Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-13

Knew the Spears, relative, Of the Arnold.
some OF them we're peculiar: one of then
sarah Spear. became insane. She is liyio
nov and Is an idiot Another member Z
the family is insane. Knew the brother an
sisters OF Lorenzo Pease; they we're pecu
hai- One Of them, James, was unidentified
ana one OF his sons, Edw ard, was idiotit
hnew the Arnolds- John was subject to it
ness.
;. Since Frank Pease went to Rockland hay
not seen much of him. Knew somethin
about his course of life, and some tire
years ago tried to have some conversation
win Nun. tut he would not talk.
Josephine Mccormack, nurse at the Cit,
hospital, testified that the prisoner as un
conscious when brought to the hospital, an,
.oat when ne became conscious SCENE,
troubled with pain in his head. On bein.
told his wife was dead he seemed sad and de
Jected; sighed aud moaned when no on,
was near him his ewes seemed queer, tn,
/ pupils being contracted. one more than tn,
| other.
Mrs Bridges was recalled. and testified
tnat Mrs. Pease did not go to the theatre ths
| hight before the shooting: that she did no
go to City Point, so far as she, the witness
knew.
Lorinda b. March testified that she reside.
IN Rockland. Me-. that Pease boarded at he,
mothers at different times for several wears
lie was at our house in the simmer of 1876
| he had wild look about the ives, said he
| thought he should be insane Directly after
his marriage he seemed more wild. Just be.
Tore he came to Boston last summer ! saw
MN; he acted strange: he spoke about his
having bad dreams, Of shooting, and other
such things.
Recess.
Edwin McAllister, at present constable and
former deputy sheriff of Rockland, Me-, testi.
ned Know Frank Pease very we'll: he lived
for seven months within % feet of my house
noticed at times that his eyes looked like
those OF scared cat observed his melancholy
and nervousness; have seen his hands, when
paying money, shake like those of an old
man never knew that he was in the habit OF
getting intoxicated.
Mrs. Sophronia Marsh of Rockland Me-.
testified: Frank Pease lived at my house two
years and half; he was always very boyish
and didn't seem at all like young man be-
| fore his marriage he was nervous and stupid
afterward he was very nervous and wild, and
| showed it in his eyes he left some money and
| bonds with me when he went to st. Johns
the last night he was at Rockland, before
gong to Boston, he came TO my house to get
a watch that belonged to him; did not re-
cognize him at first as he came up to the
! door. he had changed 40 much; he was verv
pale; he was white-a blue white.
MIR. j. ii. Flint. who had resided in Rock
land some As years, testified as to the singular
action of Pease when making purchases in
his store. He never, however. had bought
extravagantly and always paid cash for the
goods.
DR.. James II. Denney, formerly superin.
| tendent of the Hartford asylum, but at pres
ent residing at Newbury street, Boston,
was called as an expert by the defence. He
testified substantially as,follows Have had
two interviews with the prisoner, Frank
Pease, on the 9th and Sth of April; have
| carefully examined the conformation of his
head and cOnversed with him upon various
topics l have also listened very attentively
to the testimony Of the witnesses in this case
tending to show that the family blood was
tainted with insanity: OF course, il is for the
jury to decide upon the value Of this evidence,
but supposng it to he sustained, it is
in my mind strongly in favor of the
existence of hereditary faint of men,
tai unsoundness; it would seem that the
germs VI Insanity Hdu pdTtldlly ueNtlopeu OF
| both sides of the house; there may also be q
relation of cause and effect between the men
tai disturbances and the nervous and pulmon.
airy diseases, and especially what is called
consumption of the blood, which latter has
been spoken of as occasioning the death Of
the father and affecting the health of Other
members of family; there is evidence that
the prisoner and several of his blood rela
tives suffered from the species of insanity
known as melanchOlia; great unhappiness
and depression of spirits is an importan,
symptom of this form of mental disturbance
these manifestations of an unnatural state OF
the mind may vary at different times there
is often a suicidal tendency in melancholis
and homicidal disposition may be al
lied with this; assuming the facts which
have been testified to, such as insanity ir
the family, the absence of any intelligent
motive for the deed, and that the prisoner
was not intoxicated, am of the opinion tina
he was at the time of the murder of an I'M
solnd mind and in the common acceptance
of the term insane.
DR.. Denney was then subjected to a Ions
and most severe fire of cross-questions from
Attorney General Marston. He stated, il
reply to interrogations Not every person
with a melancholy appearance can be classet
as of unsound mind; other circumstance
must be considered in order to arrive at ar
opinion that is worth anything.
-"Is there any evidence of insanity in thu
fact that man deliberately barricades tn,
door of his bedroom with trunks and ther
shoots his wife?' was asked.
Possibly not, but the del.beration would
not disprove unsoundness. Insane peopl,
are often very careful and deliberate. Blu
the deed and the circumstances are not tn,
only things to be taken into confederation.
ain forming your opinion that the prisone
is insane, have you taken into account insan
ity in some of his ancestors
Il have" was the reply.
well, what One?"
ssHis own mother was one.
.sWhat was the trouble with her?"
"Nervous disorder and melancholia hav
been testified to-
Gould you say from the evidence that sh
was positively insane?"
"Well, hardly that, but form q genera
opinion that she was mentally unsound.'
.sWhat other Of his relatives do you tax
into account"
ellis father. He Was very eccentric
J "Can you call him insane any more tina
/ the mother?'
perhaps not, but he was exceedingly &c
centric. and a victim to melancholy.
, The government then introduced some ter
! timony in rebuttal.
Ex-senator Nathan A. Farwell testified