New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-09
-nr CASE OF COMMODORE hBAp~s
JUDGE suTnEn, and pfdiDEs THAT he rs NOT
INSANE.

Commodore Meade was prO"S"' =. ar
pupreme Court Chambers yesterday oUeue., .onn,
.,Aers of Justice Sutherland. george N ii'u'' VIZ ~
'. ", prr 81 the Asylum, present as also d.
s,,u,oad pho was appointed by the Court 10 Inquire
no,her he could safely DO brought before the N0u III"
Mr. yar,ng and Mr. slden, counsel IN the case
10 sutherland invited the Commodore 70 take
.aat by his SIDE when the Commodore '""' H'
Tnnnsel attempted TO make some remarEs out JuuHn
sutherland interrupted them sayns t tSs adsyts be-
fsre the Court and desired himself 10 TAX Win INC N
The Court had quite long conversation with the Com
x,odore after which Mr.. Dewitt one OF the counsel
,tated that lie had present DR. Brooks VINO hao u W
.ssion TO see him. and whom he desired to be sworn
Mr. Titus argued that this course was slhgna ho,,,a
proceed and take the statements Of such persons as
present He desired do right, and necessarily 'he'e
TSe Co%Scdofe remarked that he had been in PRISON
DR. Halstead then examined by the court, a anu
ststed that he did think the Commodore 10 9e
the Commodore had had slight attack OF Parays that
the great fear bringing him before the court maS %
the excitement might bring some renewed a'.s M
memory appeared TO be clear ana s aTeTsoS to his family
which might arise from his circumstances A'
ar Brown was then sworn and examined in the same d
vay Upon the general qestiOn no had
mt ne supposed insanity to include Questions OF
The moral status and he thoushe .,,r III reasons
:, 20 Oh, .O 1siy S SrSS state his mind by
morbid he meant disease Inns not no so low he could
hardly be heard The only mental deluson ne d that
.no ,sr ~ eydenee The Commodore had an aver
sion 10 his wife that might arise from ueluso; a. 20
ison 70 the cause Of this aversion There was nothing
other than this morbid aversion TO ms Ia, IN ~ vas
knowledge, to show his insanity HIS eonversalum ms
connected and there was nothing IN hs os Threats
70 insanity Dr. Brown spoke OF ms @ he
lNeade) had been excited to much greater non
d that he had been i'm charge Of BOomiDgdae Asylum
for II years. 1t impossible to define INSANITY ror
on and hatred toward his family shown by the C0mmo-
dore had seemed to him the result OF ina{ t hn
expected at the Staten Island Ferry to meet ms daugter
and Mr. Lands and he had intended TO taRe heI St
MIN at all hazards his physical CONDITION nag Oeeh ta'
OF one who had suffered from paralyle attack; par
ss usually resulted from disease OF the pS anu
with tendency TO their recurrence; IN TAXING Oh lau
sISsT subjects; on that point hC considered him Of
mDsound mind. On other points he was OF relharhapS
,SomSbf " monomaniac when first he came there h'
thought his state dangerous TO ms FANNY puI
e sst two weeks believed he had had 10 such lnteh
The Commodore here inquired with some little excite excite
se RaG mot Stated he iS Mr. Lands
and had no arms 20 hurt him. .uo..o, min,
Counsel asked DR.. Brown how he had expressed hm
self as TO his son Richard ~
frankly told him in the interview his reasons or a
berig him The causes which Leu 60 ms I 1gt % of ms
opposition IN family matters. ,,. ., h,s
,any bnt was an wered by Brown in tOolow voice
50 be- heard by any in the court room except Tue
The Court answered for him that he was embarrassed
for want of legal definition OF INSANITY esPecS t"As
into account the COmmOdore's life and pechlaliues'
The Doctor had known eases OF monomana' they were
mot unfrequent and were difficult 70 detecL , With all
the ordinary faculties of man OF his age IL was naiu
raj love ones children. but 1t was natural that nc
should desire 10 be heard in the marriage OF ms children
especially when family pride was high Everybody sees
wishes excitement would be produced. II it showed It
self in laughter that was one thing put showed qSsF
excessive anger crimes might DC committed Out that
Mr. Titus argued that Dr. Brown was fitted peculiarly
s. answer the question asLleE sngA Lao pro
DR. Brown said that he considered TIE question to be
one Of the power OF the ,riduQ to control himself and
% DISTINGUISH yvrwe6h fight and wrong WIEN Y Nes
p,ugntt0 the asylum he thought ne had not saeh power
sud was moi legally or morally responsible He thought
he had much improved in his condition IN the asylum,
and had rceaned much Of his power OF seltcOntro 80
FAR "a ne was sincere his statements, lac regarded him
rs legally and morally liable for his acts.
cerned he had never been able to bring mind
determination that the Commodore was irresponsible,
end Of Justice The question was not
the passion uncomfortable but whether was caused
Mr. Titus said he could bring much evidence If time
were allowed.
The Court asked u 1t would vary materially from Dr.
Browns testimony IN fact DIR. Browns testimony le-
Heved the OF much embarrassment
Mr.. Titus embarrassed by the peculiar way IL when
the ease came up. There was but one SIDE presented
here.
any Testimony which was different from that presented
in the afdaSits already submitted ana Di BrO"hS es'
mOnY. =,
long and very confused discussion arose between the
Court and Mr. Titus this question: ME- MUS arguing
that was prepared TO into trial or the
question whether the Commodore insane or not ana
stating that he had evidence 10 show that When ne was
incarceFated lie insaue the Court asking whether
this Of any different character from that appearing
the afliGayts.
Mr. Titus said that it Of acts and speeches winch
he thought bore on the condition oi Commodore Meade
when incarcefated.
The Court asked him to state what expected to prove
Mr. Titus could not state positively anything as to IT,
He had not expected here 10 10 into this question:
Judge Sutherland did not the use OF any further
postpOnement In the matter The opinion OF Dr. Brown
and his differed definition Of insanity, ana lie
thought he fully understood how Dir. Browns definition
aud has Ownwhch clear to him. though perhaps he
could not press I-deIed. He did not assuming
the afdays submitted 10 HIM 10 be true, hat nc ought
keep Commodore Meade In custody There would, ne
knew, be opinions each side, of phyoic Phys
cans differed ia such cases.
Dr Brown-As do Judges. sometimes. lLaugbter.l
Judge Sutherland added that there no reason for
OBTAINING him. He understood from Dr. Brown that there
Was DO danger in releasing him. and be could 20 tonight
with DIR. Brown. and return 20 Washington Tomorrow.
little discussion IN which the Commodore took part,
here where lie 10 which ended by
Judge suthorands declaring that ne had come before
him a mau and he had discharged him as sane
man, and he could 20 where he pleased.
The counsel then spoke Of the effects OF the Commo-
dore which had been taken from HIM at the asylum.
The Commodore said 10 had been gwen TO ID. 1elgs.
He was cOntradiced bat showed that he was clearer
than those who cOntradiced him. The Court, however
could not IN this proceeding take the question mp
The court then broke mp, and Commodore Meade was
surrounded by congratuating friends
--------------------
THE ERIE wAR-ADJOURSMENT TO THURSDAY.
T., .bo Cuu,o,,o Court (bomhare vostordav