The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-10-28

~ CNSCpUO hO VI ooh P~PSAof nv
dunn. I was gratifed TO see in its last issue
O strong editorial on the right OF newspapers
to try a man before he has had his hearing IN
court.
erous array Of attorneys for the State as un.
precedented, and enQuired into the reason OF
this depression. After exhorting. the jnry to
brace themselves against the eloquence OF
States counsels and the power of the press,
All we nsk is for you to give lis an impartial
hearing. AS God is my, witness we are SIN
u~nsoundness of mind Is always viewed with
q suspicious eye by the public, you have no
alternative but to listen to 1t: II the gravity
of this case should admonish you to be pa
We do not contend that John Ferguson ever
was or Ia even now q lunatic or insane being,
but nj the time of the homicide his mind was
e n in its destructive force by long continued
and habitual drinking that his reason was
dethroned and John was unconscious n
therefore Irresponsible or the CRIME ne
either sufficient to dethrone the reason n
render the mind %unsound. How long do you
suppose ones mind can last If both these
loathsome diseases operate at oneef
of epilepsy, It's divisions, symptoms, predls-
posing causes, &C.
The only source of accurate information
we have IS from tho medical books on this
subject. No doctor who has testified on the
stand with his practice confined to an area
of ten miles square in some country district,
will pretend to have had the experience and
sent to you this morning through their
works. Our doctors, for whose intelligence
1 have the highest regard, may. do very we'll
in cases of ordinary sickness. but when you
come to nervous diseases.--a branch of the
medical science upon which, DR.. Waddell
says, Notwithstanding the great strides which
has lately been made the medical profession
Is only on the threshold of truth and certain,
ty-for my part give me the opinion and
practice Of a man Of experience. The State,
we judge, will say, because none OF the doc
iors who testified could give Us their exper-
thing as epilepsy in o mild type and John is
not subject to the disease In any shape or
form. But gentlemen, If you are willing to
accept the words OF such men as Hamilton,
others-men who have made this disease q
speciality, who have devoted their lives, tai
ents, their all to revealing the hidden truths
of the mysterious diseases Of the nervous
men who are recognized as authority by their
own professionalism, gentleman, IN the face
OF such testimony as you, you can't soy John
was not subject to epilepsy, and being once
disastrous effects on the mind. O~rdroneaux
says an epileptlc lives always upon the bor-
der of insanity, and that there are numerous
tacks Without attracting the attention of by
standers, continuing on in the occupation
they were persulng when taken, acting to all
intents and purposes as q sane ana conscious
being, although to talk unconscious OF what
lMr, Smith then reviews at length the ev-
idence Of the case and c~ontinues.]
Now gentlemen you are to decide what were
these strange spells. They can't be vertigo,
can'tlive undo On attack. over four or nve
minutes, and the testimony shows that Johns
strange attacks lasted sometimes three or
four hours. We though are willing for you to
say vertigo for some, and il vertigo does not
satisfy you as to all the attacks, say as the
State urges, sunstroke or even minting at
tacks, call them what you may, they are on
Don't understand US to say that every time
o person has an attack OF sunstroke, vertigo
or fuinting attacks, he is necessarily an ep.
ileptic, Oh no; but we do say thatJohp could
not be subject to all them without 1t having
some reference to a disease lying within, and
that disease according to authorities, Is ep-
llegsy; ,ot,,o .,t,or,t,o. 81, ooree
that In cases of mild epilepsy or epileptoid
seizures, the mind suffers more tmpairment
than in grand NAL. Also that epileptoid
seizures often only exhibit themselves IN
crime, there being no other form or the 1T,
call aborted. He then reviews the facts OF the
homicide. Were they the acts OF a sare ma.
licious mind. but of one unconscious OF
what ne was QOlQg ne Iueu ulScuSSeu Glie
subject of alcoholism in the form Of dipso-
mania, and also as an incitive cause for ep-
ilepsy. Voluntary intoxication docs not ex
cuse, but when one reaches the state OF O
dipsomania by long continued and excessive
drinking, he is an irresponsible being.l
In conclusion he said:
I have ]trcspassed upon your time now long
er han I expected. You will soon retire into
the room to decide upon this solemn crime.
Shall Ferguson be set free and allowed to re-
turn to the bosom of his family where ne will
he welcomed as the prOdigal son /? TIL terri
bic ordeal through which he has passed, the
aching heart and burning anxiety OF his wife
and mother will all be forgotten. All! q
bright picture can one paint here, but there
is another side-shall L mention It? Instead
OF 10y there will be misery and VICE.. misfor-
tune and disgrace will bow to the dust the
gray heads OF the venerable parents. The
wife yesterday a bride, so young, happy and
loved one, and sees In the future which was
SO bright With hope; nothing but despair n
sSrroW; no %! gent LIE, en- t t%e fst Q st 90 III