The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-15
| His furious and unroveruable bursts Of a,

l. His furious and ungovernable bursts OF anger.
9. His atteBpts at suicide.
3. His varyttg moods, sometimes unduly elated,
at other times unduly depressed
4. His saying repeatedly that he would kill his
or the first, several instances are given by wit
nesses; the most marked was the attempt to shoot
his insanity. 1t has every appearance Of being
madman's act
But the strongest proof OF his mental disease we're
his attempts TO commit suicide.
When he took laulanum, a small vial full, there
was sumcient to Kill grown person, IL II
sister believed It would kill him Ia shown by their
efforts to save him, and their great distress On
subsequent occasion he said he would take two
bottles, in all probability because one bottle
failed to do the work. Ordinarily no
Of the person to take his own life. Aad had THIS
defendant succeeded Is It not highly probable that
those neighbOrs who on the trial pronounced him
Of sound mind would have said tina, he was ins ,ne?
Admitting that sane persons d. occasionally DE-
stroy themselves would we expect one in the de.
fendaDt's condition In life to do t7 The more ignI-
rant and debased person il, the less the pro5a Jy
OF his doing such deed, u not insane.
The love Of life is an instructive feeling, and the
lower we descend In the scale of Intelligence the
more blndly and strongly Is life adhered TO.
writer probably DR.. Forbes WinslOw) in the Journal
Of Psychological Medicine says - IG Is the prevalent
opinion among persons ignorant of the sciences OF
psychology and pathology that the desire OF self
destruction is 10 the majority OF cases mental act
unconneced with a disturbed condition OF the botdy
functions. and ncurahle 10y any process OF medical
treatment; that the depression ri mind whcn Is 80
generally associated win the suicidal tendencv IL
affection OF the mind per SC, The physical orgluiza
TON having direct connection with what is termei
the spiritual impulse. This, regret to saw Is the
generally received opinion. THIS metaphysical Al view
of the matter is fraught with much nSchier aud
we have no doubt has led to the neglect uf cases
OF actual insanity, aud to the sacrifice OF
many valuable lives. II IS a matter cf
undeceived upon this point. kiglt views on this
subject ought be generally diifIsed. 1t Is OF con-
sequence to establish the belief that the sucid Al
idea is almost generally connected with a morbid
condition Of the mind, and Is often the only svmp.
M uph m affap Al f. " fatU
ceptOns universally associated with physical dis
order disturbing The healthy balance OF the
understanding.
variable moods, at one time ul and tacturn. then
lively and talkative, without any apparent cause
This is Characteristic of some forms OF Ius4ui "
and struck me a strong symptom If his mental
disease. His feelings ands factions were nOt always
when he calm, under his contrOl, but were
sway ed by the morbid condition OF his nervous sys-
TEN. What then should we expect when he vas Ia
tempest of passion? Those who ved with him
and knew him intimately looked upon him an
gerOus and to be avoided il possible when angered
His mother said, 'When he gets mad he'll shoot
anybody, il makes difference who IT. is" His sister
and hrOther-in.law fled from the house to escape
from HIM
AT this moment his father returns. and before his
blood has time 10 cool alteration ensues aun
the fatal shot is fired. Prior 10 this he had several
times said to the witness Sands that he going
Kill his father and infer rOm this that he thDuy yht
himself justified in doing It, Isit probable he would
have told Sands had he believed It. was a wrong
deed for him TO do ? If, then, I'm his Ordinary
frame Of nIId he believed he woula he doing
no wrong should he Kill his father Is it not highly
probable that the deed wOul he performed should
he encounter him when in rage? In the quarres
between his aiher and mother, he, it seems always
took his mothers part and for this his father NO.
braided and threatened him. Did he look upon
himself his mOthe's defender, and slay his
more clearly into his mind ami know more Of its
mysterious workings, the evidence of insanity
would be plain to every one.
remain, yours, most respectful,
). PRESTON JOS IS.