The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-25
THE HALL LUNACY COMMISSION.

IRREGULARITIES OF THE DEFENDANTS MANNER
DEsCuBID AT THE FIRST EXAMINATION
The commission Oh lunacy recently appointed by
the Supreme Court, upon application OF Mrs. Matte
d. Hail. TO examine as to the menal condition Of her
husband Andrew ). Hail. held It's first session in the
Kings County Supreme Court room before Sheril's
jury yesterday The commissioners are Henry Hag.
ner, John W. Young, NJ. d., and Jacob Cole The
subject o. the present inquiry, Mr. Hall, who was
present and closely watched the proceedings, is a
handsome looking man apparently about twenty eight
years OF age. He frequently conferred with his
sol, Mr. Frost, during the examination Of witnesses
Mrs. Hall was also IN attendance represented
by Counsellor james righe.
TESTIMONY.
Frank George Bowdon testified that he had known
Andrew s. Hall Tor three years. and that he resided ut
No. A Uhauncey street; July, 1876, was called in
by Mrs Catherine Hall, mother Of that gentleman, to
take care of him; he into the house, and there
heard Hall say that ale didn't steal watch" Hall
then ran out OF the house, jumped a CART threw
stones him aud bit OF portion OF his ear; police
man took charge OF the patient and put srajacket
MINI lew days later Hall was sent 10 the Luuatio
Asylum at FaLDush.
Talma Drew testified that he had known Mr. Hall
since 1874, and had always observed vacant stare
about him.
Thomas McDcrmott testified that he first saw Hall
at The Flatousb Asy um, In January 1877 whore the
witness employed AT that time "a nurse; Hall,
wbio patient was violent at times aud witness put
the straps him Witness was employed by Mrs. Cath
crime Hall To take charge Of her son, Andrew ). Hail.
after lelt the um, and he discharged that duty
from January until september l3, 1877; The witness
opened grocery on Fulton avenue, where Mr.. Hail
remained with him during the day ono Of the pa
tienps pecuiiariuos was that no IN the habit OF
blackipg his shoes repeatedly; witness had him
throw KNIFE at his mother strike his
wife, and slide down the Dannistcrs from the
tnird story TO the second floor, had heard that
brother OF Mr. Hall had been sent 10 the Lunatc Asy-
Ium al Middletown; witness once knew OF HalPs 60
ing 10 New York 10 purchase ten cents worth oil rye;
he had taken him ~ ply sican, at his mothers d.
rccton, 10 be trcated Tor insanity; when witness
left the employ oil Mrs. Hall he Understood that,
though quet the patient was not cured. On the
cross-cxaminaton the witness said he had q SUIT
against Mrs Catherine Hall Tor wages tor taking caro-
OF her son while insane.
PHYSICIANS STATEMENT
Dr. Theodore Is. Wetting, assistant physician OF the
Flalbush Asylum, testified that when hr. Hall was
brought to that Insti uton, January 1877, he was
excited IN manner. The comm tmen which was signed
by Drs John j. sullivan and Archibald Campbell, was
then offered In evidence by counsel Tor Mrs. Hail. The
commitment cited an incident occurring In August,
1876, when the patient Is SAID TO have had acute
attack, in which he said ''The zodiacs mad Struck
him In the abdomen and had passed down each
log. which Limos no called the North and the
South Pole" Dr. Wettling SAID that the case
tered the books as hereditary Insanity. When
vfocnt hc would frequently strike the PATIENTS and
they had to RESTRAIN him; no had heard that tue
hereditary Influences were upon the Iather's side;
when tn, patient lett tho asylum his mental condition
was improved, but SILL he was mute and very rcti-
cent: no had some delusons, but was better Of the
zodiacs
Alter some argument by counsel the examination
was set down for further hearing before the commits
sioners this afternoon.