Washington telegraph., 1854-04-19
Insanity Wouldn't DO,

kASdEs1ty vvOuHOnG DCs
In New Orleans recently James Patton
was tried for killing Col. Walter III. Turn
bull, last year, as he was getting into an
omnibus on Tchoupitoulas street
When the State had proved its case, saws
the Delta of the 21st, his counsel put in the
plea of insanity. The report in the Cour-
ier recites the following:
The attorneys for the defence then sub
mitted letters to the Court that had 6ecn
written by the prisoner to them, to show
the Court that he was insane. Mr.. Barton
said he had proof if the State would only
allow him TO offer it, that would prove, be-
yond the possibility of doubt, that the
prisoner was insane. and that, if lie was
found guilty, it would be nothing short of a
judicial murder. If they found him guilty
God help and have mercy on judge, jury,
and all connected with the case
Mr.. Patton, at this stage of the proceed
ings, demanded that his lawyers should stop
Mr. Grymcs then demanded of the Court
that they should be permitted 70 proceed,
and the prisoner kept quiet. when
Mr.. Patton interrupted him, by saying
that he commanded him to stop.
The Judge said he must then discharge
his counsel. 'i"#
The prisoner said he had discharged
them. i H"'.
Mr.. Patton then rose and addressed the
jury-Hc said that he had been betrayed
by his counsel-that he was taken BY surs
prise-that he had expressly forbidden them
makingany such plea as they had done, that
they had abundant proof in their possession
to have proved a first provocation, and JUS
tifiable homicide but that they had lodged
the question and sacrificed him that they
had been instigated to it by others: that
they had attempted to insult the intelligence
of the jury by making such plea; that if
he was mad, there was method in his mad
ness that the three shots were clearly
proven; that he had killed him, and that be
had presumed that he now must be offered
as holocaust to satisfy the "manes' of Col
Turnbull /; that he killed him, but he had
just cause, but this had been kept back by
his counsel, for the purpose of sacrificing
him; that they had tried to prove him mad
l was mad | had just cause to be mad, but
there was method in my madness - and
gentlemen, there arc but two ycrdicts you
can bring in. murder or an acquitta: you
cannot put me in the State Prison death,
a thousand fold, in preference to put me
there would be to make me an object of ex-
ecutiye clemency, on account of insanity,
and | will come out Of the prison with the
imputation that had no just cause in kill
ing Col Turnbull | am not an object Of
executive clemencys have had just provo
cation, or have made your streets flow with
innocent blood No, am not mad, | kill
ed the man, and can die for it; | will never
leave Louisiana hut in two ways, by the gall
lows. or by acqui,tal l have been betrayed
by my counsel for ultesior objects. Gentle
men, there is a screw loose somewhere if |
have made your streets flow with innocent
blood, l am ready to cxpiate the offence
with my life man that can kill another
can also die i-'.l.sI A..ii '.-L
The prisoner was found guilty of murder
without capital punishment, which condemns
him to the Penitentiary for life. aa.t