Governor Johnston replied to Andrew Sheffield’s letter of Jul 17th, 1897. In this letter, dated Jul 19th, Gov Johnston acknowledged Sheffield’s father, Col. James L. Sheffield. James Sheffield was “a gallant Confederate soldier and a good man and citizen.” He admitted he did not know anything of her case.
Gov. Johnston mentioned that as governor, he is “here to see that the laws are faithfully executed, and our laws are sufficient to protect every one in life, liberty and property if faithfully enforced.” He stated from her letter that she was charged with arson but later declared insane and subsequently sent to the Alabama Insane Hospital. He cautioned her, “You will understand of course that what Dr Searcy would say about your case would have great weight, because he is a man of such high character that one would be very reluctant in believing that he would report other than the matter as he sees it.” Andrew wrote next to this sentence, “For God sake let the truth come that I was sent here a sane sound minded woman and to keep me out of the Penitentiary.”
Governor Johnston said he would request a report from Dr. Searcy based on section 8 of the “Act approved Feb 27th 1889.” The Commission of Lunacy can “examine you and when [with] their recommendation I discharge you or take such action as may seem best. If you desire your case examined in that way let me know and I will consider it in connection with the report of Dr. Searcy.” In the left-hand margin, Johnston hand-wrote, “You may rest assured that any doubt I may have shall always be resolved in favor of the unfortunate and distressed.”
Governor Johnston wanted to make sure if Andrew Sheffield was insane or not. His subsequent letter to Dr. Searcy confirms that. The problem for Andrew was that Dr. Searcy firmly believed she wasn’t sane. Part of the issue was Andrew’s belligerent behavior, according to Dr. Searcy, toward staff and patients, which reinforced the insanity diagnosis. What is interesting is that initially, she was not diagnosed as insane, but her behavior kept her there.
Citation:
Hughes, John S. The Letters of a Victorian Madwoman (University of South Carolina Press, 1993) 63 – 64.