The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-01-23
JOhnStOwn.P Pa.

with the idea of insanity advanced
if during the day and up to the mo-
ment of the killing there was no
manifestation of unsoundness of
mind. After killing Dukes Mutt
asked to be taken to Jail. Basing my
answer upon the hypothetical ques-
tion | would say the act was that OF
an insane mind"
DR.. Ewing, practicing physician
for eighteen years and an attendant
at the Dixmont Insane Asylum, an
swered the hypothetical question by
saying: The probabilities are
strongly in favor Of unsoundness OF
mind at the time the act was com,
nitted. a predisposition to insani-
ty being presented, | would say that
an overt act was the outgrowth of
it"
Mr.. DAILY, a physician of twenty
years experience, said he was not
much of a believer in inherited in.
sanity, although he believed it did
exist. Assuming the hypothetical
case to be true, there is, he said, a
strong probability that the killing
was the result of an insane impulse.
DIR. Wylie, Of the Dixmont Assy-
lum, said that in his opinion, when
James Mutt fired the shot he was
laboring under an irresistible i'm
pnlse.
DR. Riggs, who had handled many
cases Of mental disease during his
career, consider James Mutt of un-
sound mind at the time he commit
ted the act.
DR.. Smith Fuller heard the hy-
pothetical question and gave the
opinion that Mutt was laboring un-
der q delusion or was mohamaniac;
that he felt compelled to take the
life of Dukes. Il think" said he.
that James had made up his mind
to take Dukes life. The murder of
his father and the traducine of his
sister had created this desire until it
had become a dominant desire with
him. He was crafty and all ma
MACS are crafty. His condition was
due to an hereditary taint. The act
sprang from the mania that was pos
sessing him atthe time and not from
the opportunity. | have no doubt
that ne designed and contemplated
the killing of Dukes for a long time. -
The court adjourned.
THE DEFENSE ALL IN.
PITTsBURG, January 1S.-This
morning Was the most exciting and
dramatic period in the Mutt trial.
The testimony of the various ex-
Derts was crisp and very definite.
and the testimony in each instance
as the hypothetical case was given to
the witnessing physician that James
Mutt was insane when he shot Dukes
had a very visible effect, not only
on the jury, but the audience. A
portentous hum preceded the offer
ing of the three fatal letters in evi-
iencs by the defense. The yellow
and much-fngered documents Law in
the hands of Counselor Playford
with a mysterious, we-inspiring
look.
Mr.. Playford, with the documents
in hand, squared himself before the
twelve, ana in slow, distinct accents
proceeded to unfold the mysteries of
the pages he held. As Dukes first
letter was read, with its hideous
charges aud vile criminal suggestions
the expression of the Jurors changed |
rom cuslosity to indignation. As
cool, cold, heartless sentence after
sentence dropped from Playford's
lips all faces wore an anxious look
Of Indignation and disgust. while |
none stirred. 1t was like digeins
the bones Of dead men from their
graves and Haunting their rotten |
ia the face ofthe living |
The evidence presented by the
prosecution in rebuttal had exactly !
the opposite effect of what was in
tended. The witnesses could not
have been examined in advance for
with one accord they testified to va
rlous peculIarities of young Mutt
His counsel rubbed their hand.
yleefully as one after another of the |,
commemorative standbys strength
ened the theory of irresponsibility
Mutt smiled broadly and frequently
The spectators laughed outright /
and Judge Stowe covered his face
With his hands a number of times
n suspicious manner.
Mr.. Brown then arose and address
ed the court, saying that letters
would now be read of a character
improper for ladies to hear. and
asked that the ladies retire. An in
eryal was given for thai purpose
Inc letters that have given the
Dukes-Nutt case such fearful promi,
,ence were then produced by the
license. Senator Voorhees, spoke toI
ne Court and then called James I'D
md be was led from the court room
being evident that be could pet
,tand the reading of the documents
The letters We're then read.
READY FOR THE SPEECHES.
interesting as the Mutt trial ha
been from its inception, the scene