Mrs. Sarah C. Linder, wife of Henry C. Linder, living near Prescott, was brought before Probate Judge Eagan on Friday evening for examination as to her sanity by Drs. N. G. Blalock and J. E. Bingham, and was adjudged insane. This is a peculiar case, and is classed as one of "mania and dementia." She is only 25 years old, and the mother of two children, the youngest being only two years old. She had her first attack just after the birth of her first child, the spell only lasting a few days. Another attack occurred about six months since, that being also of short duration. But twelve days ago she was seized with persistent mania, which has clung to her ever since. Her husband, who made the complaint, testified that she said she saw and talked with the devil and claims to have witches in her clothes, and also has many other delusions. During a portion of the time her condition was maniacal, she having tried to kill her neighbors and her children; the attacks seem premeditated, though she has no design at suicide. Mrs. Linder, when brought before the physicians told the same story of interviews with the devil, and stated that she had burned her underclothes in an effort to drive out the witches that infested them and the bedclothes to kill the devil. Her demeanor throughout the examination was that of a crazy person, though she displayed no signs of violence. Sheriff McFarland will leave for Steilacoom with her today. Mr. Linder is deserving of sympathy, and it is hoped that his wife will be speedily cured.
Times-Mountaineer, The Dalles, Oregon, October 5, 1889, page 3


    I was once insane, and I often muse over my experience. There are of course many kinds of insanity. Some mental disorders take place so gradually that even the closest companions of the victim are at a loss to remember when the trouble began. It must have been this way in my case. One evening, after an oppressively warm day, a day when I experienced more fatigue from the heat than ever before or since, I sat on my porch fanning myself. "This arm that is now in motion," I mused, "must one of these days be dust. I wonder how long will the time be."
    Then I mused upon the evidence I had of immortality. I could do things that other people could not accomplish. I had gone through battle after battle, and though bullets sang and struck around me as thick as hail, yet I remained uninjured. I had passed through epidemics of yellow fever. My idea gained strength as I mused, and I was convinced that I should live forever. No, this cannot be, for death follows all men alike.
    Yes, I am to die like other men, and I believe that it is my duty to make the most of life; to make money and enjoy myself, and to educate my children. I wanted to be rich, and I began to study over an imaginary list of enterprises.
    At last I hit upon radishes. People must have radishes. They should be in every shop. They could be dried and sold in winter. I would plant fifty acres with radish seed, and people all over the country would refer to me as the "radish king." I would form a radish syndicate, and buy up all the radishes and travel and be admired. I hastened to the house to tell my wife that she was soon to be a radish queen. At the breakfast table I said, "Julia, how would you like to be a radish queen?" "A what!" she exclaimed.
    I explained my plan of acquiring great wealth, and during the recital she behaved so curiously that I was alarmed. I feared that she was losing her mind. Finally she seemed to understand. She agreed with me, but told me not to say anything more about it. After breakfast I saw her talking earnestly with her father, and I know that she was explaining to the old gentleman how she intended to pay his debts when I became known as the radish king. The old man approached me with much concern, and told me that I needed rest and that I must not think of business.
    He was old and sadly worried, and I promised him that I would not think of business. Pretty soon I went out to inspect my radish kingdom. Looking round, I saw the old man following me. From the field I went to the village. I approached a friend and I told him how I intended to become rich. He seemed grieved, and I saw at once that he was contemplating the same enterprise. It seemed mean that he should take advantage of me and I told him so. He tried to explain, but he made me so angry that I would have struck him if my father-in-law had not come up and separated us.
    I tried to calm myself, but could not. Those who had been my friends proved to be my enemies, and I was determined to be avenged, but before I could execute my will I was seized by several men. My father-in-law did not attempt to rescue me, and I hated him. I was taken to prison. My wife came to see me, but she did not try to have me released. I demanded a trial, but no lawyer would defend me.
    Then I realized that the entire community was against me. I became so wroth that my anger seemed to hang over me like a dark cloud.  It pressed me to the floor, and held me there. Men came after a long time and took me away, I thought, to another prison. One day a cat came into my cell, and I tried to bite her. She made the hair fly, but I killed her.
    I don't know how long I remained here, but one morning the sun rose and shone in at me through the window. It seemed to be the first time that I had seen the great luminary for months. A mist cleared from before my eyes. My brain began to work, and suddenly I realized that I had been insane. I called the keeper, and when he saw me he exclaimed, "Thank heaven!" and grasped my hand.
    I was not long in putting on another suit of clothes and turning my face toward home. A physician said that I was cured, and everybody seemed bright and happy at my recovery. I went home. My wife fainted when she saw me and learned that I had recovered my mind. I asked for my little children. and two big boys and a young lady came forward and greeted me. I had been in the asylum twelve years.--Pearson's Weekly
Valley Record, Ashland,  January 8, 1891, page 1


    On Monday evening Dan'l. Whetstone, a young man aged somewhere in the twenties, and a son of D. Whetstone, living a few miles west of Medford, was taken to Jacksonville and confined in the county jail, and on Tuesday he was pronounced insane by the examining physician, Dr. E. B. Pickel, and the same evening he was taken to the asylum at Salem by Sheriff Barnes and F. V. Medynski.
    Last Friday his wife, who is a daughter of J. W. Dowell, of this city, noticed that he did not appear quite right, in that he commenced tearing things to pieces in his blacksmith shop and did not desist until he had many of the tools heated and hammered into all conceivable shapes. On Monday he drove to town, in company with his wife and child, and instead of preparing to return home when the proper time arrived he drove his team into the center of one of the principal streets and there sat in his wagon for several hours. His condition haying been made known, J. H. Bellinger's services were called into use and, in company with Joe Hill, he was persuaded to accompany them to Jacksonville, where he was confined as above stated.
    The young man was similarly afflicted three years ago last May, and was at that time taken to the asylum and after a few months' stay he returned all right, and it is thought he will be quite himself again when he has undergone a similar treatment. His hallucination runs in the channel of mechanical engineering, he having studied that business, and his condition right now is thought to have been brought about by there having been a steam thresher at work in his neighborhood recently. He showed no symptoms of violence and was told when starting for the asylum that his services were required by Mr. Medynski in selecting an engine for the distillery.
Medford Mail, August 28, 1896, page 2