. G., who lived near patient (then Mrs. Brewer), said that one morning she announced in the most casual way that her husband was dead. Mrs. G.'s proffered assistance was evidently not acceptable. She looked into room and saw that the dead man had his clothes on as he lay on the bed. Said she was always a queer-acting woman, stealth in her approach, still and sly.
Mrs. B., boarding-house keeper, said Maggie Brewer washed her about eight years ago, coming every Monday. Was a thorough washer-woman and untiring worker. Used to come about 4 A. M. with her boy, of whom she seemed to be fond. "Noticed nothing wrong about her." Her clothes were of queer shape and her boy also strangely attired. Never had slightest trouble. Worked for Mrs. B. about two months.
Mrs. M., wife of clergyman, said that Maggie McNally lived with her as servant in South Argyle, about fifteen or sixteen years ago, filling a temporary situation. She found her deceitful and otherwise untrustworthy. Never left her children alone with her. Was plausible. Suggested herself that she should knit for Mrs. M. after houseworks was done, but was found working on her own knitting, and on approach of her mistress would pick up the latter's as if she had been thus continuously engaged. Maggie always urged Mrs. M's young daughter to accompany her into the cellar when she had occasion to go there. When thus alone she frequently threatened her with a butcher knife, terrifying her and saying that she would surely kill her if she breathed a word of it to her mother.
Hiram Parkinson, third husband, aged seventy, married about seven years ago. Lived with her about five months, chiefly in Vermont. At Christmas H. P. announced his intention to go to Greenwich to visit his children by a previous wife. Patient objected, saying it would cost too much money. He began to dress for the journey. His wife pulled off his garments. He finally succeeded in clothing himself and on feeling for his keys in trousers' pocket found they were gone. He forced open his trunk to obtain $160 or $180 he had there and found the money missing. Suspecting his wife he went over to a lawyer named Eddy in Bellow's Falls, and brought him to the house with a constable. The woman when thus confronted began to cry and confessed to having given the money to another young attorney to whome she went and from wome she obtained it. Parkinson then and there left her. Said she was a "smart woman" good housekeeper. "Treated me well in every way." Admitted that she made the first advances towards matrimony. Said that she was in the habit of whipping her boy out of reason, using a strap. Boy was eight years old.
James K--, farmer, formerly kept a hotel in Greenwich, Maggie lived with them about a month. Said she was a "bad character;" that she swore, was disobedient, slovenly, and all that was bad and incorrigible. "The devil is in her heart and always was. She was naturally ugly." "She's no more insane than you" Said that at Christmas two of his boys about six and eight years of age were presented with toy pistols. They went into Maggie's bedroom one morning and pointed them at her. For this she got a warrant for their arrest from a justice of the peace and made the father pay $10.00 in settlement. On another occasion she found him giving liquor one Sunday to one of his boarders and made him pay $10 hush money. "She was a bad character and too forward."
Dr. W. R. B. -- knew patient first as Mrs. Hopkins. Soon after Hopkin's death she married Artemas Brewer, a veteran, feeble-minded, infirm, shiftless, poor and an opium eater, with a wife still living. Dr. B. treated Brewer for dropsy. He found him sitting up and feeling better one afternoon. Next morning he was found dead in bed. Thinks he died of opium poisoning. Said that her first husband Hopkins was found dead in same way. Hopkins had said to Dr. Bartlett: "I am afraid of her; she has threatened my life - she'll kill me." Parkinson had expressed similar fears.
Albert B.-- saw his brother Artemas Brewer when he was dying, was blue in face and frothing at mouth. Said his wife had frequently threatened his brother's life; that she used vile and profane language.
Mrs. C.H.S.-- Lived with her about eleven years ago. Was afraid of her. Went away one day mysteriously leaving hot stove, and returned next day with cock-and-bull story. One night returned after nine o'clock and found Mrs. S.'s house locked. At this was very angry and used violent and abusive language to Mrs. S. She went up stairs, brought down tea-cup out of which she drank something, then rocked an empty cradle violently with her foot. Insisted upon sleeping that night with her mistress who, fearing to oppose the irate servant, consented. Said she was subject to violent outbreaks of temper; that she wore very odd clothes.
Mrs. James Anderson, West Hebron, sister, writes Dr. J. B. Ransom, under date July 19, 1894:
"I have not seen her in ten years and I did not know whether she was living or dead until this sad event occurred. One time when she lived with Mr. Hopkins she came to our place and told us that her husband and others were going to come and burn out buildings when there was nothing of it; and at the same time she said that her husband and others were plotting together to shoot and to kill her."
John McNally, Sandgate, 47, brother, writes July 14, 1894, to Dr. Ransom:
"She was inclined so much to quarreling that the family all disowned her for years. She could not stay in a place any time when working out on account of her violent temper, and as for late years we know nothing of her only hearsay."
George H. Carpenter, prisoner's counsel, Liberty, N.Y., writes July 16: "I never had any intelligent information from Mrs. Halliday and she never spoke to me after May 1st or looked at me."
James White, attorney, Greenwich, N.Y., writes me under date Sept. 14, as follows:
"In answer to yours of 11th inst. having relation to Mrs. Halliday, I might say that ten or twelve years ago was somewhat numerous about here. At that time she had a sister Mrs. Dewey living out about three miles, another sister Mrs. Allen about four miles distant, and another sister Mrs. Anderson in Hebron, twelve miles away; also she had a brother John McNally, residing at Sandgate, Vt.,-- all steady, level-headed people. I have understood that some of the generation next previous spent portion of their lives in lunatic asylums. I was engaged in no lawsuits for her but uwas called upon by her on several occasions to aid her in the collection of balances alleged to be due from persons from whom she had labored as a domestic. I thought I discovered in each instance that she had made a mistake - she accepted my word for it and walked off. I never could satisfy myself whether in these many instances she was trying to swindle, or simply seeking to procure what she believed belong to her. She married about everybody athat came in her way - and that too neither for beauty or wealth. She seemed at all times to be bubbling over with good health and spirits, and although she seemed to know the difference between right and wrong was quite indifferent as to which turned up first. In one instance she attempted to poison her fourth husband and no adequate or other motive could be discovered for the act. Again while he was absent at work she carried out upon one of our principal streets his feather bed, cut it open, turned it outside in, and caused the contents to fly everywhere. She was loaded with animal cunning. I think a certain physician sworn in her cause during her late trial put it about right when he characterized her "a moral monstrosity." I had professional dealings with just such a woman about fourteen years ago - one who had been a domestic in the family for over two years, and while everything was harmonious as it was supposed she fired the house in which there were seven sleeping occupants - no motive for the act was discovered and she never seemed to have any realizing sense of the magnitude of the outrage.
There are such people in the world - the class is quite limited, but we have them - their moral side is a blank. I have no opinion to offer as to whether that woman was insane - I can simply say she was queer in the extreme and in all my experience, professional and otherwise, I have seen nothing like her." - September 18, 1894.
Lizzie Halliday was seen by me this morning in the Matteawan State Hospital. Present: Drs. H. E. Allison, Medical Superintendent, and A. C. Clark, Superintendent of the Glasgow District Asylum, Scotland. Patient had gained noticeably in flesh and general health since our visit at Clinton Prison two months ago. She weighed then about 90 pounds; now weighs about 112. There has been a corresponding mental improvement. She is, however, still controlled by delusions and hallucinations and mistakes the identity of persons about her. Dr. Allison she calls "Grandpa," and of me she says "He belongs to the Quakers - to the Irish gang of Quakers. He put hen lice on me. You're an Orange Freemason - my grandfather was an Orange Freemason." Asked about her birthplace she said: "I was born and brought up on these premises. My grandmother left me this property." Asked about her confinement in Clinton Prison, she said: "I was some place but I don't hardly know anything about it. Aunt Jane (alluding to th enurse) can tell you." Patient made the same references to snakes and lice as in prison and spoke of the bear sewed up in her with an "artificial wire thread." The lower abdomen was indicated as the seat of these sensations. Pointed to maginary grasshoppers and vermin on her clothing and mine. Alluded again to the fracture of a spine of her ribs and her three legs and several times said "13 or 14 o'clock." Would not admit that she had resided in Greenwich but referred to her sister Nancy in Hebron. This impression made upon us was that she realized more about Greenwich and other matters than she was willing to communicate. "If you say so, I believe it," was one of her replies. When reference was made ot her son she was moved to tears and asked with apparent feeling where he was. Tests of sensation were made the point of a sharp knife with the same result as at Clinton. She seemed completely insensible to pain. Over the skin of the forehead punctures were made till blood oozed out withotu the slightest flinching. The soles of her feet were tickled without producing any reflex. The conjunctivae were similarly insensitive. The burning stub of a fusee was applied to the dorsal aspect of her hand without causing any pain, and when her finger tips were allowed to hang loosely in contact with it they were not withdrawn. Other analgesic phenomena were equally remarkable. She shuffled about the room with awkward, unsteady gait. She was unable to maintain her equilibibrium with closed eyes or when standing on one foot. Palpation of the head confirmed the previous finding of asymmetry. The patellar reflex was well marked. She allowed her saliva to accumulate and from time to time spat it - white, viscid and frothy - on a cloth. In other respects she was apparently neat. Dr. Allison reports that she is gradually gaining in self-control and realization of her surroundings.