The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-09

have been locked up. Perfectly well tagaia patting
Judge Sutherland turned 70 the Commodore, who
had resumed his seat, and said, "How Old are you
The Commodore folded his hands, leaned ON the
desk and replied as though rejecting, Il see by an
affidavit OF Mrs. Meade's that am sixty. was
| born In 10, sir-in December-makes me nfty-six.
Judge Sutherland then engaged in conversation,
| which was mostly inaudible with the Commodore,
IN which sundry expressions dropped by the latter
were II have not been permitted 10 see anybody"
al recognize those old friends Of mine there" point
close Of the conversation which lasted about fifteen
minutes, Judge Sutherland called Or. Hastead 10
the witness stand rather to the area Immediately
f, In front of the BENCH where he stood and gave his
! testimony, the location OF the witness, however,
afterwards proving to be such that MS testimony.
given as 1t was IN o conversational tone, was very
| difficult to hear. Il
George N. Titus, counsel opposing the discharge,
| asked II this was an examination. 4HA
The Judge said his object was to see the Commo-
! dore and talk with him.
| Mr.. Dewitt, counsel Tor the relatOr, said they
| would wnive any crosseXamnatlon Of witnesses.
MI. Titus then rccapitulated some OF the original
proceedings, and said he had had no opportunity to
take testimony save that which had been already sub
United 10 MS Honor, ana suggested That the Court
either order reference in the ma ter or the trial OF
the cause upon issue framed by the production OF
witnesses. AS to taking testimony here, 1t was be-
| yond ms Honor's power to do SO. lie deemed TINS
Judge Sutherland said he should take the course
that he vedproper. He understood what he was
about. lie understood his duty perfectly. He could
framed, for trial before jury, but he would himself
examine Drs. Halstcad and Brown ana a gentleman
| Commodore Meade-He is here saw him here
/ just now.
stand that he INF. Titus wished to interpose any
obstacle 10 this proceeding.
Judge Sutherland said that in such proceedings as
these good deal must depend upon the facls
brought before the Court what the Court saw, aud
! upon its Judgment.
Titus language, and, clasping mis- hands, SAID In a
subdued voice, "May 1t please your Honorif this is
summary proceedlng-l have ave- been fdty-six days
] waved their hands to him to sit down. and he
| Obeyed the friendly hints.
! DR.. Halstead was then sworn to answer truthfuly
all questions put TO him touching ''he matter OF the
| alleged unlawful imprisonment OF Richard w.
Meade" and in answer to Undergraduates admitted
| the receipt OF the order directing him to examine
| the Commodore at the asylum and his obedience
thereto He conversed with the Commodore at that
| Interview md found his memory clear and
distinct and his powers OF observation quite acute
His department. was rational, and there were no in
dicatiOns OF lack OF intelligence on general subjects
| The Commodore had some time since been subjected
to an attack OF paralysis, and the only danger in
bringing him before the Court was that the excite
ment, II any ensued might reproduce OF those
| symptoms. His mind was clear and his memory as
distinct as that OF almost any man witness ever con-
versed with.
| @. by the Court-Is it your conclusion. from your
observation, that he can be said now to be insane
A. No; should Judge from his natural manner and
from what he told me that the Commodore has been
very much distressed in mind aoout certain circun-
stances which have occurred OF late.
! Q. You did not discover any expression OF that
which would authorize you TO pronounce 1t as evil
dence Of insanityf A: No; none whatever.
Dr. Brown, physician OF B0Omngdale Asylum,
under whose care the Commodore has been since his
| commitment IN October last was sworn and directed
10 state his views, If they differed from DR.. Hal
steads opinions In any material respect. He testi-
fed that, upon the general questions propounded,
positive Intellectual delusion he had no hesitaton
however, in saying that the Commodores mind was
disordered, but whether it was such condition of
| mind as he would consider morbid one il was not
Witness province to say.
q. AS understand you I infer that you would
hesitate to say that that might not be called insanity
! A. Well, 1t is a form OF insanity.
| Q. Have you discovered IN your intercourse with
| laton TO the facts bearing upon his own case.
q. Has he imagined things that-fOr instance, his
Imprisonment was caused by others than those who
| did cause II? A. cannot say that he has. .
z. You have OF course discovered, Doctor, that he
| is man OF excitable temperament naturally A.
Yes, sir lThe Commodore nodded assentingly.)
q. lou know also that he has been In the navy,
and has been In the habit OF dealing with persons In
an imperious manner, with sailors and Others-you
have gaken that into accounts A. have, sir.
! @ Is there anything besides this morbid or un-
natural aversion, as you term It, towards members
imprisonment, that would lead you to consider hun
| insanef A. No, sir.
| q. In conversation upon common subjects you
have found him acute and rationale A. have, SIR.
Ihe Witness here made some ailusion to the tispos
| ton OF the Commodore towards one Of his daugh-
| ters-Clara-whO had married against his wishes,
| and the Commodore who watched and listened to
every particle Of the evidence with almost painful
| against my wishes-to that NANNY The doctor pro.
state that at the time the Commodore was Committed
to the asylum he was In much more disturbed state
OF mind and laboring under greater excitement than
| now or even during the past two weeks.
/ Cross-examined by Mr. Titus-It is almost impos-
sbe to define insanity within the limits OF an ordl.
phases peculiar to itself; regarded his aversion to
| certain members OF his family and To their con-
nectons at the time OF his admission as evidences
Q. State what he has said on that subject A. In
general terms he has said that there was nndoubt-
eddy a combination among his family to do outrage
to his name in urging on tins case, which was not
according to his views Of proprety and was often
O. Anything elses A. Never any declarations ex.
cept that be expressed himself in terms Of personal
animoslty towards his wife, and would use personal
q. What were those declaratlonsf A. lie told me
ne went to the Staten Island ferry, expecting there
1 to meet his daughter with her husband, Mr.. Landls
| and would take her from him by force
Q. Any threats in reference TO other members OF
Q. What Of his physical condition and powers
A. He IL man who has suffered an attack OF paraly
sis, and that has had the effect OF somewhat impair
| Ing his movements and vigor.
| q. Have paraytic attacks any connection with
the bralns A. They ordinarily proceed from certain
Y. Is there any particular mode in which these
| effects upon the brain are manifestcds A. They
produce greater rascbl1ty Of temper which renders
the subject liable 10 recurrence Of such attacks.
Q. Have you seen any evidence OF these nantes.
asylum A. In connection with the subjects which
| have referred to: in other respects have not.
q. From what you have observed OF him what is
your opinion to the state Of hfs mindS A. con-
| sidered him OF insane mind when he was brought 10
the asylum think he is still Of infrm mind re.
gard to his powers OF reflection or judgment OF the
affairs OF his own family Upon general affairs the
condition OF his mind Is good his condition Is that
OF what | should almost term monomania upon
| the subject OF his family.
o. Would you consider that the members Of his
family would be safe from attacks by HUMP A. be.
eve that there at one time danger or hazard of
life safety to persons connected with his family,
but at the present time my impression that there
Is not
Q. How long have you been OF this latter becfs
very great change OF mind In the Commodore lately
upon that subject.
me Commodore here rose very calmly ana said
he wished to put few questions To the doctor
with the greatest respect and asked the latter gen.
tleman II when certain gentlemen came the |lst
Of October with DIR. Bache and DR.. Heck, surgeons
Of the. United states Navy, and they all. including