The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-08-27
JASON HOLLANDS CASE
The Jury Hear More testimony.
Chestnut Hill NeighbOrhO0d Aroused i.
SYMPATHY FOR JASON.
Finy-Eight Witnesses Tx amincd.
THE JURY DECLARE HOLLAND INSANE

III Nbl VI IlpiGul W tuc HOSpllHl dilOlucT pclI-
ton has been signed by a large number of his
neighbors and sworn TO before Justice
Wilson, of Forest Hil alleging that in the belief
sufficiently to make him incapable of taking care
of himself or his property, and that he is not
dangerous in the neighborhood. Upon this petit
ton, Judge Waters ordered a rehearing of the
case. The jury consisted Of John II. Fisher A.
A. Carroll, L. l.. Sawyer, John A. Young j. VIM.
Magness Allen Hoffman, Peter e. Carroll, Jas
II. Trunde, Jas. X. Hamilton, James c. Young,
Elijah Kirk, Joseph r. Blteman, William II.
Kennedy, Joha PRICE, William d. Harryman
and A. steele. Geo. L. VauBibber and VIM
H. Harlan appeared for the petitioners and
States Attorney Maynadier and VIM Young for
the State.
The case has excited considerable interest in
the neighborhood of Chestnut Hill, where Hol-
land lived. About thirty witnesses were sum-
moned by the State and larger number for the
petitioners Nearly all Of the witnesses examin-
cd testified that Hollands peculiar form of insani-
ty led him to imagine that everybody who gave
him food was trying to poison him in order to get
his property; that he saw visions of his dead
brothers and sisters and that his brother Oliver
was not his brother, the real Oliver being dead
and the present one a substitute who
wished to get his property. On other subjects he
would at times talk nationally, but would wander
to his insane ideas very soon. His mind was
demented Oh the subject Of poison and visions
before he entered the army, in which he served
during the war; and he seemed in no wise i'm
proved mentally upon his return to Hartford
when the war closed. Holland owns little farm
of 25 rs acres, ~ acres of which are clear
ed, and cultivated by him. His dwelling con-
sists Of board shanty, five or six feet high in
front and four feet high in the rear. He is car
penter by trade.
Mr.. Thomas Poole testified that Holland, i'm
aginng he was poisoned, would take large doses
of medicine, which made him sick and he would
then attribute his sickness to the poison. Once
he bought u hog from Thomas Harkins, cured the
meat with bushel and a-half of salt and then
would not eat 1t. declaring it was poisoned. He
hanged 1t in q tree, where some of it's yet. Wit
nessess family were afraid of Holland. Fl c did
not consider Holland a man OF sound mind.
Howard Poole testified to having caught Hol-
land milking his fathers COWS. Had heard him
use threatening and insulting language concern
ing certain ladies in the neighborhood, and
thought he was of unsound mind. Had heard men
as well as women say they were afraid of him.
lie look care or his property and might be called
economical.
Jas. Il. johnson also told of Hollands vagaries
concerning poison, which he called "shoo fly"
but never heard him make threats. He caught
him milking his COWS. He regarded Holland as
insane, to certain extent, but he had sense
enough to know he was doing wrong by milking
his neighborS' cows Witness told him to stay
away from his place and he has not missed any
milk since. Witness was not afraid of MIN but
his wife had more or less dread of Holland. In
Hollands state of mind IL was impossible to tell
what nc might do If made angry. Holland was
for MIR. Charles ltlgdon. Being invited to break
fast Or dinner he said he was not well and asked
for some camphor, He told witness he ate piece
as large as II hulled walnut. Then he ate heartily
of food, but upon getting up from the table said
he was poisoned, rushed into the store, and going
to the egg-box ate a number of raw eggs. Then
he ran to Il nglRnDOrS SDrlDp house and drank
quantity of milk and finished his performance
by eating a quantity Of salt. A day or two after
wards, at the store, MIR. Phillips said something
to Holland about the occurrence, when the lat
ter picked up the end of a cart tongue and was
interfered, when Holland turned upon him. but
he got out of the way. Mr.. johnson said he would
not consider 1t safe to leave Holland at his house
during his absence.
Mrs Thos. Poole testified that she was afraid
of Holland and uneasy about her children when
they were at work near Hollands house. When
her husband was away she kept all the doors ex-
cept one locked. She regarded him of unsound
mind.
90 years. lie was bad enough when she first
knew him, but worse now. She was afraid of
him for time but had seen little of him for the
last year or two. Something ought to be done
with him.
S. W. Harkins said that Holland worked for
him in 1857. His mind was then Eighty about as
it is now. He had the same notions about poison
and visions then. Since the war he used to come
to witness house, but at the table would never
of it. He would go without food for day or
two, and when he had an opportunity to get a
good meal would gorge himself, get sick and
imagine he was poisoned. His family not
afraid OF Holland. Witness considered him
harmless and did not think he should be confined.
Holland Is cousin of witness.
DIR. L. 7. Smithson had heard Holland talk and
thought he was deranged. AT his age without
treatment he would get worse, and was not like
ly to recover his mind with treatment. He did
not consider him dangerous
Hon. stevenson Arcner's recollection OF Hol-
land ed back to 1867. He was insane on three
subjects, namely. in regard to his brothers and
sisters. visions and poison. On business matters
he was sane. He was only violent towards his
brother Oliver. He brought imaginary claims
against different persons. Anything out of the
ordinary course with him might bring on unusual
excitement; Mr.; Archer did not consider it ne
cessary that he should be confined. He was cap
able of attending TO business.
Jas. o. Grafton regarded Holland insane, to
certain extent He was shrewd in business mat
tiers.
James Poole thought Holland deranged. His
wife is afraid of him.
Caleb J. Moore did not regard him as of sound
mind. He Is shrewd in business and accurate in
his accounts.
B. f. Toy regarded Holland as a crank-one
Daniel Whitson said Holland worked for him
before he went into the army. He was always
the army. Considered him harmless and did not
think the state of his mind such as to make it ne
cessary to confine him.
Frank Grafton related instances of Hollands
insanity on the subject of poisoned food but said
he had as much sense some times as anybody
He always thought Holland put on more than
was there. Once caught him in the meadow with
his COWS, with bucket hid under his coat. He
slapped his Jaws and made him get over the
fence: Afterwards he saw him taking potatoes
out OF Mr.; Thos Pooles potato patch. He did
not consider him crazy enough to be confined.
for 10 or 10 years. He was cranky then and worse
when he brought him to Bel Air. He gave no
trouble and made no threats.
Henry England believed Holland to be OF I'M
sound mind, to certain extent He accused per-
sons OF putting poison in his food but on other
subjects he talked reasonably and sensibly. Wit
ness felt relieved now that Holland has been re-
moved. He did not consider him dangerous.
Never heard of any harm he had done except
milking cows, but don't know. what he might do.
Witness did not think he ought to be confined
done.
The court adjourned until Tuesday.
On reassembng. Tuesday morning, Wesley
Phillips told of the attempted assault upon him
atChestnut Hill, by Holland He said he was
not afraid of Holland.
Dr. James NJ. Magraw gave his opinion from
the summary OF evidence as stated to him, that
would not consider his mental condition benefit
ed by putting him in an insane asylum.
M, M,s so Jas roois sad no person OF good com,
fifteen minutes and believe he was of good sound
mind. When alone and unprotected she was
afraid of him, particularly on Sundays. She
would not want to stay at her house "a hours long
CIR If he came back. Cora Delevett told her that
her father, James Delevett, was so much afraid
to go to neighbours unless he went to meet them
or they took a dog along.
Sheriff Carman testified that while taking him
to Spring Grove Holland said to him he wasn't
right; that the doctors had been giving him medi-
cine for poison.
+. w. Baker had known Holland since 1866 or
1867; when he first conversed with him he
thought his mind disordered, and subsequent con-
versations had deepened that impression. Never
saw him violent or heard him make threats.
Geo. l.. VanBibber said that while Hollands
mind is dsordered, particularly about his brother
Oliver, he never showed any violence, except
once. when he met Oliver in witnesses Office
Jason refused to reco4 nize Oliver as his brother
and some words passed between them, when
Jason picked up stick of wood to strike his
brother, but the latter, upon the advice OF Mr..
Archer, went out.
E. s. Holland, a second cousin of Jason, testi-
fed that Jason frequently worked for him and
was good hand. Jason has nice little place,
with comfortable house. Except upon poison,
his brother and visions, he was sensible. Never
heard him make threats and he was not danger
GUS. There was no occasion for his confinement
J: Hamilton Barrow said he had seen and talked