The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-02

OF this sort by saying Some shorthand men
wrote better than others. Witness had |
mastered Pitman's system, but sometimes
could not read his own notes.
Gen. Luke L. Wright testified to pris-
oner's peculiarities when in witness en-
ployment. Prisoner once complained to
witness OF the latter's little boy laughi' 6
at him for fighting the spirits. Prisoner
was employed by Gen. Wright for several
months. His manner was so uncanny
that witness regarded him as an unbal
anced man who might do something eX-
travagant, and feeling apprchensive about
him, suggested TO his partner that Lane be
discharged which was done.
Cross-examined was five years ago.
Had seen him several times since then.
Witness in dscharging Lane thought he
was man of diseased mind Had formed
no opinion as to his ability to distinguish
right from wrong.
BY Juror Keating-A merely nervous
man would not cause witness apprehen-
sion. Was apprehensive OF Lane and
regarded him as characterized by mental
instruction that might take an extrava-
CANT course.
Capt. Pat lIackett was at the station
when Lane was brought He told witness
W
asked him why he picked out that particu-
lar man. Prisoner said because he wasn't
looking at him. Witness asked him what
difference that made. He answered that
ii the deceased had been looking at him
he might have seen him and taken his
pistol away from him. Prisoner said he
had made up his mind TO kill man but
did not come to the point OF carrying out
his intention until he reached the Pea
body.
j. @. Cooper, porter and collector for
five years for Minter Parker, testified TO
Lanes crazy actions while fellow en-
ploye of witness. frequently heard
prisoner speaking OF the spirits Told Wit
ness the spirits were continually after him
and troubling him. Prisoner once put an
open knife at witnesses breast, and when
called to account explained his action by
saying he was only playing. Witness al
ways watched hin closely. Did not think
Lane was in his right mind
Mr.. A. X. Woo;en saw Lane after the
| killing. Lane said he had to kill some
body. The spirits told him that night at
supper that he had TO kill man. lie
said he then went to his room, took two
pistols out OF his valiso and started out
with the determination to kill the first
man he met. lie walked down the street
and saw n man on the other side, but con-
cluded he was too far off 10 hit. lie
stopped in front OF grocery store aud had
nearly made up his mind to 90 in and kill
one Of the pr0prietors. lie said he had
one OF his pistols out when street car
came along, and the sudden thought struck
him that he would 20 down TO the
Peabody, where there was more light and
he would have better chance 10 accom-.
plish his purpose. llcsaid he shot Brown
because he was not looking at him. All
the other people there in the hotel were
watching him. Told witness he wished
he had killed somebody he knew;
said IL might have been witness
had he met witness Said ho had no
grudgc against deceased. When witness
told him Brown was dead. prisoner said
he hoped he was in heaven and he lane
was sure OF going there. Lane expressed
no fear OF standing trial Asked witness
what he thought would bc done with him.
Witness told him lac thought he would be
hung. Lane secuted this idea aud said hc
would get oil, as everybody in Memphis
knew he was crazy. Lane complained that
things were continually crawling into his
head and wouldn't leave him. Lanes
conversation with witness was perfectly
rational. lie did not appear in the slight
est degree nervous, and gave very intclli.
gent answers TO witncsH questions. saw
prisoner in jail next morning aud he said
lac would talk no more TO newspaper re-
porten Witness thought Lane had seen
his father previous 10 witness visit.
Mrs. Mary Ann Lane testified: The de
PENDANT * my son. Up 10 1888 lac was Q
bright young man. DIR. Sim treated hin
for sickness, and after the spell his ac,ion'
were very peculiar, especially In his talk
lie seemed TO be alarmed Us II some on,
was In ths room. lie would say that som,
, one was under the bed. lie locked ant
. holted the doors, and | thought he wa
suffering from deiirium Of fever. lie wa
} slecpless nearly all the time. lie was car
| ried TO CarrOllon, Miss. in September
} 1889, and stayed one week. lilo was n,
better when he returned than when b,
7 left. lilo complained continually OF hi
! | head, and said that spirits and snake
were after him. lie looked frightened al
q. the time. lie was bad of all the fall o
D 1883 and good portion OF the winter. an,
6 in fact has never been entirely well since
= lie was kept at home rs much a
= possible. lie insisted on playing in th
: lire, broke the crate several times
aud knocked the bricks out Of III
( chimney. lie said that the spirit
Il came down the chimney Hue. lie wen
4 up in the attic 10 run the spirits out. III
n cndcayorcd 20 draw all the water out {
the cisiern, and would beg the not 90 drin
.. the water, ~ II had snakes aud spirits i
4 IT, Prisoner talked to himself all the time
Il | The tint year Of his sickness he prayed
|. great deal, but quit praying and went
}. cursng. giving ~ his reason that ever
}. time he prayed the spirits knocked Inn
= lie would often speak ~ u be- was III
" equal oi God. lie was very offensive
Il the use OF obscene language aud unmin,
4 iul OF his person. Ito seemed TO DO IL
Il sensible to the changes oi heat aud cole
IL lie broke the fences down. beat on a tn
y in the yard and Knocked the i0undatio
h from one corner oi the kitchen trying
u kill the spirits At one time lac tried
H. nut his eyes out In order to keep lrol
e seeing the spirits. For six weeks bclUl
~ the homicide Lewis was ~ bad ~ ! ha
Ic ever seen him In 1855. lie would on
D. srop when absolutely exhausted, and il
~ appetite was irregular.
Joseph Jacques, Of ~. Louis, druu
Y. mer, "a commercial tourist" oil twcnty-tN
,g ycara' experience, was the first witnc,
h. Witness thought lac first saw lane at IN
NJ ton, Ky, In April, 1887. Witness ON OF
n. evening In April invited Mr.. Mac brow
NJ 10 take supper with him at Fleming
= Hotel. Was intimate with Brown. AhJl
u q O'Clock that night. after supper, witnc
lc started towritc in the hotel office Brow
WIS reading n paper. Heard some OF
r. siy, you arc a s. OF u b OF a liar
, l AZ A l..