The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-08-05

The City Court met yesterday morning al IN O'Clock
pursuant 10 adjournment, and resumed The eAam'na
lion of j. Mclean Gardner, the young man VINO
made an assault upon The Postma ter General oil The
United States on Tuesday last
DIR. Gardner, brother Of the prisoner, the hrst W.T..
called 10 the stand stated that the prisoner haa
been remarkable from early period 10 MS NE LOT
bis close application 10 books Of the most recondile
character The result Of this great Proslrstion
of mind and body and the witness, observing bis
strange conduct led 10 the belief some two months
since that his brother insane lie expressed that
opinion his family and remarked too, at the time,
that he feared he would commit some rash act HIS
disease seemed TO grow worse.
Dr. c. further ttated that the prisoner had written
several strange commentaries on the writings OF
Shakespeare in the early part oil last month"; which he
forw arded his father, then absent m North Caro-
lima. The father wrote 10 his family on the subject,
enoining them TO keep strict watch upon The move
ments Of the prisoner lie also addressed him let
ter advising him to change his reading, descend
from bis slIts, and write him letters having relation
20 the affairs Of the world"
David Hoffman, Esq, testified as to the prisoner $
insanity. lie went TO the prison IN company WIN
Col. Graham on Thursday morning, and had an M
terview with the prisoner his cell, which satisfied
him that he was laboring under alteration OF mind.
Gardner Il would appear from MIR. Hofmans testi-
moDy, suddenly became possessed with notion that
MIR. Wickfe and one OF the officers Of the steam
boat, who were engaged IN conversation close by him,
had conspred to throw him overheard aud actuated
by lear and desire 10 save himself IRON the dread
ful fate which he supposed awaited him, he commit
ted the assault. He could give no reason why he
thought conspiracy had been entered into against
him. lie inferred tina, such was the fact. Mr.. II
was Of the opinion that the young mans mind had
been thrown into disarray by njudicous study and
lac had no doubt that he was insane.
After some remarks from J. B. WILLIAMS, Esq,
counsel for the prisoner, the case was given To the
jury, who retired TO their After short alb
sence they came into Court with the following inquest
BALriMoRE CRY CouRr, JUNE TERM, IS43.
In The matter Of John Mclean Gardner charged ,ch be-
ing insane ttnatic.
This nquisiiion taken at the bar of the court, held
this fourth day Of August in the year eighteen hun
dred and forty three, by the undersigned jurors, duly
impannelled and charged in the matter afore-
said having heard and considered the evidence sub
mitted TO us, do find that the said John Mclean
Gardner unalic, or insane, on the first day OF
August in the year aforesaid and at the time Of COM
hitting the offence charged against him. and is still
at the time of taking this inquistion Witness
our hands and seals on the day and year aforesaid.
The Court then rendered the following judgment
and order:
"The Court hereby release the prisoner from the
commitment Of the justice of the peace, and order
that he be placed in the States hospital there to be
confined until he shall his reason, Of which
the city court shall be satisfied, and by them dis
charged in due course Of law"