Tomb Case 1

MS-2011.39.05 – Arrest Warrants

MS-2011.39.16 – Declaration of restored reason

The Trial of Mary Lincoln

The shock must have been immense when longtime family friend Leonard Swett appeared at Mary Lincoln’s door on May 19, 1875, and stated her only surviving son, Robert Todd Lincoln, had declared her insane. She was ordered to immediately appear in court and, after only 3 hours, the jury concurred with Robert, who committed his mother to Bellevue Place Sanitarium in Batavia.

The former first lady was a model patient but secretly seethed at her son’s perceived betrayal and worked to have herself released. That July, she began talking with James and Myra Bradwell, the latter of which was a journalist and first woman to pass the Illinois bar. After sympathetic media coverage engineered by the Bradwells and successful efforts by Mary to relocate to Springfield, Robert consented to another hearing on June 15, 1876. An even shorter trial resulted in the jury officially declaring Mary “restored to reason.” She was free again but the damage between her and Robert was deep.

Label Audio

Arrest Warrant

MS-2011.30.05

State of Illinois,

                             SS.

County of Cook                                                                 In the County Court of Cook County:

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,

To the Sheriff of said County:--GREETING:

Whereas, it has been represented to the Honorable M. R. M. WALLACE, Judge of this Court, by Robert T. Lincoln in a petition duly verified, that Mary Lincoln widow of Abraham Lincoln deceased is believed to be insane, and whereas said Judge has appointed the hearing of said petition of the Nineteenth day of May A.D. 1875, at 2 O’Clock P.M.

You are therefore hereby commanded to arrest said Mary Lincoln widow of Abraham Lincoln deceased to have her on the 19^th day of May A.D. 1875, at 2 O’Clock PM., before our County Court, and then and there to await and abide the result of the trial.

And have you then and there this Writ, and make due service as the law directs.

Witness, HERMANN LIEB, Clerk of our said Court, and the Seat of said Court at Chicago, in said County, and the seal of said Court at Chicago, in said County, this 19^th day of May A.D. 1875

                                                                                                                                                Hermann Lieb, Clerk.

2

County Court of Cook County.

In the matter of the alleged insanity of

Mary Lincoln. Widow of Abraham Lincoln Dec^d

WRIT OF INQUISITION.

Filed May 19^th A.D. 1875

1. Lieb, Clerk.

Executed the within writ by arresting said

Mary Lincoln widow of Abraham Lincoln Deceased

and having her before the Court this 19^th day of

May A.D. 1875.

Francis Agnew, Sheriff.

By W. K. Morris Deputy.

FEES

Service, - - -   $50

Mileage,- - -  $10

Return, - - -   $10

                        $70⁰⁰

Justus Loehr, Printer, 77 Fifth Avenue, Chicago.

Arrest Warrant Audio

Chicago, June 15th 1876

State of Illinois County Court of

Cook County Cook County

We the undersigned jurors in the case wherein Mary Lincoln who was heretofore found to be insane and who is now alleged to be restored to reason having heard the evidence in said cause, find that the said Mary Lincoln is restored to reason and is capable to manage and control her estate

R. H. Paddock, M.D.
D. J Weatherhead
S T Knowles
Cyrus Gleason
W. R. Heron
D Kimball
R F [Wild] [Child]
Wm G Lyon
C H Chapin
H. Dahl [Dohl]
W S Dunham
Wm W. Roberts*

*We need to do research on the names of the jurors; sources disagree on a few of the names.

Declaration Audio