Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-10-22
THE INSANITY DODGE.
Rx.BOodIe Alderman McCabs Prefers
an Asylum TO Sing Sing.
An Old Trick.
By Beine morose He Obtains the Testi-
moDy Of Doctors tbnt He Ia
Not Of sound Mind.

NEW YORK, Oct. 21 .--Ex. Doodle Alder
man McCabe was arraigned to-day in the
court Of general sessions. A large crowd
Of interested spectators were in the
court, and the corridors leading 10 the
court were thronged with people unable
TO gain admission. McCabe sat with his
wife and counsel in front OF the bar. He
looked pale and careworn When Judge
Cowing took his seat the district attorney
called McCabe's case. His counsel asked
for an adjournment in order that the as
sociate counsel, who was arguing case
in another court, might be present.
Shortly after this the associate counsel,
WilliamT. Howe, made his appearance
in court and submitted the following efii-
daylt by DR.. Hammond, late surgeon
general of the army, and recognized
authority on mental disorder. IL reads :
MOI WEST FIFTY FOURTH STREET,
NEW YORK, oct IA
This afternoon made personal exam
nation of +. McCabe, confined in
Ludlow street jail, and tnd
he is In mental condition approaching
insanity. His mind Is wandering, and 1t
appears TO be difficult for him to collect
his ideas so as TO give prompt and CO.
herent answers to simple questions. His
memory Is defective In regard to the
names of persons whom he knows ia
military. Not that he actually forgets
them, but he is obliged TO hest
tate for some time before they
come to his recollections In re-
gard 10 events of recent date
there is the same difficulty. He sits
quietly, as learned from his wife and
keeper, all day without saying q word
unless spoken to, aud during the visit Of
nearly an hour, he made no remark unless
drew II ont by questions. He appeared
to have no clear perception Of his situa-
ton. OF course most OF these morbid
appearances might have been assumed,
but there were two of decisive
importance altogether beyond his con-
troll. His right pupil is larger than the
other, and there is a muscular tWitching
Of the tongue. What / have observed,
taken In connection with accounts of him
given by persons who have long known
him, and the fact of his having received
some four or five years since a severe in
Jury Of the skull, leads me to the conclu-
zion that there is reasonable
ground to suspect the existence
OF incipient insanity. II he
is not deceiying me, he is
undoubtedly of an unsound mind. II he
were an ordinary patient, with no induce
ment to assume insanity, ! should I'M
hesisatlngly pronounce him a lunatic.
Under the circumstances | can say no
more than is contained In the foregoing
statement. With further opportunity
to examine MIN / think a definite opinion
could be given.
Signed, VIM. A. HAMMOND.
petition from Mary Il. McCabe, the
defendants wife, was also read,
praying the court to APP
point commission to inquire
into her husbands sanity.
DR.. W, II. Hall, in an affidavit, said
that in 1882 McCabe was thrown from
his carriage and received an injury on the
head, from which it was doubtful If he
ever recovered. Another affidavit from
G. j Farray said McCabe had acted like
an insane person for the last
four years, and Judge Cowing
announced that he would have
jury impanueled to try the question of
McCabe's mental condition. District At.
torneyMartine was not prepared to proceed
at once, desiring an opportunity to have the
defendant examined by Doctors Il. Mac
Donald and Allen Mclean Hamilton.
The defendants counsel agreed to be In
readiness on one days notice.