The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-09-19

The Knickerbocker." for August is
a rare number Its Editors table is
tostefuily and hountifully spread and
contains many rich dishes. We snatch
the following little 'knicknack which
hits on admirably one Of the prevailing
weaknesses Of the times
A man in the town Of - committed
murder-a black, diabolical murder
There was not single feature in the
case lLat mercy could render available.
Ii ans red murder in the trnsst nc-
ceptancn of the term. A lawyer of con.
siderable cminenco was called on by tho
prisoner. but after hearing his own state
meut. he would give him no other advice
than the following:
My friend, if you are not hanged, it
will he because you have broken jail cut
your throat, or-Or-shammcd mad"
w The murderer took the hint lie was
not able to accomplish the first he was
unwilling to do the second, SO he at.
tempted the ;hild
lie came into court on the day Of bis
trial, with one glove and one boot on
listened with apparent delight to his ar.
raienmcnt, and when asked at the con.
clu>ion if he was guilty or not guilty,
answered, with a horse laugh, such as |
never heard before or since:
Yes. | thank you and no mistake
In this philanthropic age, this was
quite sufficient to arrest the torrent Of
indignation which had been rightfully
setting against the offender. and to sub
stitute in place thereof feeling of in
tenso sympathy.
Ilo is mad.n says one.
Poor fellow" muttcrcd another
What a mercy we discovered it be
fore lie was tried r calculated third
Why don't they take him out Of the
box ?" demanded fourth.
By this time the prisoner in great
glee, had Iut his glove upon his foot, and
thrust his hand into his boot.
OF course this was too much for tho
feelings of the crowd. 1t was the last
hair that broke the came's back
Shame Shame" was muttered by
dozen philanthropic souls.
" Take him out of the box ~ uttered
tue mop I'D general.
Certainly" said tho Judge, "take
him out by all means. Elr District At
toruey, you can have no objection !"
Not the slightest, may it please your
Honor, providing you let two or three
of the hailiffs stand between him aud
me ~
The bystapders made a rush TO exc
cute the mandate of the Court, but the
prisoner checked their zeal though not
their sympathy, by knocking down a half
dozen of them with his boot.
The Court briefly addressed the Jury
1t was unnecessary te eptsr into the
evidence. The unhappy prisoner had
certainly destroyed tie life of a mana
husband and father, leaving his chill
dren to misery and want At the same
time, it seems evident that this was the
result rather Of misfortune than of crime.
We have the evidence of our own sense
that the prisoner is mad-mad, gentle
men of the jury, as March hare.
"Would any man, gentlemen, conduct
himself SO strangely in the court room
wear his boots and gloves in so ecceu-
trio a manner-if he were not made
Gentlemen, have studied the anat-
omy of the human mind with much ia
dustry, aud think / may say with con-
siderable success; aud | tlatter myself |
am particularly conyerssnt with the sub
jecl of insanity.
The brain is delicate organ, Its
membranes are of a sliii more delicate
organization, These are the dura ma
ter and the pia ma:er. These inter.
twining with and intorsecting as it wero
the porous substance Of the brain con.