The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-22
A TRAIN WRECKER'S TRIAL.
The Exceedingly Valuable Expert Testimony
Touching the Prisoners Insanity.

caused considerable damage to passenger train
on the j., NJ & !. road on the Both of June last,
was before Judge Norton and a jury yesterday
for trial Mclaughlin has had a long stay in
Jail, and his manner there has been to support
the line of defense-alleged insanity When the
case was called the prosecution had but little
material testimony to offer, except McLaughlin's
written confession the night he was arrested to
Superintendent of Police Lang and Captain Col
BERT There were other witnesses to show the
prisoners disspated life, his loafersh habits and
shady reputation about Southport. where he
lived But the defense came on with a long
line Of testimony to prove that Mclaughlin Is of
unsound mind. The general drift of this brought
in statements that he had, without
cause, attempted suicide several times,
on two occasions had murderously at
tackled his mother. and on one threatened
the life of his sister. A Mr.. Hardesty, of South
port who has known the prisoner intimately for
two years. said year and half ago he noticed
a tendency in Mclaughlin to insanity. when
visited him in JAIL" said the witness, "he did
not know he was in Jail. He complained of his
head and kept handkerchief tied about it all
the time. At Southport the boys would joking
ly call him liar. to which he made the invaria-
BILE reply, oh, yes" Hardesty thought he
drank at times but, although he had intimately
known him for two years could not say that he
had ever seen him intoxicated or even take
drink Miss Mclaughlin offered testimony as
to her brother Johns freaks at home.
Since Aug 81 there has been in Jail here one
doc" Lisle, a United States prisoner, charged
with fraudulently obtaining pension money and
a W defense.
was brought to indianapolis from the Detroit
House of Correction, where he served eight
months and twenty days of a one-year sentence.
Previous to that Lisle mad been in trouble in
Louisville, KY, and also at Bowling Green, that
State, where he had his home. Lisle took con-
siderable interest in his fellow -prisoner, Nc
Laughln and when he first saw him remarked
to the Jail officials that there was something
wrong with the man. The Doctor told this in
his testimony, and regarded it as peculiar that
when at times he talked to Mclaughlin the lat
ter for few minutes would respond nationally,
but suddenly, and without any cause, he would
walk away. He could get no conversation orUe-
plies out of him until the "spell' of sulkiness or
moodiness passed away.
Once" said the Doctor. Mclaughlin came
to me and complained of his stomach. gave
him opium, and the next day, gave him more and
the next more l thought l had given him
enough, but he wanted me to continue the doses.
Three or four days after that let him have
another pellet of the drug He said he wished
he could get all the opium he wanted, and make an
end of his lfe told him he ought not to talk
or feel that way Why said Mclaughlin, if it
was not for my mother would jump from this
gallery to the floor below, and break every bone
in my body"
After this statement Attorney McCray passed
his witness to Prosecutor Harding, who
asked: Doctor, where did you get all that
opuml"
ut was mine; purchased it. but where can't
remember. Did l not do so Mr. Sheriff. This
was to Jailor Long. who answered afirmatively.
You use opiuml" asked the prosecutor.
eyes. On account of old wound"
Nov. Doctor how long have you practicedT
Since 1852 I graduated at Nashville Tenn,
and for many years practiced at Bowling Green,
KY" The witness then went back to defendants
attorney who read a hypothetical case of young
man twenty three years of age, borrowing gun
and changing his clothes under the delusion he
was going forth to protect the town from bad
characters This young man then went to a
neighbor and told him what he intended to do.
At the same time he took, without this
neighbours consent gun and suit of clothes.
Leaving the place, he returned in three hours,
saying he believed there was wreck on the
road. when, in the morning. he had told boy
that he intended for fun to throw a train off the
track. After all this the young man is arrested.
and confesses to wreckng the train. Doctor"
asked the attorney, would you consider man
like this sane or insaneW
The prosecuting attorney objected because
there was nothing to give DOC" Llsle standing
as an expert in insanity cases; but the Doctor say
ing he had had some experience with diseases of
the mind, was allowed to answer the question,
when, after assuming an air of reflection for
two or three minutes he said II would consider
him insane"
The prosecuting attorney took him in hand to
ascertain the depth of his medical knowledge.
He did not know the formation of the brain OF
how to characterize the mental trouble Of his
sister-in-law whom he treated.
Doctor" asked the prosecutor, will you tell
me the coatings of the stomach2'
About this time the witness became hard of
hearing, and the questions had to be repeated
Then he tried evasion, but finally said "My
stomach needs new coating"
Doctor" said Judge Norton. ''this is no place
for fun. / have had enough of it. Mend your
ways"
''You can't do anything more than send me to
Jail, and am going there anyhow"
You will 60 there under circumstances you
won't relish if have any more of your impu
dence," said the Judge.
Lisle sought release from further medical ques-
tions by declining to answer anything concern
ing muscles of the back. coatings of the stomach
and so on, when Judge Norton said: IF you
know anything about the human body or medi-
cine. answer these questions. That is what you
are here for" This brought no medical knowl-
edge out of the witness, when the Judge peremp-
torily ordered him back to jail The case will be
resumed this morning
Attempted Highway Robbery.
Yesterday afternoon Charles FL. Harris, of
Brightwood, was waylaid by two men near his