Walnut Cove, N.C.
March 30, 1913.

To his Excellency,
Governor Craig,

My Dear Sir,

I write to say that I have in my home an insane woman, my cousin, her parents are both dead, she is without means, When I took her I felt sorry for her, on account of her physical deformities, club foot, and other physical ailments, and her poverty. Since in my home she has developed insanty, as a result of Pellagra. She has threatened and tried several times to take her own life, by poison and by fire. She has tried to burn us up, and needs constant attention. Now I have a large family of small children to care for who are constantly exposed by her threats and actions.

We have written several letters to the authorities at Morganton and think Dr McCampell is doing what he can to get her in, but it all depends on the board of directors, and we have put the case before them by writing to them in the strongest light possible but they do not take her, and give us no hope when if ever they will take her. As a last resort I appeal to you to see if you can’t get her in an asylum somewhere. She is not able to pay and we are not or we would end the matter by sending her to a private sanatarium. I cannot think of sending her to the county jail.

So I write to ask you to help an unfortunate woman with six small children an aged father and mother and a husband who is away from home at work on the railroad, When in the start as a matter of sympathy and feeling for a poor unfortunate and crippled girl I gave her a home, but now that home has been rendered unfit for a home filled with children and old people.

We don’t know how soon our house may be burned down or some of our lives taken. It seems to me that our Great State could and should make proper and comfortable arrangements for Its poor unfortunate insane Two Docters have examined Miss Charlotte Anne Powell and have pronounced her insane. The necessary papers were duly forwarded to Dr McCampell and we have several letters from him which I enclose. If possible help us.

Most Respectively,

Ida, Gerry
Walnut Cove NC
R.F.D. 2.

Enclosures: 1913, March 11. McCampbell to Jones
1913, March 24 McCampbell to Powell.