Mary Todd Lincoln
Mary Todd Lincoln, former first lady, faced many hardships leading to her mental instability, including the death of three of her sons, the assassination of her husband, and the stress of living in the public eye. These events led to witnesses testifying her unusual behavior claiming,"She was extremely fearful of being alone, had an unreasonable fear of fire, and worried about Robert's health without cause. Increasingly she relied on sedatives and spiritualists, and she attended seances. Insomnia was an increasing problem." Lincoln’s son, Robert called policemen to take her from her hotel in Chicago and bring her to court on May 19, 1875. Thanks to Elizabeth Packard, Illinois law allowed for a speedy trial where the accused insane Lincoln was able to have an attorney and witnesses. Seventeen people testified against Lincoln, recounting her strange behavior. Five witnesses were doctors, testifying that Mary belonged in an asylum, declaring her insane from letters written from Robert Lincoln. Robert was the final witness who described his mother's bizarre actions. Lincoln's lawyer did not cross-examine any of the seventeen witnesses to defend her sanity, including Lincoln herself. The verdict was reached within minutes, declaring Lincoln insane and committed to Bellevue Place insane asylum for treatment. She was shortly released, on September 10, 1875 to her sister in Springfield. Without Packard's law, Lincoln would have been submitted to an asylum without a trial, stripping her of her rights as an individual, but with the new legislature in place, Mary was able to defend herself in front of a court, proving her sanity like Packard did.
I have no doubt my mother is insane. She has long been a source of great anxiety to me. --Robert Lincoln
We, the undersigned jurors in the case of Mary Todd Lincoln, having heard the evidence in the case, are satisfied that said Mary Todd Lincoln is insane, and is a fit person to be sent to a state hospital for the insane...
-- Jury verdict made on May 19, 1875