Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-30


lHE CASE OF WRIGHT FOR FoRofSo LAND WAR
nArrs--FHE DRFESBART sEST TO TIE ASYLUM FOR
ERANR.-Ws have heretofore stated that in the
ease Of the United States Henry Wright Of Hen
son county, arrested upon charge Of forging
land warrants, the defendant, upon plea that he
vas insane, had beea examined by DR. Esseman Of
this city, and DR.. Cbealham, ihe Physician of the
asylum for the Insane, who pronounced him sane,
and that he had been committed to jail. in default
Of giving bail in the sum Of $4,000 for his appear
anse at jackson on lhe fret Monday IN April, 1859.
Subsequent developments have induced his pbysi>
clans OR Esselman) and the jaiIOr to believe that
he is insane.
Yesterday Col G. c. T5rbslt, the attorney for
Wright by appointment Of the Court, presented
petition to the Hon West H. Humphreys, supported
by af6dasft, siatin that he was informed that the
defendant was and is totally or PARTIAL in
sane, aud that he believes that information 10
be true, and that bis present condition in the
isil is intolerable and cannot, under the police
regulations Of the jail, be slievisted, and con
sequenhy, from the great exposure to which
he subjects himself and from which he can
not be prevented where he is now confined, his life
is in great danger He, therefore, Prays thst in
vestgstiOn be had as to the facts, and such order
be made in the premises as humanity and the law
Of the land may demand.
Dr. Esseluaa, Mr. HObson, the isilor. aad others,
being before Che Court by subfena, gave their tess
tmony in regard TO the condition Of the defendant
Wright, Of which We present the following abstract
Dr.. Esselm stated that he had given attention
to cases Of insanity--had been attending physician
Of the defendant since his commitment on the lStb
inst shat upon an examination Of ihe defendant
with DR.. Chealham, the lS,h he was Of the oPina
ion that j. was case of feigled insanity, but that
his physical condition WAS very bad, and that be
required medical treatment--,hst under the order
Of the Court, he bad been in attendance upon him
up to this tIme-thas he had, after some difficulty,
got Wright to take some medicine after which he
thought ne was better. Wright then become much
worse, and DR.. Esselmsn is nov satisfied that he is
insane His circulation is very rapid; his eyes
changed, and his looks features and actions those
Of deranged man. This opinion of Dr. Esselman
was formed from repeated examinations made in the
last ten days aud he stated that the defendants life
was in danger if be was not removed from his pres
ent pIscs Of confinement.
Thomas Hobson, the iailor, testified that when
Wright FIRST put in Jail, he .bougFt he gas not
insane, but he is satisfied that he is insane. BE
had observed The conduct Of several persons who
had been confined il the Jail and who we're now in
the Asylum from which he arrived at the couulu-
sion that Wright, from similarity Of appearance
and conduct, was dersDged He said if be put
clothes upon Wright in she morning, be would tear
them of before night. He had watched WrightfrOm
place Of cOuCealment, to satisfy himself in regard
to his mental condition. Wright was constantly ~
ing or sitting on the cold stone floor, or leaning
al uvun Tho
He was directed to keep Wright comfort able but he
tore everything in che to pieces he even tore
down the stOve-pipe and was nearly sufocated with
smoke when discovered and had given alarm
He then moved Wright to another room, and there
DO tore down the waer-ppe, and lei the water in
upon himself His whole conduct and appearance
were chose of a deranged man. Hethinks Wrighfs
life in ths Jail is in danger. Witness told DR..
Esselman and Gen Clements that he was unwilling
10 keep Wright as he did not wish him to die upon
his hands. If theEeather should become very eald,
he thought Wright would freeze to deaih-that he
had avery bad cough brow. e eats bat little though
he does not complain Of his food Wright had ask
ed him to get hun alaw book sayiog he understood
his own case. lie talks seusibly for a short time
but " flies of'-sometimes do3ges and hides him,
self behind the door.
General u 5. smith said he had bat little
opportunity 20 form opinion in regard to
the condition Of WrghPs mind He had visited
the jail in company with the Marshal, where
be had seen Wright. He stated that If he had new
er heard that Wright was deragned, he would have
had no hesitation in pronOunoDg him ia tht oOndi.
ton, srom what he had seen and heard. BE was
satisfied that Wright ought to be II moved to the
Asylum for the Insane. When he saw Wright he
hsd clothes or about his person, except some
thing like rag on bis head lie was then hOsrse
and coughing. The jail is built Ct stone, and the
walls we're vet from dampness, and the cells were
warmed through open iron CRATES. He regarded
WrighFs siiuaaon as dangerous in the extreme. he
had stated, after the visit, that he should not b,
aurprlsed o hear Of Wright having pneuaena