The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-06-29

to keep all weapons, clubs and such
things out of his sight, merely as pre-
eautiOnary measure; l feared he would
become permanent epileptle.
DR.. Henry MeHenry, of Napoleon, was
called. Have practiced medicine for
thirty-four years; did not know defend
ant until came here; have watched him
closely for the last four days; think all
the symptoms of defendant are or an
epileptic character; have had great
deal of experience with epileptics; cpl
lepsy affects different people in differ
ent Ways-sOme are morose, some full
of leyity, and some violent before they
are finally seized; paroxysm preeedes
an attack; will generally fall when
seizure comes on fully, will cry out un-
naturally at the outset OF a spaSm; res
piratiOn is first exceedingly stertOrOus;
ewes have an unnatural motion, pupils
dilated, teeth are ground. Witness then
explained the difference between tonic
OF rigid and plOnic or cOnYuls1Ye spasms.
They are usually followed either by de-
lirium or profound sleep; character OF
delirium varies in different tempera-
ments-may last for hours or three or
four days; patients have disposition to
destroy themselves or their dear friends;
are generally unconscious. Spasms may
come on when persons are predlspOsed
without exciting cause, but are gener-
ally produced by an exciting cause;
OVertaxing of the mind or mental pur-
suits, sudden mental emotion such as
disappointment, joy, sorrow, or fear or
such exciting causes as may produce
SpaSmS.
The prisoner at this point was seized
with another spasm. Though he had
been in court but about one hour and
was so weak as to require help to get to
his place. he sprang up almost as stout
as usual in a spasm, and pointing to
Judge Seney of the prosecution, he said:
"That's the Judge-yOu see-you see-he
said he would fix my paperS-yOu see"
The Sheriff took hold of the prisoner
and pushed him back in the seat, but
Madder continued to struggle and ex-
claim: "YOu see-PhOebe was a good
girl-dO what's right-yOu see--that's
the Judge-you see." with aid, the
Sheriff removed Madder to the petit
iury room, adjoining the trial room.
Eleven physicians went out to see him.
Mother Madder rushed through the
crowd toward her son, moaning, crying
and wringing her hands, but was taken
in charge and removed from the court
room.
When order was restored, witness pro-
ceeGed, saying epileptic seizures might
be unaccOmpanied by spasms; dyspepsia
might and often does produce epilepsy;
of defendant, nervo-bil-
liOus, appears to me as man mentally
destroyed.
DISCRIMINATION all the tes-
timOny; the shooting itself is irresistible
evidence to me that defendant was labor
ing under an epileptic fit; l base my
opinion on his being a confirmed epilep
tic, and the mental wreck now see him
TO be; know of his fits from testimony
Of witnesses, especially of that of DIR.
Reed; think his cOndnct on the evening
Of the 3rd of November last indicative
Of a coming fit. My observations are
that epileptics are unfit to attend to
their business, and are always danger
Dus when the fit is approaching. Do not |
consider the defendant responsible Ordi- |
narily. 1t would be difficult to hold an |
apileptic responsible for anything he
might do. The meeting of the lady un-
Ter the circumstances was sufficient to
produce fit. The failure to kill his
victim the evening before only indi-
Gates that defendant was strong enough
to overcome the epileptic tendency to
destruction. Never heard of an ire
5pOnsible man neTving himself up to
the commission of crime by the use of
Such a course would Ordi-
narily indicate responsibility.
In answer, Judge Pillars said he would
most assuredly say defendant was suffer-
ing from epilepsy.
After particularly cautiOning the
jury, court adjourned until 1870 p. m.
on Monday. At that hour, II NJ, Mad
der was still in the petit jury room in
the care of physicians, ana had reached
his ecstatic state. This was the third
fit he has had since the beginning of his
trial.