The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-30
A QUESTION OF SANITY
THAT is FIRST BEING DECIDED IN
THE LANE CASE.
A First Glass Jury, Whose Members
Have Nothing to Do With the oues-
ton of Defendants Guilt or lnno-
cence-Expert Testimony Begun.

question OF his mental equilibrium has
been raised TO shield him from the punish
:. ment prescribed for such crime, tho
court and jury will first pass upon that
Upon that verdict will depend future pro-
ceedings.
Tho State is represented by Attorney
general George u. Peters, Assistant At
mey.General Mac Brooks, and Gen. G.
NJ. Turner The defense is conducted
bv Col George CAN'T, Walter Gregory and
Col. Tom Harris.
After some little delay n jury was Sc
cured composed OF Henry j. Lynn, j. NJ.
Heating Pat Boyle, Louis Fritz, G. G.
Helm, Ed. Oliver, Ben Bingham, G. w.
Macrae, S. II. Dunscomb, G. II. Fowlkes,
]. G. Cresswel and J. W. Wilkerson. As
each juryman appeared for examination,
Col CAN'T informed them that the deicnd-
ants guilt or innocence was not 70 be de-
termined but merely his mental condi-
ton.
Dr. Alexander Erskine was the first
witness placed upon the stand. His direct
examination, conducted 10y Col. CAN'T,
was Us follows.
know the defendant; treated him for
yencrea, diseases. called nj the house Tor
that purpose several times.
Did you ever hear him talk about spir-
itsp
Yes. saw him In bed, and he told me
he WAS worried by spirits. He told me lac
saw them once. saw him kicking the
wall. When ! went to see him about his
indisposition found him very nervous
aud irritable.
Describe his kicking the wall.
Well, he was living careless like. kicking
now and then. noticed several holes lac
had made. lie WIS not particular about
dress or exposure Of his person and the
arrangement Of bed clothing.
How was he affected by the ailments
YOU mentioned.
lie was Affected seriously. lie gave me
n history OF his bad habits. Some Of them
had reference 20 his body and some to
wcpcn ! concluded tha, his mental aud
: Heal condition was very degraded.
\Nhat effect does Lewis ailmcntha on
Fhc morals and mind?
Very degrading, and tends TO worry and
impair the mind.
Did you ever witness any want OF mem.
ory?
Yes, sir. two or three days before hc
killed Brown Ice came 10 my Office when
Il was raining very hard and went out,
ksying his umbrella called him back.
What is his physical ormnizationl
His physical organization is peculiar,
his brow being large and oyorhnngng and
his ewes are sunkcn aud eiitlcring.
DO YOU know anything about his fam.
n.y.
Nothing In particular. cxcep, when
WAS puctcing la the country. Ills mother
WAS very nervous aud took trouble very
hard. being especially worried over her
-thilrcn.
From what you know Of The man, what
aould YOU say was his condition.
would SAY he was crazy. lac was always
ermiir
Did you filc an affidavit to his insanity
two ycin apof
did
Has anything happened to change your
mind9
80, sir. gill think him insane. have
regarded him M an insane man Tor the lakt
two or three years. | thought at the
umc he committed the deed Il WAS AN In.
sane act.
Would a man who was run down phys
ically. a- YOU have described, rccoNcr1
think not.
Cross-cxamincd by Gen. PcieB-llow
long have you treated him.
| don't know how long without looking
nj my books. but ! treated him prior To
making that affidavit | did not visit the
house frequently; be was generally able to
come 10 my office
Did YOU call three or four years ago to
zee him2
Yes, sir.
DO you know whether he was a drink.
Ing man or noi2
do not think not.
You say YOU found him laboring under
great excitement oncc2
Yes, cir.
Did he nay anything abou, spirit. at that
timer
No, SIR.
Aud did he ever converse with you
about spirils7
Yes, SIR he said he was annoyed b,
them, and was Ia measure controlled 10y
them.
From what fact lid YOU form an opinion
a. 70 his mental condition?
Nothing more than his carclcssncss. hi
gait hm moral dcpmyity. | looked ma,
nm 90 a crazy man. Tie was Kicking u
the wall at tie time Jaw him in bod.
what was his condition at that time
Explain his conduct
! saw the man lying on the bel tnsFin
about, kicking the wall and careless Of th
clothing.
Did you prescribe Tor him?
gave him some medicine.
Did be take it2
lie generally carried out my Treatment
DID ho give. any explanation Of Why Il
was kicking the WalI2'
don't recall any. II IL hard 10 20 bac
two or three yean and remember what
patient said; only bis dcmcanor Is rcmcm
bcrcd. treated him three ~ four time
Immediately prior TO the killing.
Did YOU regard his going out wlhor
his umbrella as an indication Of his ir
snnity7
No, only a lack Of memory. Lane state
20 me that he had been addicted 20 n ~
waite degraded habit. gave him adyi,
o. 10 treatment | have not seen 4,
PENDANT, Lane. since the homicide. and d
not know what his physical condition no
h. But his habits must have affected h
mental and moral state. lie had symptom
81 exhaustion, nervousness and debilit,
did testify as b. lanes insanity In 1888
] thought him then unsound. lie ga,
evidences Of an crratic temperament. II
always struck me ~ very coarse cha
acicr lie seemed 10 have but little sem
OF shame when discussing his condition
can now see no change IN the dccicn,
ants condition, except that lac is yer
much reduced IN flesh.
Tho Rev. Dr. w, T. Bocgs. pagtof of III