Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-09-30

from which she only arose when the mourning group
prepared to lead her from the chamber of the dead
SPENCER'S TRIAL AT BERGIN, N. ].
On the 10th the Chief Justice decided in favor of
the admissbility of the the testimony of Joshua A.
Spencer, of Utica, an uncle of the prisoner. His tes
tmony confirmed the statement of the opening coun-
sell published yesterday, relative insanity in the
family. The mother of the prisoner died in 1910 or
Al of consumption, and since 80 the three eldest of
FIVE daughters have died of consumption the third Of
whom died at the age OF 81, in June IA in the house
of witness, and was raving maniac. The father,
during his periods of insanity would appear rational
sometimes for days, but had frequent paroxisms of
vioence-attackei wtness-was SO violent to his
parents that he could not be in their presence. Was
first taken insane in 1903, and his oldest son, the
prisoner, was born in 1914. He was of premature
birth, and was small child. Ichabod s. Spencer,
witnesses eldest brother, has been insane than
year, and is now in the Asylum al Utica. He will
converse well and appear rational except when rri-
tated, when he will burst out into paroxsms of vio-
lence. He requested that he might be taken to the
Asylum lest he should do some violence. DIR. James
M. Peake testified that Spencer lectured on Mes
merism in Cooperstown in the winter of S43 and IA
that when excited, particularly on the subject of
mesmerism, his eyes would assume that wild and
vacant look characteristic of the nsane-his CONVEX
sation too was disjointed-incoherent. He regarded
him insane and said so at the time. His lectures
were unsatisfactory becauseit was generally thought
he was of unsound mind. 1t was a common remark
that Spencer was crazy. Mr.. Talson and Mr.. Fiel-
der, employed at the Jersey City Railroad Depot,
testified that the LIST of july while the rain fell
in torrents, Spencer observed walking back and
forth in very rapid manner for more than hour in
the ran close by the depot shaking by his teeth the
stump of cigar and attracting the attention of all
the workmen, some twenty-five in number-a great
deal of noise was lnade-the track gave way and
much confusion foIowed-but Spencer did not no.
ticeit. His countenance wore sad and dejectedap-
pearance and loud remark calculated to drive him
away, was not noticed by him. Both witnesses be-
lieved him insane, and this was common remark
Dr. Gauter of Jersey City saw him on the ferry boat
about the middle of May, and Messrs. Kirby and Mead
about the lst of July, and they all thought him
sane and said SO at the time. His conduct on each
occasion attracted the attention of all the passengers
DIR. Clark, apothecary, of Jersey city testified that
he was often in Lis storc-tha his eyes were blood
shot, wild, restless and his conversation ncoherent,
and from these circumstances and his manner beev-
ed him insane and expressed this opinion at the time.
SPENcER's TRIAL, BERGEN, N. Jon the nth
Edward Perpont, lawyer of this city, who resided
in Columbus, Ohio, in '43, testified that Spencer
was in that city in the Summer off, for 10 days.
that he made very strange Wing Speech incoherent
in language and ideas; that it was remarked he would
DO the Wing cause no goo1: that in conversation he
said he was better on Irish Repeal or Temperance,
put his forte lay in Mesmersm. He was made the
butt OF laughter without seeming to be of it,
In lecture on Mesmerism he sang, talked of poetry
instead of Mesmerism-his manner was so serious
and intensely earnest as to excite laughter. The
Young men at the hotel used to listen to him for
amusement. He said he was gifted by the AImigh-
y with supernatural and alarming powers, and that
he was not to blame for it, that he could control the
will of any one he chose; while at the table he would
always sit with arms folded attempting to control
he will of some one; he mentioned the names of se-
'eral ofthe most respectable persons whom he could
control at will, and among them that ola young la
y, and that he had got to fight duel about it. and
vas armed for the purpose. He was very earnest In
What he said and dld-his eyes were CLASSY and wild.
Witness and the other young regarded him in
ane, and on that account ceased to converse with
am. He was strictly temperate and moral in his
abits. Mrs. Harrison, who resides in the house adj
oining that of Mrs. Dobbin, Jersey City, Testified
hat the 81 of Juy she heard scream in the house
Mrs. Dobbns; when Mrs. Spencer and her moth
r rushed out and entered my house. Mr.. Spencer
'llowed his eyes were glazing; he was excited and
was afraid OF him; he said he would not hurt me.
nd asked me not to say aword. He went into the
arlor where Mrs. S. was she screamed and came
ito my bedroom; she sad several times Mr. s.. was
'rtalnly crazy; was subject to fits of arrangement;
lat his father As SO for years; that she had with
IS appreciation sometimes taken bis pistol, his razor
I'd pocket knife from him whey he felt one of those
Is coming on; that she was afraid to sleep with :.
no the night beorea be begged T. see. ber,and she
q see him after he had given up his pistol. 49,
Mrs. Dobbin saidshe was certainly crazy. sMr.