New-York tribune., 1870-04-27
THE MCFARLAND TRIAL.
FIFTEENTH DAY.
TESTIMONY OF DIR. VANCE, DIR. RALPH l.. PAR

TESTIMONY OF DIR. VANCE, DR. RALPH l.. PAR
SONS, AND DIR. WILLIAM A. HAMMOND.
The 18th day of the Mcfarland trial opened
with the usual crowd OF spectators witnesses lawyers,
and reporters attendance There also several
ladies in attendance Recorder Hackett arrived promptly
at II o'clock looking better than the previous day.
The counsel both sides all punctua In attend
ance, including Judge Davis, who returned from WaS-
ington.
The crosse Examination Of Dr. Vance, who wac undef
examination at the time Of adjournment Monday, was
commenced by Judge Garvin, after one or TWO uhin'
portant questions from Mr.. Gerry.
first saw the prisoner the 9Th OF March last at the
suggestion OF Mr. Gerry Of the counsel for the prs
oner; was taken to the Tombs by Mr. Gerry, and intro
duced the prisoner In the little called the consul
tation room; passed the compliments OF tho day with
the prisoner and Mr. Gerry then left; told Mr. McFar
land that had to have long conversation with
him sand to examine his he expressed his willing
afford every facility in his power; Mr. Gerry
had, when introducing me- told him that he was at lib
erty to talk with the conversation lasted about three
hours; there else present on that occasion;
in my remarks TO him pursued certain system; re-
member of the subjects talked about but do not
believe that could recall all now although If had suf'
hcient time might,
O. viii you state what the result OF your first eAamina
ton to his state OF mindl A. came TO the con
cusion that he perfectly rational and coherent
discovered euson do not gard the two words de
lusion and "haucination" synonymous On the oc-
cason OF my second visit, DR.. Neals present; he
came in Immediately after the Of the con
versaion and he left after did he participated in the
conversation, and could have heard all that was said;
there present at the third conversation;
believe that one OF the Deputy sherfs came into the
room, and held coat before the window while ex
amned him with the opthalmOscOpe do not know
whether at the time of these several examinations, any
notice had been given to the DstrictAttorney; was
confident that he knew that these examinations were
going on.
O. Now Doctor will you tell me the particular form OF
insanity you regarded Mr. Mcfarland to be aborng un
der at time this affair occurred A. IL must have
been an attack OF acute mania
O. VIII you tell the jury, Doctor, what you mean by
maniai A. BY mania mean peryersion Of the under
standing in regard all kinds of subjects accompanied
by mental excitement.
@. You mean by mania general arrangement Of the
mind 80 that does not reason long on any subject
or think long correcty A. Yes, Sir while the mania
exists it is general arrangement Of the mind; have
seen maniacs who were undoubtedly insane but whe
O. VIII YOU describe to me how IT is that man who 70
perfectly perfectly rational brain and nlnd M
normal condition. that his pulse can go up fron lo2 te
12ii A. do not believe that man who is in healthy
condition can have that pulse m -. 49,.
q understand you to say that he was all right and
that his pulse went up as you stated now what was t
cause OF that sad that the man was rational a a anS
geston of the brain and functional disorder OF heart
believed fhat the functual
geston OF the brain could not discover any deislon
the elusion would be Indicated mostly by conversation
acute mania A. II when it suddenly, and ir
contradistinction TO chronic mania, which comes on
steadily poisoning Of the blood one cause OF may
be caused by alcohol strycnine, opium, etc. we have
condition produced similar TO that by certain levers
that is called delrium when there IL disease of othei
parts OF the body; blows injuries the head are
other for it also certain forms or ephepsy tna
Q. Now Doctor, in these Of acute mania docs
man talk nationally A. No, Sir. ,o,or,,, uDsor ar
attack OF acute nanaf A He may he may not; tina,
is uncertain drinking ardent spirits sometimes brihs'
O. Now. Doctor in those conversations with the prs
oner, did he answer you ratonalyf A. Yes, SIR
@. And the object of those conversations to test
the fact that he was without deIusloh A. ies, s ~
O. Doctor will you point to anything in this testimony
which you remember which leads you TO the conclusion
that this man was Suffering under acute mama at any
particular period within the two years which this exam
cumstances which point to acute MANIA but can to de
thG5e e t STe IRet sGon testimony Of the
lawyer who met him in front of the New-York Hotel
O. DO you recoect what that testimony vast A. do
not recolect all of IT, but recoect the general tenor OF
it the very fact and in which Mr. Billings, the
witness, found him, not compatible with those of
sane man he said in his conversation with MI Snnngs
condition that the witness described the appearance OF
ms ts e es % s eoh the 'S wchns his the
color Of his face one witness spoke OF MS coming n
his Office and coming up to the washstand turning on
the water and holding lis head under it, walking and
down the room liking to himself his twitonng his
ewes garing cutting his words short dropping hs words
then the inability attend TO business all these facts
enabled TO form the opinion that an attack OF acute
mania could come at any moment; acute mania may
come and go; will that he was labOring under an
attack Of acute mania Shen ne was met IN front OF the
ber last it was irrational in him to say that the stars
would be out directly.
O. You have seen the muscles OF no mans face twtch
when he was not nsanef A. Yes, Sir
O. Have you seen distortion Of the eye produced by
ardent spiritsi A. Yes Sir.
O. You have twitching OF the lips produced by
some other than insanity by men who drink or
take any sort OF stmulentf A. Yes, Sir.
O. Have you not known men perfectly sane mutter TO
themselves as they walk up and down the streetsf a.
O. Now what other fact is there in the conversations
with any of the witnesses which led you to thnk that
this insanef A. The testimony by the lawyers
clerk TO the effect that he had previously performed his
business WELL that afterward he could not attend 10 H
that he would read him legal document aud then he
would say what is that about.
Sir but not persistenty never knew lawyer 70 do IT.
the testimony OF Mr. ftIhugn Ludlow Una, ha nc came no
voices he had heardhat he had seen objects that had
no existence i'll fact-that If what call hallucinaon
O. Now will you give what you regard as delusionf
A. A false conception OF the mind
O. Suppose man really believes that there picture
on that White WALL what is thati A. II looks at
that white wall and says there Is picture there and
suffering under haucnation; but il he said he knew
there there then IL would he dclusion; hauc
nation exist, and still he evidence of insanity.
o. Now then when deuson exists, is that any evi-
dcnce OF insanity A. That very serious question;
i'm my opinion IL you may have insanity wthOat de
luson but in the vast majority of eases you would have
deusOn that is one Of the marked signs OF 1T there II
not delusion in all should say that all epeptc
has a delusion i'll epleptc mania he docs not
have dclusion.
O. What do you mean by impulsive insanity A. When
a has desire to commit certain act ana tIat Rises
before him. and he does eomething that Is wrcng aud Is
unable prevent doing it, there is no delusion then;
moral insanity is that where all moral feelings
blunted. 80
o. Now when n man commits a crime without any aI-
parent motive Is that any evidence VI insanity A. Not
particle.
o. The fact OF his shooting the first man he met You
would not consider any evidence of nsantyt A. No, Sir
O. Now suppose take that very case OF man walk