New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-29
Is CARPENTER INSANE?
HIS DEFENCE on THE CHARGE OF MURDER.
STRANGE CONDUCT on TIE PART OF THE PRISONER
TESTIMONY OF PHYSICIANS


TESTIMONY or PHYSICIANS
Recorder Smyth and jury listened yesterday
To additional testimony in regard to John Carpenter "ho
is on trial for killing his wife on Nay 90. The evidence
already given showed that the prisoner had threatened
many times IN the lat ten years to Kill DIS N'e'
and that he at last accomplished MS purpose
by stabbing her repeatedly with sh"PohF"
shoomakers knife. Policeman Charles J. shHW' Oh .-9
Eighteenth Precinct testified yesterday TO seeing MIS-
Carpentcr'- body ia sweeDy- liquor store az lurn'e
and Twenty -siztlst the afternoon OF the iD'u'''
lie had the body removed the Morgue. Dr. Aess1Alsr
received the body and examined the wounds
e : Blake. Of Kneiss Il Blake, Car enters counsel
opened the for the prisoner lie outlined ueehoe
insanity. lie said that Carpenter had been fireman
for many years and in the discharge OF ms
duties had received blows the heal that
had unsettled his reason. The prisoner believed that
his wife had been unfathful. and by constant boodng
came To have an insane dislike 10 her Inc
counsel called his first witness Mrs Anna Kastoh the
sister OF Carpenters first wife She had known Carpenter
for thirty years, since the daJc Of his INST malraz
The witness had known Of a blow with fire trnIn-
net received by Carpenter many years ago me
prisoner she said. was subject to " tantlums,' ana
was then uncontro,ably violent. II was impossible Tor
him 10 tell story clearly He was frequently under de-
usons declaring times that the house was on IRE
Carpenter the witness said, not IN the hablt OIL ne
couling intoxicated.
Two OF Carpenters Sons by his hrst wire McLc S'-''
IA witnesses IN his behalf. John Carpenter IT, age
fycnt,slx i, bartender He testified many strange
acts on his fathers part On some occasions nc had
seen his father 60 into the street in an almost hsh'l
state. The prisoner had many deluson- that the ""
was compelled to leave home for fear he wonn pe
Injured IL had consulted with - aunt ~ to having
his father committed to lunatic u, but she s II
was unnecessary az he-woud do no HARM
James r. Carpenter another OF the prisoners sons yes
titled rs TO some of his fathers strange acts He SAID
Al one time father got excited and ran ont into the
street with only his shirt lie broke up lot
OF the furniture once and threw some OF 1t out
Of the window. He frequently did not seem to know
what he was doing He struck me os the head WITH .
stick and when spoke u him about 1t he lehed H.
remember that at one time he Dtou-ht honr q
then put il in redhot oven. and then
did not seem tn know ANYTHING about H. ! ha,1
father stay with me Tor time erter ne vas seu
nom prison Tie would Frequently walk about the room
AZ night and forget about il the morning. re acted
went ont for an officer inc next day had to ask him to
Thomas Carpenter. the prisoner uncle. wa. called 70
testify strange actOnt on the p"rt OF the pr0ef ana
Thrty-eightn-st, who visited Carpenter In MS cell
IN the Tombs testified, as the result OF an IN
terv1ew Of an hour and a bsit MAJ CNPe ii
wac suffering from melanchcia and maniacal d1iu-
-ion- The witness N one part OF his testimony sra
10 look in direction. asked him what &c was lOo1 u
AZ a horse sad ne. .'Aeu Nm ~ HEi bir, Io
horse, aud he SAID II Wa uI Jay Color d'Acl III" "
show Just where il was AMI h took me over 10 me
wal % bis cell aud Outlined the features OF y HoI g
asked him how old the horse He said lac 'ould teil
the teeth. h. looked and SAID the horse was egAl
ears old asked him 20 look ~ the tectI on .e Ohcr
side after gazing FOR minute he sala tat the le
the other side the s1Ine. he sl Ia answer 10
NY questions the horse harneSsed 20 carr az
stood on RlyingtOn-st. lie had otner decisions lie u1
not appear ~ be slmuating
Or. Moore thought thai the prisoners evident mum
10 his tate SIN ui INSANITY III -,
co-roboratad the testimony o. Or. Moore Tie counsel
for the defence put Hypothetical gu-io 70 the
medical witnesses. reciilns tIe IAca Wh!cA tue
attempted show and suc state OF iactS me " T
ues. mon ht that the person described Insane. lie
Lal will be continued tomorrow.