The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-25
VAS mr. INSANE?
The Mcdico-Lcenl ~ociety Take Hold Of the
Joseph MnIz Case.

The meetings of the Mcdico-Legal So
cicty are always Interesting. sut that on Thurs
day evening was SO much that 10 was pro
tractcd long beyond the usu til hour for adjourn
ment.
The paper Of tho evening bore the title, "Epi-
lcisy with Mania-An Analv. Is of the case II
Joseph Wal2," but wa cnti,elv devoted to what
was suggested by the second utic- a singular
oversight ny q physician ~ Dr. %. Kcllogg's
attaiuuoi O.. Dr. Kellogg not bcinf resent. the
pai,r or, rather. "a r. ndcnsation II twas read
ty the Hon. Golrrc Ycawau.
II deal, with the horrible crimes committed
J. JOSEPH Neiz, May l. isi3' AMI Apll -. ~ /;
the murder u Armand Ilolchor and thtt " Frsi,
the kceper Of the pri,on n which tue murderer
was confined. The first victim, a scissuTs-grtnd-
Ct, was murdered In the house OF Wall "a father,
near pOughkccnsic, nj night. and the odN Sc
cictcd. Malz and his son Joseph were arrested
ON suspicion. The latter was convicted and sen-
truc Il To be hanged ON May |, 1871. ono wear
after the date ~ the murder. On the 2Dth ~
May Oi that wear Walz, then only twchty-thrce
years old, Hi, his kcerer. ana ON the day AZ
pointed for his execution he " han cd.
In spite of the array Of evidence auduced to
strengthen the plea NJ Insanity entered ny couu-
sci, the man Was sent to hts doom. la the OYiu-
ion Of the author Of the pager the case was
Josern WIS not like other boys When child
he would not take part In boyisn sports, was
aiways quiet and irdu-trieus, would rof swear,
smoke, or drink. tut was fond ui recalling. To-
ward manhood his Ga racter IA some respects
underwent "a rem.rLah chnfge lie began to
complain OF hcHdacucs. was moody, rc'trcut,
and irritable. lie became careless IN hs husi-
>ss-s bat ->--nd.s-. a. A..en nece s-a--sts glow
fern, to see that he mndc no dam ciug mis-
takes In his dealings. Hc wouli not answer
questions. and was never known to read "a scn.a-
tiph novel; ms la'nritr fchuing teinE agricul-
tural papers. He developed many strange no.
tOns. one Of Which was that he should build a
stone tower from the iop Of which he " co III
speak pieces without being heard, and
see people without being seen. He nat
Just begun his tower. on winch be was engaged
ID. /.
others followed at intervals Of thiec or four
weeks, nearly up to the time Of his death Dur
Ing this period. saws Dr. Kellogg, II he was not
insone. his conuitiOn was unacC1untatle. one
nicht he cut down oil his fathers grape vines,
ana could give no satt-ilctOry reasons for his
act, nd the year afterward he cut down others
When these spells were not ON him lie was ucr-
found. One night he went into the vineyard
with hts gun and kept up "a steady firing Tor
three hour. declaring, when begged to desist.
that there we're people moving around among
the vines md stealing the grapes.
Alter this began series OF scbOolhouse rob-
berries IN the nciRhborhood. They were all
traced to him. He stole only school books,
which were OF no use to hin. After rpbhing
ono schoolhouse he left a letter addressed to
" Mr.. PED gogue," whom lie Informed that the
books were stolen by band OF rot Lers to aid
them IN civiiiziug the Northwestern Indians.
Ihen the paper described Malzs str ,nge talk
when arrested. the letter he had tackled TO tel
egraph pole. his confession IN which lie charged
his crime upon evil spirits. his refusal to take
food when IN jail. ana his maniacI conditluu
Tor great Var. of the time lac was confined. lie
made confession Of another murder, ~ trace
81 which existed EXCEPT IA his own disordered
ims ginatDn. When he murdered his kcei ho
tuoK his keys and his pistol aud made NJ use Of
them, aud In going to his death showed no
symptom Of a consciousness 81 his do IN. All
these things went 10 show that when joe IA
Walk was hanged the law banged a Taviug
maniac.
The Hon. Geo. Yoamnn and o. c. Warneld on
the side OF the legal, and Drs. Hamilton. Pr
sons, and MCElWain ON the side Of the medical
profession, debated the ques lion ufter the read
ilg ot the paper, ana the unanimous opinion OF
the speakers a. well as Of the listeners seemed
to be that the execution Of j seph Walsh was u
Lea, AL