The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-19
FAN NY HYDE.
Fourth Days Proceedings in the Trial Of the
Alleged Murderess of George W. Watson.

County Court Of Oyer and Terminer, was as great
as upon any Of the previous days. and the interest
in the case remained undated The prisoner re-
tanned her usual quiet demeanor. Her husband,
father, step-mother and number OF lady friends
were seated about her during the day.
The Court opened promptly at ten O'Clock,
Judge Tappen and Associate Justices voorhees, and
Johnson on the Bench.
IMPORTANT MEDICAL TEsTIMoNY-INsANIT Y AND ITS
CAUSES.
Mr.. Morris called Dr. John Byrne, and, after stat
ing the circumstances leading to the shooting, the
seduction Of the prisoner, Watsons conduct to her,
her physical ailments the struggle just before the
shooting, &C., elected by her testimony, and In
quired what, in the witness opinion, would be the
enest upon the prisoners mind. pr: Byrns e.
piled, that before the act of shooting, she not
In her right mind She was insane to all intents
and purposes. 'fsS.-
DR.. Charles Corey, who was for ten years at the
head of Bloomingdale Asylum, was examined, and
aeredita alspostion he considered a red one
Of the predisposed causes also great grief painful
@. Is It not fact that many people are mentally
affected, and yet their ament cannot be observed
O. Is 1t not q recognized doctrine that person
may be as completely insane and irresponsible
when affected by this temporary insanity as If they
| @ Would change OF character disposition and
habits Of person indicate change OF mind, ten
| dency to insanity A. They are the most frequent
q. Take person Of nervous temperament, whose
| grandfather died insane, change takes place in
her disposition and temperament, or she becomes
| careless In her dress, having been subjected to
1pl four
! in person OF that temperament, would you
say that she is person in whom you might expect
this mpulsive or this form of insanity to be pro-
duced9 A. should, or any form of insanity.
Q. Take the evidence as you have heard it de-
| lvered to the occurrence OF the homicide,
would you say that that was an exciting causeS A.
/ should.
O. is it a fact that
PERSONS BECOME INSANE BY SUDDEN NEWS
OF good fortune-snt that stated by the authorities
as being cause A. 1t is given as cause; have
never seen 1t myself
Q. You would consider news of great misfortune
more probable cause A. should.
may commit act of which they fully conscious
and yet utterly unable to resist ? A. 1t is,
Q. Insanity exists In very many cases without de-
Q. Would you consider the action Of person
under this form Of insanity as automatic,without
q. From the evidence you have heard in the case,
with the examination you have made, taking into
consideration the whole history of the case what
do you say was the condition. in your opinion, of
her mind ut the precise time Of the homicide A.
SHE WAS INSANE AND IRRESPONSIBLE;
believe she had no knowledge Of what she was
doing at the time of shooting him.
District Attorney Britton subjected the doctor to
close cross-eXamination, when the latter said he
his life, then become suddenly insane and then in
few minutes become sane again.
Q. Would you consider that q person charged
with crime Of this nature on the same day, who
was paler than usual, and at the same time had a
wilder expression OF the eye and was more violent
than usual-woud you consider those indications,
coupled with the fact that some ancestor had been
insane, sufficient indication of insanity on the part
of the person A. No, sir.
The doctor was then questioned as to his opinion
that the prisoner was insane when she shot Watson
the facts that her statements as to the transaction
are correctY A. am quite willing to leave it out
OF consideration and she would still be insane.
O. DO you mean to be understood that the person
grew thinner that the fact that the person changed
her habits, and that the fact that the person on
that morning looked wilder and paler-that those
facts are supposed to satisfy your mind that the
person wasinsane independent of the act A. No,
Q. What are the other facts upon which you base
| your opinion A. The fact of her conduct mme-
O. As testified by other witnesses A. / have not
/ heard the testimony as given.
Q. What is that testimony you refer to A. The
WILLINGNESS TO SURRENDER HERSELF,
| making no effort to escape.
Mr.. Britton elected that the witness did not
think when the prisoner delivered herself up that
that indicated she was insane; she would not have
gone to the station unless she knew she had
District Attorney Britton-Ah that's what l
wanted to get at
O. Suppose a person had been grossly insulted
and killed the person who had insuted her, how
would you determine whether the killing was done
under the influence of insanity the impulse of
passion A. should take into consideration the
entire history Of herself and Of her family
the hereditary tendencies and nervous dis
orders l should consider the whole history OF
her general health and the evidence touching the
accused before the commission Of the act and all
and before IT.; think that would involve enough
upon which could base an opinion.
Mr.. Britton stated to the Doctor all the facts In
the case, and asked II person, under such crcum-
stances, in his opinion was insane when she COM
mitted the act The Doctor replied, mot necessa-
| rily.r
q Considering the circumstances which led to
the killing as you have heard them, independent OF
the killing, would 1t not be possible to say that the
person was not insane at the time Of the killings
A. Possibly; the witness said that there no.
thing in the killing ITSELF as killing, to indicate in
sanity; that was merely the eliminating act.
on the redirect, witness said that though insan.
ity might incupate through a series of years its
manifestation might be sudden. Leaving out the
prisoners testimony and taking into consideration
What subsequently transpired and the predisposinp
causes, the witness gave 1t as his opinion that she
was insane at the time this act was committed.
At one O'Clock the Court took recess for three
AFTER THE RECESS.
DR.. Byrne was recalled, and said 1t was a well
established medical fact that insanity may he pro-
duced suddenly by some exciting overpowerinp
cause expend itself in an act, and then pass away
shortly afterwards; Ii was q fact that PERSONS
mind might be predisposed to insanity and yet give
no outward manifestations observable to a common
observer
Witness stated to Mr. Britton that he had held no
special position with reference to insanity, but he
had looked into some of the authors for the pur
poses OF this trial.
The defence here rested.
| FANNY AT THE POLICE STATION.
District Attorney Britton recalled Police Captain
Woglom, and other policemen, who detailed the
particulars OF the arrest. In the evidence IL was
stated that Fanny said at the station house she had
''shot Watson for satisfaction
THE WIDOW WATSON.
Mrs. Eliza watson, the widow, attired in deep
mourning, here entered the court room in com.
pany with her child and gentleman. Mr. Britton
called her to the stand. She resided at Hartford
at the time OF the homicide; she has been married
eighteen years and has family OF five children
last summer she lived in Hartford and recolected
the circumstance OF Mr.. and Mrs. Hyde coming
to her house in July; they were there
also in May, and remained the first time
from Saturday night to Monday morning; they
came with Mr.. Watson; there was nothing said by
her husband about her going to church on either
OCCASION
o. What were the characteristics OF your husband
"a a father and q husband2 A. One of the kindest
and best of men. identified the picture OF her
husband.)