Andrew Sheffield to Dr. Searcy, July 23, 1897


Andrew Sheffield also wrote to Dr. J Searcy the same day as the letter to Governor Johnston.

She wrote that this would be the last attempt she would make to get out of the Hospital and “for heaven’s sake tell the truth that I was sent here a sane woman, and to keep me out of the Penitentiary.  The Gov as good as says that your word will be the law, and as my future is in your hands I hope you will favor me by aiding me in getting a home to Sprigness farm.”

She wanted Searcy to intervene against Dr. Bondurant’s treatment of her.  She complained that Dr. Bondurant would keep her in the back wards.  He kept her on wards “9-7-10 and 12 five years and nothing particular against me, now, that he has cause to dislike me I cant expect anything else.”  She wrote, “Had you sent me from 12 to [ward] five four years ago or even sent me from 8 to 5 two years ago when I asked you I would not have been here today.”

She then complained that Mrs. McDonald, a fellow patient, was getting special treatment from Dr. Bondurant.  She writes, “Mrs. McDonald can sit on No. 5 and curse to her hearts content and it is all right, for Dr Bondurant is her friend.”  If she did it, she claimed, “I’d only give in that one reason keeping me on the filthy back wards; refused me a cell on No. 5 convinced me that I justly deserve an imprisoned life.”

She pleaded with Dr. Searcy to allow her to go to prison.  She writes, “Do by me as you would want one to do by one of yours if here in my place, and you know they were treated as I am.”  She then warned him, “Some day you may be better prepared to sympathize with poor Judge Somerville than now—little do you know what your boys and girls will do for you before you die.”  Judge Somerville was a local judge whose children committed him to the Alabama Insane Hospital.

Why did she want to go to the prison?  The penitentiary is probably just as bad as where she is now.  One possible idea is that she thought she killed the neighbor.  Under this hypothesis, she felt guilty and believed she deserved to be labeled a criminal and live in the women’s prison.  The second possible idea is that it was her way to be obstinate and push back against Bryce Hospital rules and who put her there.  She refused to believe she was insane.  By voicing her opposition, she is essentially telling everyone that she was never insane and that it was the Chloral Hydrate and Dr. May that made her attempt to burn down the neighbor’s house.  Therefore, she deserves to go to prison.

One additional note should be made that Dr. Searcy inclosed this note with other documents and sent them to Gov. Johnston. He wrote, “Dear Governor: — “Enclosed find other communications from Miss Sheffield. She has been told all along the opinion and the Doctors about her. She has selected her line–to go to the Penitentiary as a delusion & will hear nothing else.”

Citation:

Hughes, John S. The Letters of a Victorian Madwoman (University of South Carolina Press, 1993) 67 – 68.


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