Evening star., 1865-07-13

PROCEEDINGS TO-DAY.

The court met at the usual hour, Judge wy.
Lie on the bench, and a large crowd of specta-
tors present. The accused, as usual, was ac-
companied by number of friends, and was
seated during the proceedings with her coun-
sell Inside the railing this morning there were
many ladies present.
Mr.. Bradley announced that the defense had
closed their case, but that the case could not,
from present ap pearances, be ended before Sat-
urday; and the jurors not on the panel were
therefore discharged until Monday.
Dr.. G. II. Nichols took the stand and was
cross-examined by Mr.. Darlington. Witness
expressed the opinion that between the peric;.s
she was disappointed in love and the co-,m;s1
sion of the homicide that she was at tin,aS in
sane, and based this opinion on ne facts and
circumstances as testified t., NV the Misses
DeVln and DE- Fitch. This is corrobora-
ted by what he bid himself observedN
by the facts and circpmst,ncas oDse, to tyhich
Mr: BIadiey testified, and by his entire
aa,ug hmVmf fuge IF the case obtained as he stated
ym.rS.b'' Witness stated that no very re-
go. ,Ie incident occurred in his personal OBJ
~. .ition, which in itself would convince him
- At she was insane. During his first inter-
view and a part of the second he expressed
strong doubts of her insanity. He was i'm
pressed by the predominance and susceptibility
OF her nervous system, her apparent candor
and the probable truthfulness of her statements
In regard to herself When witness called the
second time and sent up his card she declined
to see him. and witness thinks that he did not
see her again until he had called the fourth
time. Witness understood that she was not
we'll At the second interview, in reply to
some question, she said that she was indisposed
at the time he called. The last time witness
called was when she was suffering with erysip-
las, she was very nervous. Itwas the afternoon
of the funeral of President Lincoln, and she
expressed great apprehension that his (the
Presidents) assassins might commit violence
to herself. Witness thinks she said that she
feared they would get in the Jail and do vio-
lence to her, perhaps murder her. Witness
said he was unable TO recollect yesterday how
he came by the impression that she suffer-
ing with dysmonOrrhPa, but upon reflection he
recollects that he derived his first knowledge
from DIR. Fitch. Witness would denominate
her case one of periodical or paroX ysmal mania.
The term mania is applied TO that form of in
sanity where the excitement is great and gen.
eral. The term paroxismaI is applied to that
form of mania where the active symptoms
cur at sometimes regular periods, between
which there is greater lesser remission of
the symptoms of the disease. The effect of this
mania is, the mind is excited the understand
ing more or less deranged, the will affected.
While under the influence of the paroxysms
witness supposed her mind TO be so far affected
as to have violent impulses and to be unable to
restrain them, and also to entertain either un-
founded views or feelings or those that had
morbid energy so as to make it appear to her
much more important than they would while
she was in health. Witness thought that had
her attention been directed to give a categorical
answer she would have been able to have given
it. While under this mania she could not con-
troll her will. There is nothing within the
sphere OF human knowledge more uncertain
than the duration of one of these paroxysns
DR.. Nichols in answer to question of the
District Attorney stating hypothetical case,
said no amount OF preparation or premeditation
precludes the idea that the homicide was an
insane act Ii there is evidence of premedita-
ton and preparation. closer scrutiny should
be made as 10 insanity. Fermentation and
preparation are calculated to throw suspicion
and doubt on the alleged insanity of the party
PERSONS affected as the accused, sometimes
pursue one individual or a class, while about
the same number are Indifferent as to who they
pursue and attack. Such persons act from q
motive we'll defined in their own minds. Some
OF the motives or passions are frequently the
foundation OF the homicide-pure revenge is
not unfrequently the cause, and this with per-
sons of whose insanity there is no sort of
doubt.
The District Attorney asked if witness
thought that she was proper subject for the
insane aSy ylum.
Mr.. Hughes objected.
Mr. Bradley.-If she is her friends will pro-
vide for her
The District Attorney wanted the official
opinion of the witness.
jude Wylie said M the question as te hssr hsrSn,s re-
sion to the insane asylum.
Witness thought the state of her mind and
body, since the homicide, calculated to corrob-
crate his opinion given yesterday-that there
is q continuous morbid susceptibility to mental
disturbance and that the homicide was an act
of insane violence. Witness knew nothing per
sonally OF the condition of the bodily health
previous to the homicide.
BY Assistant District Attorney Wilson,
witness could not express positive opinion
from MS own observation alone, as to the sani-
~ or insanity OF the prisoner at the time of the
homicide. Witness based his opinion as to the
condltlon on his own observ alton since the
homicide and the testimony of the witnesses