The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-31
THE PALMER INQUIRY.
EVIDENCE GOING TO SHOW THE PRISONERS UN-
soUNDNEss OF MND-AD5oURNMENr OF THE

EVIDENCE GOING TO SHOW THE PRISONERS UN-
EXAMINATION.
The commissioners appointed by Judge Glider
sleeve to inquire into the sanity Of William L..
Palmer. Jr.. who shot and killed Officer Asa Furniss
at the Metropolitan Hotel held another session yes
terday in the District Attorneys Office. The first
witness examined was Mr.. John H. Hunter. of No.
52a Washington street. Brooklyn. He testified that
he married Palmer's aunt for several years the wit
resided near Palmer's fathers home in Stoning-
ton. Conn.,; between 1870 and 1873 William L..
Palmer, Jr., lived in his house continuously. with
the exception of q short period spent in Europe;
Palmer very studious and read inces.
sanity. being particularly interested in his
torical works. He invariably remained in
the house during the greater part of the day; he
went into the commission business with Mr.. Wander
venter at Burling slip, but without success Palmer
father who resides in Stonington furnished his son
with ample funds; at time he became attached to
young lady friend but did not prosecute his suit;
Ghen he entered Yale College he showed great fond
for athletic exercises and neglected his studies
he was a'member Of the boat crew Of his GLASS; and
in his anxiety to excel as oarsman overturned
himselfs he was dropped" from the Sophomore
class owing to his want of progress in his studies
aud he returned to his home deeply morti
fed; he did not let this be known, stating
that he sick and required nursing ut home. The
witness further stated that Dr. Dwyer of Stonington
called and his opinion was that Palmer's alinent
chiefly mental and that he must have some hid
den care; then Palmer told his mother, under
pledge of secrecy that ne had been dropped from
class; this confidence seemed to relieve him and he
grew much better he mostly occupied himself with
reading. rowing and sailing and maintained his col
lege course of physical training.
FIRST EVIDENCES OF INSANITY.
He seemed to be moody and irritable, and there
was q growing strangeness In his manner toward his
family; his mother. to whom he was much devoted;
Palmer who grief stricken, locked himself
in his room. and it was feared he would commit
suicide; witness and his wife and children visited
Palmer fathers house in August last; Palmer seemed
to be very fond of his aunt and tte cousns toward
Instance, he would encourage them to Follow him
everywhere day. but on the next, perhaps. no
would shun them or drive them away; toward the
elder members of the family he was suspicious be-
lieving there plot among them to poison him.
he demanded an annuity of $1,000 from his father.
sn% eene n money S thst would viels im ner
ccntage to this amounts; in reality his
mother willed an estate valued at $4,000 to her
husband in trust for their three children in Scptem
Der it became apparent that Palmer in q danger
Gus condition; he purchased revolver and carried
it always on his person; he subject to unpro-
voked and sudden fits Of anger; one morning he
drove every one out of the kitchen and cooked his
own breakfast ayerring that he was determined to
defeat the plan of those who intended to poison him.
he frequently alluded to his failure at college and in
business and declared that he would be in asylum
for the insane grave within year; DR.. Butler
of Buffers Asylum for the Insane, in Providence H.
L. was consulted and he recommended that Palmer
be confined in the asylum; it was arranged that
Palmer should be taken there on the 23d; when he
taking violin lesson that day In the parlor.
DR.. Butler. who was very muscular man. accompa-
MED by two others, crept up behind Palmer and
seized him; they had narrow escape, however,
Palmer having succeeded in drawing his revolver
and he would have fred1 had they not wrcnched it
ken to the asylum; upon his arrival there he pcr-
sstently refused 70 eat or drink; food and drink