National Republican., 1876-11-02
AN EFFORT TO Show INSANITY
A VERY WEAK-MINDED Girl
TESTING As TO MENTAL CAPACITY
THE CASE GIVEN TO THE JURY
THE JURY OUT FOR THE NIGHT

J
day, before Judge Wylie.
The following jury was empaneied: GeorgC
Green, Richard NJ. Allen, Jas. F. Mcguire
VIM. Ferguson, VIM. H. johnson, Arthur
Fowler, John L. Vogt, James Nourse, John T
c. Brown, Francis B. Lord, jr, John G. Ault
and Thos. A. Tolson.
Assistant District Attorney 81. 81. Wells, jr.
opened the case for the Government, ant
stated that he expected to prove clear crime
and, if he succeeded, should claim verdict a
their bsnds.l
Mr.. Charles Pelham, counsel for the de
fens, said that they expected the testimony Il
show that in her weak, sickly condition sh
had no Intention to commit crime; that sht
was subject to periodical spells of insanity
and while laborfng under one of these attacks
the deed was performed.
THE EVIDENCE.
DR.. Z. B. Sheckells, sworn: Had been
physician for twelve years. Made post
morton examination of the child. Il was
female. Externally it was covered with DARK
matter, and wound extended from beneath
the right ear almost entirely across the
throat. The wound was ragged. The organs
Of the body were healthy; also. the lungs, and
they gave evidence that the child was born
alive. Believed that death was caused by the
Cross-examination: Considered the floating
of the lungs as the best test of respiration
Could not say that it was infallible. Began
the dissection by opening the chest. The
thorax was sound, but could not tell tie size
and shape. The umbilical cord was sound,
but the cut end was ragged and torn. The
lungs were Joined the volume was two and a
half by four inches, the usual size. Did not
examine the organs Of circulation. Examined
the liver, and it was perfectly healthy, as far
as witness could perceive. Based his Judg-
ment chiefly on the test of the lungs. The
effect Of child birth, at times, produces p2rox-
ismal insanity in the mother.
Redirect: The suffering of pain generally
ceases on the birth of the child.
Miss Catherine Donohue, sworn: Knew the
defendant when she came to live with Admiral
Radford, and remained until July IS. Wit
ness went into the cellar on the l4th to sweep
it and clean up; found fresh earth, and In
sweeping saw something white, and
RAISED THE CHnD's FEET UP;
dropped them and went and told Admiral and
Mrs. Radford. The accused got up about six
O'Clock in the morning. On the 18th she was
up and gone when witness awo!.e. Two other
servants slept in the room with her.
Admiral Radford, sworn: Lived on Stod-
dard street, in Georgetown; knew the accused;
saw her In witness house after being EN-.
ployed by Mrs. Rsdford; she was engaged on
the 18th of November; on the morning OF
July II 1t was reported to witness that q
child had been discovered in the cellar; sent
to the police station, and two policemen came
up, and witness went into the cellar with
them; the child was found there and the coro-
ner notified, who afterwards directed the body
TO be taken to the station; one of the police
men examined the prisoners trunk, and found
some bloody clothes, which were taken to the
station.
Cross examined: Did not know that the
clothes belonged to the accused.
Sergeant W. H. Trunnel, sworn: Examined
the prisoners room, and found bloody clothes
between the mattresses, which the coroner
took charge of; the prisoner had a converse
tion with witness going to jail, although he
told her she
HAD BETTER TELL IT TO HER LAWYER.
She said the father was Henry Miller, and did
the deed because she did not know what else
TO do with it; that she cut its throat with q
ease-knife. She appeared weak.
Cross-exsmined: She appeared excited,
sometimes laughing and sometimes CRYING.
Witness did not tell her that he was taking her
to the jail, but to the hospital. She said she
did not want to go the hospital, but could
take care of herself.
Officer z. Riley, sworn: Arrested the pris-
oper on the 14th of July; called a wagon to
take her, thinking that she was not able to
"dlh one Ttluk6Q 10 geb ID, anu walked Win
witness; asked what would be done with her;
replied that he did not know; asked If she had
not better tell all about it. Witness told her
TO suit herself; then said she would tell it all
if anybody would ask her. She said that she
was the mother of the child; that it was born
on the 18th, little before day. She did not
think it would live, and If It did she had no
way of taking care OF it, and that
SHE CUT ITS THROAT WITH cAsE-KxIFE.
This closed the testimony for the Govern
ment.
For the defense
Stephen Cuts, sworn: Knew the defendant
ten years ago in the State of Ohio; she was a
destitute orphan, and bound to witness by the
laws of Ohio; afterwards came to Virginia,
and then she went 10 Georgetown to live in the
family Of Admiral Radford: the family of wit
NESS considered her good, hsrd-working girl,
but when excited did not seem to know what
she was doing; her mind was not well-bal-
aneed.
Cross examined: She was an ordinary intel
hgent girl; could not tell when be formed that
conclusion regarding her mind being diseased
Mr.. II. Payne, sworn: Resided in George
town; had known the defendant for two years;
never thought that she was a real bright girl,
but that her mind was more or less affected;
had always looked upon her as Christian
girl, and as trying to do right; her general
reputation was good.
Mrs. II. Payne, sworn: Had known the de-
fendant for three or four years; looked upon
her as a good, kind hearted girl, but weak
minded and easily led away; she was anorphan
and friendless.
VIM. A Hutchins, sworn Knew the pris-
oDer. She lived in witness house for four
years as servant. She performed her duties
well and honestly, but never regarded her as
entirely Of a sound mind.
Cross-examined She was of exceedingly ex-
citable temperament, and would be
EASILY THROWN OFF HER BALANCE.
A. ". Layton, sworn Had known the de-
fendant for ten years and seen her frequently.
Never considered her Of very strong mind, and
at times, under excitement, was very unsound.
Geo. W. Father, sworn Previous to Sep
tember resided in Georgetown. Up to eighteen
months or two years ago saw the accused fire.
quently. Her general character was good.
She was not regarded as a person of sound
mind.
Cross-examined She was a communic2nt in
the church. She did not always take an in
teligent view of right and wrong.
H. T. Whaley, sworn The folks thought
that she was not very bright.
w. +. Gibbons, sworn: Had known The de-
fendsnt for five years. Should not regard ler
as of sound mind. Did not think she knew
right from wrong.
This closed the evidence for the defense.
Admiral Radford, recalled The prisoner
was employed in witness family from Novem-
Der TO July. Did not notice aIy signs of in
sanity while she was thus employed.
Crosstxamined: Never spoke to her, except
to pay her. She was a laundress and cham
bermaid. Witness is an officer in the navy.
Mrs. Radford, called: Resided from Novem-
Der 20 July in Georgetown. Knew the defen-
dsnt. She was in witness employ. Saw her
daily. Could not say that witness ever
noticed signs Of insanity about her.
Cross-exsmined: Saw her only about her
work, and did not have much to say to her.
This terminated the testimony on both
sides.
The counsel for the Government
OFFERED THE FOLLOWING PRAYERS:
/. If the jury believe that the defendant
committed the act deliberately then the offense
is murder.
2. II the jury believe that the defendant
committed the act under the influence Of sud
den, uncomfortable excitement, then the of
fense is manslaughter.
8. If the jury believe that the defendant
was insane at the time of committing the Of
fepse they must acquit the defendant, and on
their oath state that the defendant is not guilty
on that ground.
: 4. The fact of the insanity Of the defendant