The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-10-04


time. / considered her as of unsound
mind. She was perfectly sane on some
subjects. Jealousy of matrimonial rights
was the predominant subject of her mania,
and whenever that subject was mentioned
she became excited. Her manifestations
of insanity were rregularity of speech
and confusion of ideas. All physical signs
decidedly indicated insanity. Am familiar
with cases Of insanity. The insanity OF
the accused was from, in my opinion,
puerperal fever. She had been delivered
Of an extraordinarily large child about a
month previous TO the murder-the
child weighed thirteen pounds. The
symptoms of insanity became more
and more apparent while under my
charge, which was from about the 1st Of
December, 1865, to February 6, 1866.
Soon after her imprisonment she became
entirely unconscious Of her position, and
grew entirely indifferent to everything.
She was sent to the asylum in order to de-
eide whether or not her manacal symp-
toms were real or simulated There she
could be closely watched, and if the symp-
toms were simulated, could be detected.
| She was there under close surveillance
about fifteen months. Ny opinion is that
| she was insane. | exhausted every eXpe-
dlent to ascertain whether or not her
symptoms were feigned or real. Saw her
every day. Numerous physicians exam
| ined her, and said that there was every in
| dcation Of insanity. Some said that they
might be feigncd, but none asserted that
they were. Doctors, for once, agreed.
| SIa Il, ~ 1.,, Oh lu-ot.
When she did recognize them she ap-
rcarcd to be in doubt. Do not
think she was sane previous to the
murder. Think that it was a chronic
case. Decided lunatics are unusually
acute on some subjects but if the subject
Of their insanity is stouched upon, become
| Immediately maniacal. Persons who are
strongly attached to any one arp very apt
to be jealous, and there are many instances
Of persons becoming insane because of
jealousy. Dr.. Stribling took her into the
asylum as a lunatic, kept her under skilful
medical treatment for fifteen months, and
believes, as | do, that she is insane. Do not
think she could have simulated for so long
time. While under my charge the ac-
cused was in very good health.
DR.. Pctcrficld Trent was next called,
sworn, and also questioned: | have been
practising for eighteen years; have at
tended the family Of accused since 1860;
was not present when the child mentioned
/ BY DR.. Dove was born: saw her q short
while after, and also about two weeks be-
fore the murder; she was coming down
and / was going up Marshall street heard
her cXclam, "Fll be the death Of her
yet, for standing between me and my hus-
band" ! did not recognize her at first,
she was so Slovcnly dressed; thought at
! first the remark was intended for me, but
passing on | saw q negro woman, and then
! | knew that she addressed her. So sur
prised was | TO see her in that slovenly
condition that ] went and asked if She
| drank. She is of an cXCitahlo temper,
and was then very much excited. The
! first time learned that she was jealous was
some time before the murder. happened
! to be in her room vacclnatng her
! infant, and mentioned incidentally that we
were in room formerly occupied BY a
woman, calling her name. She immcdl-
ately became very much excited. Saw
her in the Jail shortly after her imprlson-
mcnt. Went, thinking She was Stimulating
insanity, but was soon convinced that she
was really insane. Her pulse was unusu-
ally slow. That is the usual accompanl-
mcnt of insanity. Her eyes indicated men
tai alteration. Jealousy is often the
cause Of insanity. She was an atlcctlonatc
mother and q devoted wife. She was noted
for remarkable ncatneSs. She did not
know her children in Jail. Asked her
where Mr.. Kirby was. She replied lie
has gone to Baltimore with a young lady
expect him back soon." She could not
talk coherenty. Is an impulsivc woman
Major J. n. Croft, formerly Chief of city
military police, sworn: Mrs. Kirby was
arrested by one of my officers on the
morning Of the murder. Was under my
charge about thirty hours. By order o.
General Turner / gave her in charge O
the civil authorities. When she wa:
brought into the Station-houSe | recog
nized her as the woman who, about :;
month before, had had her husband ar
rested for cruelty.
Cross-examiued: Have been connected
with the police thirteen years, and have hat
charge of many insane persons. Watched
Mrs. Kirby very closely, and thought sh'
was deranced. Could get no coheren
conversation from her. She, in my opinion
at the time of her arrest, was insane, ant
not responsible for her actions. by re
quest of the General commanding | tro
quently visited her in Jail, and my llrs
opinion was confirmed.
Captain Roach sworn: Was connected
with the military police in the fall OF lS65
Was at the station-hOusc on the mOrlln!
of the murder. Accused was brought II
between hali-past and O'CLOCK. Sn
remained thirty-one hours. Was with nc
most of the time. She was excited, wild
and, in my opinion, not IN her right NINA
She would jump from one subject TO an
other. Stated that her husband had gon
to Baltimore, and would soon come BACK
She acted in the same way all the time
even when no one was convcrslng with be
nor in sight. Saw her in jail afterwards
and was thoroughly convinced OF her IN
sanity.
CAPTAIN Chalkley, of the city police
sworn | have been connected Win th
CITY police twenty-five years. Ihe mrs
time saw the accused was ten years ago
Policeman Morris then brought her Int
the Second station house. Said be had ar
rested her near the Petersburg depot o
complaint OF persons who said she had at
tempted to throw herself from the bridge
She had not been married, but was llVln
with Robert F. Kirby. 1t was SAID that sh
was crazy. She was arrested TO preVeh
. her from injuring herself. Kirby came o
the night of her arrest and bailcd her out
1t was long time before she could b
ouieted. Her head, hands, and face wer
bloody, where she hadin her rage Scratche
herself. She appeared to be crazy-cel
tainly was not drunk. She frequently e.
claimed. 81 have been ruined ~ hav