Grayson County TXGenWeb

Denison Daily Herald
Monday evening, December 10, 1877
pg. 4

A SAD CASE
A Demented Woman Chained to the Floor of a Bare and Comfortless Room
Serious and numerous complaints have been made to the Herald of the case of Mrs. Searcy, a demented woman. A Herald reporter visited the place of the woman's confinement, which is the old office of Boss, Jennings & Co., corner of Austin avenue and Owing street. We found the woman chained to the floor with a heavy trace chain, which is fastened to the floor by a staple and about the woman's left ankle with a padlock. A miserable pallet occupied one corner of the room. The room has two windows - or rather had, as neighbor sash nor lights obstruct the free passage of the air nor sight. The woman is thinly clad, from outward appearances, and during the recent severe weather she has not known the warmth of a fire. How she has lived through it, we are not prepared to say. Her hands and face were purple, evidently from cold. A woman giving her name as Davis, who it appears is keeping house for Mr. Searcy in an adjoining room denies the charge that the woman wants for food, but admits that she may possibly get a little cold. She says Mr. Searcy is a poor man and does all for his demented wife that he can; that he is constantly trying to have her sent to the insane asylum at Austin.
She has been chained in this room over three weeks. Mrs. Davis seemed to think the maniac had all the attention necessary. That there is great inhumanity somewhere cannot be denied. Now, who is to blame? The people living in that vicinity report shocking spectacles. The most outrageous of these is that some vile male wretches to whom a mothers virtue would not be sacred, are in the habit of going in through the open windows to this insane woman, and debauching her. Such an outrage should cry to Heaven for vengeance.
To say that Mr. Searcy does the best he can for this woman is false, for he could at least close the windows against these inhumane brutes and protect his wife against them if not against cold and hunger. This charge is true, and the Herald is ready to prove it. Our only object in making this shocking recital is to awaken our people to a most revolting outrage in our very midst. We have put the matter in its true light, with no wish to wound the feelings of Mr. Searcy. But we are firmly convinced that he has not done his duty. We may have more to say on this subject.

The Daily News
Thursday, December 13, 1877
pg. 3

We have been informed that Mr. Searcy has been informed by Judge Wilkerson, county Judge, that the jailer will be allowed the sum of $15 per month for taking charge of his wife, who is insane.
Jailer Pryor took charge of Mrs. Searcy on Saturday morning, December 15 (Denison Daily News, Sunday, December 26, 1877, pg. 4) and began the erection of a small frame building near Rusk avenue in which to house Mrs. Searcy. (The Daily News, Thursday, December 20, 1877, pg. 3) The building was as dark as a dungeon with only a small hole large enough to insert one's hand through which she received her food. (Denison Daily Herald, Thursday evening, December 27, 1877)

Denison Daily Herald
Thursday evening, January 10, 1878
pg.4

During the recent cold spell of weather the demented wife of been confined to a room without a fire, and it is stated by a person living near there that the poor creature actually cried for clothing. This is horrible, and the attention of the authorities is called to the case of the poor woman again. Mr. Pryor states that he is unable to keep a fire in the rooms as the woman destroys everything within her reach.

The Daily News
Friday, January 11, 1878
pg. 4

Maj. R.M. Grubbs has addressed a letter to the superintendent of the State Insane Asylum at Austin, asking admission into that institute of Mrs. Searcy. It is customary that the relatives of an insane party sent to the asylum pay themselves the cost of her support, but when unable to do so the county must pay for the same or the party will not be received. In this case it is proposed that if the amount allowed by the county is not sufficient, to make up the balance by voluntary contributions. It certainly would be a good thing, both for the poor woman as well as for the public, if she could be admitted into the asylum. We are satisfied that Mr. Pryor does the best he can but certainly cannot give her the care and attention that she ought to have. Besides with the medical attention she would receive at the institute in Austin she might be finally restored.

The Daily News
Tuesday, January 15, 1878
pg. 4

The Mayor received an answer from Dr. Wallace Monday regarding his inquiry as to the probably admission of Mrs. Searcy into the State lunatic asylum. Dr. Wallace says that Mrs. Searcy is an old case and incurable and can be cared for outside, she does not fall into the classification, which it is found practical to admit.

The Daily News
Tuesday, January 29, 1878
pg. 4

Mrs. Searcy, the insane woman, lately in charge of James Pryor, was taken to Sherman Monday and turned over to the county authorities, who will place her in the Grayson county poor house. Fifteen dollars in pauper script, worth about $7
in cash, which was all the county paid Pryor per month, was rather too small a sum for furnishing food and shelter, hence the removal.

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, December 20, 1885
pg. 5

Mr. W.B. Tibbs, commissioner, was in Sherman the past week attending to official business. Commissioner Tibbs spent part of a day and night at the poor farm. He reports everything progressing satisfactorily there. Nearly 9 years ago the wife of Mr. Searcy became deranged, and was the subject of much newspaper talk. She has long since been forgotten, and was supposed to be dead; but the poor creature is at the poor farm. The violent traits of her malady have given place to a complete state of driveling idiocy. Gus (Bismarck), the painter, a well known character of Denison, is also at the poor farm; he was sent there to recover from a desperate attack of the jim-jams. Commissioner Tibbs is well pleased at the manner in which the farm is conducted.

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, February 24, 1901
pg. 4

LOCAL CONDENSATIONS
Thursday, February 21, 1901 - Old man Searsy [sic],. who is hardly known to the present generation, but is well recollected by the old timers, was run over by a Katy freight at Duck creek Tuesday and killed. Twenty-five years ago Searcy was one of the largest cotton buyers on the streets of Denison. He operated for the dry goods house of A. Teah and was later associated with Seisfield. There was a great scandal connected with his name. His wife was insane and was confined in a shanty on a dirt floor at the corner of Austin avenue and Crawford street. The papers took up the matter and the poor woman was removed to the poor farm. Searcy at intervals of several years has appeared in Denison, recently begging. appealing principally to the sympathy of the old timers. He has a son living near Colbert and was on his way to visit him when killed by the train. He has 2 sons residents of Fannin county.