Was She Crazy, Quirky, or Misunderstood?

I gather that the purpose of the retrial was not only to shed light on what changes have evolved in the perception of mental illness, but also, to educate the public as to differences in today’s legal process.

Mary Todd Lincoln’s case incorporated a number of issues including limited women’s rights, biases, and public perceptions.  Even after 137 years historians are still divided on if she was insane or if she was railroaded by a kangaroo court. 

The events that might of contributed to her behavior and  led  to her being tried.

• She lost three of her four sons and had bouts of serious depression.
• All through her husband’s presidency she had been scrutinized and vilified.
• She was holding her husband hand at the theatre as he was assassinated. 
• She had suffered a serious head injury in a carriage accident.
• There were on-going rumors of her husband being unfaithful with Anne Rutledge.
• She had a number of irrational fears including fear of being alone, fire, and poverty.
• She relied extensively on mediums and attended seances regularly to communicate with her deceased family members.
• She wavered between extravagant spending sprees and at other times she hoarded money such as sewing money into the lining of her clothing.

 One of the final straws that led Robert, her sole remaining son, to have her committed was when she went to New York City and arranged with merchants to try to sell her old clothes.  This became a huge scandal. This act of desperation to acquire money to pay down her debts became infamous.  ( a couple of web sites that give additional  insight to some of these events  are Mary Todd Lincoln Research Site and Mary Todd Lincoln ) 
As to the actual trial, Mary did not realize that a public trial awaited her, and was forcibly taken to
the courthouse on May 19, 1875, by Leonard Swett, a lawyer who knew both Robert
and her late husband.  Isaac Arnold, a family friend who reluctantly became her
defense attorney, did not contest the case, and allowed 17 witnesses to testify
to her unstable condition, while not calling any witnesses of his own. During
the trial, Robert testified, “I have no doubt my mother is insane. She has long
been a source of great anxiety to me.” On the same day of her being brought to court, she was tried and sentenced to be committed to a state institution for the insane. She was allowed, however, to be admitted into a private institution in Batavia, Illinois.

Thought Number Two:  The Retrials Sided with Mary

Both the retrials found that by today’s laws, that she would not have been involuntarily committed. There are no clear answers as to what her real emotional or physical health was.  There has long been speculation that she suffered from a bi-polar disorder and clinical depression.  Of course, she might of just been eccentric. 
No matter, what her issues were, it is clear that she did not get a fair trial.

2012-10-16 12:52:11

Source: http://www.artofbeingconflicted.com/2012/10/was-she-crazy-quirky-or-misunderstood.html