Packard v. Packard - Significance, Reverend Packard's Case Against His Wife, Mrs. Packard Defends Her Sanity

Packard v. Packard - Significance

In 1864, Illinois law permitted a man to institutionalize his wife "without the evidence of insanity required in other cases." After her own court-ordered release, Elizabeth Packard campaigned to change the law in Illinois and similar laws in 30 other states. During her lifetime, four states revised their laws. Near the end of 1863, the Reverend Theophilus Packard locked his wife Elizabeth in the …

Packard v. Packard - Further Readings

Packard v. Packard - Reverend Packard's Case Against His Wife

Reverend Packard was a Calvinist minister with an austere interpretation of his faith, and he claimed his wife's religious views had convinced him of her insanity. Dr. Christopher Knott, who had spoken with Elizabeth prior to her commitment to Illinois State, testified that "Her mind appeared to be excited on the subject of religion. On all other subjects she was perfectly rational . . . I take he…

Packard v. Packard - Mrs. Packard Defends Her Sanity

Mrs. Packard's lawyers, Stephen Moore and J. W. Orr, asked her to read aloud an essay which she had written for a Bible class. It contained statements such as " . . . the Christian farmer has no more reason to expect success in his farming operations than the impenitent sinner." Then Mr. and Mrs. Blessing, Methodist neighbors of the Packards, testified in turn as to Mrs. Packard's sanity. Sarah Ha…

Packard v. Packard - The Verdict