Elizabeth "Lizzie" Swigert

Submitted by Joy Ramsey

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bonnell Swigert

Birth: Sept 2, 1867, Lexington, Fayette County Kentucky

Death: Nov 12, 1947, Lexington, Fayette County Kentucky

Burial: Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, Fayette County Kentucky

Parents: Francis Bonnell & Ella Hurst

Husband: Charles E. Swigert, born Apr 1858, died Jan 7, 1935

Lizzie Swigert witnessed the murder of Lucy McCarty by her husband, Will McCarty, on April 19, 1902.  Lizzie "became insane as the result of witnessing the murder" and was institutionalized at Eastern State Hospital.  Her length of stay is not known, however, by the 1910 census she is no longer in the Hospital.  Lizzie reentered the hospital at least one other time.  Per her death certificate in 1947, it states that she had been in the hospital for 13 years, 10 months and 5 days. 

The following are newspaper excerpts, dates unknown, Lexington Kentucky:

Damaging - Testimony For McCarty Contained in Affidavit of Bert Miller_He saw the Murder
"Mrs. Lizzie Swigert, an eye witness to the crime, became insane and it was believed that her testimony might possibly be necessary for conviction."

Mrs. Swigert Improving
"Mrs. Lizzie Swigert, who became insane as the result of witnessing the murder of Mrs.William McCarty, shows decided improvement. Word from the asylum yesterday was to the effect that she was doing nicely and had passed a quiet day.

Heavy Sentences Imposed by Judge Riley in Police Court
Judge Riley handed down some heavy sentence in Police Court yesterday morning, from which several prisoners will experience the effects for the remainder of the summer.
   The first case to be taken up was that of C. W. Swigert, charged with failure to support his minor children. He is the husband of Mrs. Lizzie Swigert, who recently became insane as a result of witnessing the McCarty murder. The affidavitt upon which the warrant was based stated that the four minor children of Swigert have been a charge upon their grandmother, Mrs. Bonnell, since the mother was taken to the asylum and that the husband had agreed to pay $2 weekly toward their support, which he had failed to do. In answer he stated that he works for Hendicks Brothers, and receives only $7 per week wages. Judge Riled asked him if he were willing to pay three dollars per week toward the support of the children and he answered no.  A fine of $50 and cost went against him. The infliction of punishment was suspended on condition that he pay $3 per week toward his children's support, which he promised to do, otherwise the fine will go into effect.
   Judge Riley then advised both parties to proceed before Judge Bullock for the possession of the children.