The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-02-25
STRUCK INSANE On THE WITNESS
STAND.

One of the most exciting and startling
scenes that ever occurred in court in
this city, took place late IN the afternoon
of YESTERDAY week, just as we were go
ing to press. The particulars are about
as follows:
| AT the time mentioned, the case in
progress was that OF Catherine Miller.
who sued by her next friend, G. w. Gil
more We. John S. Mace and others, the
suit being brought to recover household
goods levied on as belonging to Thomas
Miller, Mrs. 1EilIer's husband,) and
which the plaintiff claims as hers.
Mr.. Miller was on the stand nearly all
day Thursday, and subjected to rigid
examination, in the course of which he
| testified. in effect, that he was not pos
| sessed of any property at the time of or
since his marriage-that the capital and
property used and occupied by him was
| his wife's.
On Friday afternoon Mr.. NJ. was again
called to the stand to undergo cfoss-ex-
animation by L. Clark, Esq, in the
course of which the latter gentleman, in
endeayoring to show discrepancy be-
| tween Mr.. Miller's present statements
and those made some. time since, asked
if he had not, several years ago, stated
| to Mr.. w. III. Reed that he was then
worth a large sum of money. The
answer to this was rather indefinite
that he might or might not have so stat
ed, but If he did the meaning was that
he was worth said sum outside of his
Indebtedness to his family. Mfr. Clark
then asked if, since his marriage, he had
not become surety on the bond of GER
tain Government official. After little
hesitaney, an affirmative answer was
given, whereupon counsel wished to
| hn 81 h.
time, swear that he was worth 100000.
| To this query no reply was made, and
| for few moments deep and sudden
silence ensued. Finally, Mr.. Minshall,
of counsel for plaintiff, broke the OPP
fpressive silence by rising to address the
court, and at that moment Mr.. Miller,
who was standing just in front of the
jury-room door, turned TO the Judge
and said: "May it please your Honor,
| 1 wish to make few remarks" and i'm
mediately after elasped his hands to his
head and exclaimed: 81 feel-as i'll
was getting-para1ysis of the brain -
and commenced sinking to the floor, ut
| tering such pray erful CALCULATIONS as
| "Lord, have mercy on my soul! o, Lord,
bless me and pardon my sins !" ETC., or
words to that effect.
Before reaching the floor, he was
caught in the arms of persons near by,
and carried back into the iury-room.
On reaching there, he espied a gentle
man approaching whom he said had en-
deavored to ruin him, and he made an
effort to get hold of the person, but was
prevented.
The excitement in the court room at
this time was intense, every one starting
to their feet to get a better view of the
strange scene and its author. In another
moment, however, Mr.. Miller, having
| broke loose from those having him in
charge in the jury-room, with pallid
face, disheyelea hair, rolling eyes, and
undistinguishable mutterings, rushed,
with long strides into the court room.
pressing his elbows to his sides, and
putting the wind in gusts from his
mouth. This sudden and terrifying IT.
ruption, as we'll it might, startled Judge,
bar and audience, and a general stam-
pede ensued. Neither the lawyers nor
| the audience stood upon the order of
| their going, but went at once.
After getting ont to point in front
| of the Judge, Mr.. Miller was caught by
Sheriff Mace, who, unaided, carried him
| into the clerks room, and from thence
had him conveyed to his hotel.
| This sudden removal of the witness,
and the disturbed condition in which it
left the nerves of the bench and bar,
made an adjournment necessary which
was had.
We have not attempted to depict the
absolute frightfulness of the scene, as
that would be impossible. Those pres
ent have no desire ever to see another
like it. In all his years at the bar and
on the bench, Judge Dickey AYERS that
he never beheld anything equal to it.
1t is thought the strain to which Mr..
Miller's mind had been put during the
preceding day or two, and the excite
ment consequent thereupon, tended to a
temporary unsettlement of his reason,
resulting as above.
He was confined to his bed several
days after the attack hiuicothe (Ohto)
Re0iSter Feb u