New-York tribune., 1882-08-16
OBREIGHTS MENTAL CONDITION.
FINAL HEARING BEFORE REFEREE BUCK.
TESTIMONY OF EXPERTS WHO THINK THAT oBREIGHr
is NOT INsANE-sENT BACK TO THE MIDDLE


TESTIMONY OF EXPERTS WHO THINK THAT oBREIGHT
Is NOT INsANE-sENT BACK TO TILE MIDDLE
TOWN ASYLUM.
The final testimony in the case Of Samuel Obreeht,
the alleged lnatic, was taken before Jerome Buck;
the referee yesterday afternoon. The hearing had
been adjourned from August H. when OOrelghJ
made himself rather obnoxious 10 ms Keepers ny
throwing red pepper in their eyes. lie has since
been in the care of the MddetOwn Insane Asylum
and from that institution he was brought before
Mr. Buck Yesterday by TWO StalWalt keepers ana
DIR Wilbur Cook. Obreight was accompanied by his
wIie. lie was examined by several physicians VINO
were expected TO testify as 10 ms mental cohalto,
and the result Of each diagnosis seemed to be IaV0r
able the prisoner The greater portion OF the iega
examination was carried on by what lawyers CAL
hypothetical questions. and the answers TO
them were sometimes gwen IN spirit
which which provoked considerable Laughter. Inc
only sensational incIdeut that occurred was Wncn inc
referee advised MT. Kahn, ODrclghts counsel, TO
watch his cnent, "A man named Mooney hau III,
suited Mrs. ObTelght and her husband was ulspoStu
To resent it. Mooney one of the men VINO SUI :
fered from the unwananted Application OF Ted
pepper and he naturally felt dlhplcased WIN tnc
person who be Thought administered IT,
sergeant HUFF OF the Iwenty-third Precinct, was
tho first person to testify. lie sad he hdd Known
Obrcich about eighteen months, had seen him every
day ana dId think his actions other Than those
of q man of rational mind. lie dld not lhilk lHit
the prisoner was insane. Referee Buck interrupted
and raiI that he thought the case had taken up
too much time already, and he was rot disposed 10
accept any iTeievdnI testimony. The prisoner was
tneD questioned III relation u his actions Wnlie III
the Ludlow street JaIl and as 10 his assault upon 4
man named Cox. ODrcIght sand that ms VIE liau
called TO see Inn one day and he had offered her
something 10 eat, but as Cox was approprlatlhS 'e
entire table 10 his own uses, hc requested MN 10
move Cox called him names ana slId the char
- was good enough lpr her 10 eat irom' lie struck
Cox because he had been assaulted hrsi ana was as
surcd by the deputy warden thaV he hau hoV pceh
to blame. II
Dr.J. {. Hannah was the next witness called.
His testimony was substantially as lOuONS:
Hive AT No 324 second-ave., and examiner III
lunacy am expert. nave maze I4i'acy my espe-
cial sldy lOr number OF years, ana hdNc uealeu
arpc number # persons have been suffering from
mr utll diseases. IknOW ODIclSU ana nave cA"uiheu
him unc OcvOunS an hour ana nan 70 edch cAdi
NATION. At LuGOw7,t l examined Inn ciosely ana
thoroughly HIS writing was good a1d lio formation o
his firm. His tongue devaed only Tue sshlGb.
from the centre, his muscles were wen hLll'eu' uIe
nerves were steady and Tie pupils OF s eyes were nor
NAL lie evuccd no symptoms oi Insanity ana MS HI
table condition could Oe attributed to only one causc-ls
arrest His conversation was rational and ms powers oi
ton OF all The peIhs OF MS posIIoh WIS M i
greater difficulties were before ma 10 prove MS
innocence than any through which ne had ycl
passed. 1 questioned him Ill regard 10 his proposed
cxtensOH To Ills house. lie SAID that there was vacant
lot IN ne nciShbOrhOOd Of his saloon and that he III
tended to IT, and not build out III his back yard as
has stated In reference 10 his InurlaSe he SAD
that although hc had not been acquainted win ms VIE
very long previous 10 his marriage ho had inquired III
respect disposition ana character ahd hao learned
Olcc ls morning he is entirely ice from all lhys
Cal symptoms OF mental paIa!s or INSANITY. ne ha,
h,v made have concluded that he s not insane al the
,rs4nf time: ne may possibly have been the
uast but al present it 10 Impossible. lie has I'M
roycI IN health since his confinement because ne has
ad oulet am codcnt that II ne should DC permitted
10 have qulet IUr tIme nc would Dc cureu from us
nervousness.
In the cross-cxamination by Mr.. Fromme, Dr.
| Hannah SAID hc had noticed slight increase III
temperature IN the prisoner, but IL cOuId Dc at
tnOuted TO natural lie had testified as an
expert III the Costing case, ana was ready 10 sap
| port his testimony that case. Tie dld not tilIlk
1t possible that Dr. Macdonald, of the Wards Island
Insane Asy luln, could diagnose every case III tli'
Institution with the lImlted time lie had III his dis
| pOs,L
! The TefcTee-lf q man had been suffering from
1 mcidnchOla and denentia induced by mental pa
raysIs last year, Is asserted by the commitment
papers III this case what would DC his condition To-
day
| the most careless observer the man would appear
| hOpclessy insane.
| Dr. Nlilam ". Strcw was then sworn. He said
| nave made a spccal,y OF mental and nervous dis
eases for the last fifteen years. had enllIe charge
| fl- Blackwcl!'s Island Aty lum iOr two years
know DT MaCdOna a. but 40 bot regard MN hs an uh
imucachabie authority questions Oi Innacy exam
| ttcsi 400 patleuts Whc duty on thc Island l wa
cd tuTly years ago from inc University OF u'
Clft of York. have examine ObIclSi cdFeiuil)
and was present at his nrst examination. nave Occi
i'm ms claIiy long enough 10 form very decided Oph
ion az 10 uis sanity lie syIpiomF Oi INSANITY
lie had slight trclOr OF the eyes and ups AT thc lr
| examination, but 10 OcCasOncd WilhOut uOubt u!
tne position ia which ne placed Inc lact tlHit
man wished 10 open IA concert garden IN lilruatc c
/ 9ould not indicate an u1sOund mlNds ana thlhA hl
busness plals were eaA. feasible Lot Immediately
| prac dc.ile.
| Referee Buck declared the case closed, and re
| served his decision until Saturday. OOrelght wa
| taken back 10 the MddetOwn Asylum, where Ia
| Will rcmau pnIll TIC Case M IIIalIy disposed OIL