Morning journal and courier., 1886-10-29
THE FAMOUS WILL CASE

Approaching the End-The ConeIud-
ing Evidence Attorney Dewitt
Makes the Opening Arguments for
the Appellees.
At the opening of theE Superior court yes
terday morning the reading of dispositions
was resumed and occupied the attention of
the court most of the forenoon.
DR.. Stearns OF the Hartford retreat said yes
terday morning that nearly every one had hob
bies which they rode long and fast. If Miss
Welton had hobby regarding animals. her
mind would at last give way along this line,
presuming upon her insanity
DR.. Charles A. Lindsey testified in sub
stance as follows: "Have practiced as ply
stefan in this city for thirty-two years, and
for many years have been professor in the
Yale Medical college. Insane persons make
free communication of their fears about pois-
on. They usually form ideas that persons
are in league against them. The more fixed
delusion becomes, the more it is difficult
to conceal it. Patients suffering with
chronic melancholia, their delu-
sions would attract attention.
Attempts at suicide are frequent by persons
suffering from melancholia and decisions.
An hallucination is a belief in thing that
does not exist; they are inventions of the
mind growing out of morbid conditions of
the mind. A patient of refined tastes who
diminished the number of her associates
and who kept secluded in her room, these
conditions would not be necessary evil
dences of insanity. Hysteria is disorder of
the health pertaining mostly to the nervous
system, occasions when the emotions are
easily and strongly excited and the powers
of the will are impaired and are unable to
control the emotions. There are periods of
violent commissions. A person laboring under
these motions which he cannot control often
makes absurd statements and state
ments which they don't believe themselves.
From the facts in this case, between 1878
and 1880, I should not believe that they in
dictated the testator to be person of I'M
sound mind. There are cases where straw
berries affect some people very unpleasantly
often affecting their digestion"
Mr.. Doolittle then read extracts from
treatise by DR.. Hammond, referring to per-
sons who had shut themselves up in their
houses away from mankind, and then made a
will giving property for the benefit of home
less dogs. Such conditions would not indi-
cate insanity, and DR.. Lindsey agreed with
the treatise.
By Mr.. Doolittle-"Do you believe that
this testator was insane at any time previous
to her death 90
Mr.. Webster-We object. That is ques-
ton for the jury to determine.
Cfo5s examination Dy MI dalsey-No tTo
insane persons exactly alike. Persons
with intellectual insane decisions will act up
on them as if they were real. Persons of
strong character are less likely to be actuated
by hysteria than other persons. A lady spf-
fering from hysteria would not always show
a lack of self-control or self-possession.
Numerous questions were propounded to
witness by the lawyers present. DR.. Linds
ley remained on the stand nearly an hour
and at the close of his testimony Mr.. Doolit-
tie said that the appellees would rest.
Mr.. Dewitt commenced the opening argu-
ment for the appellees about half past three
O'Clock and occupied the time of the court
until the hour of adjournment. The argu-
ments will probably be concluded to-day.