Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-07-25
A NOVELIST AS A COURT RKPoRrER.
His Narrative OF what He Saw at an
inquest OF sanity.


His Narrative Of what He saw at an
inquest OF sanity.
A peculiar case Of insanity was that of
Harry Munzer, which came before Judge
Gary in Chicago on "wednesday morning.
According to the evidence, II would appear
that the strange case Of DR.. Jekyll and Mr.:
Hyde and the stranger case Of Archibald
Malmaison, which have created much COM
fnent In circles Of fiction, are not altogether
physical impossibilitics. The story which
Mnnser. insane, was was 80 fascinating
that tho jurymen quailed and skunk
back in their chairs, half afraid 10
be 90 near one who could admit that he was
subject to physical and psychical changes
such as the witness claimed to have under
gone. Munzer is about twenty seven years
Of age, and as he never indulged In the
general practices Of fast city young men
his features bore decidedly innocent but
intelligent expression as he entered the
witness-b box. The soft black hair curled
about his broad, business-like forehead.
For four years he had acted as entry clerk
for Edison Keith, aud his manipulation Of
figures was considered something wonder
ful. He had been subject 10 gloomy spells
Mt periods about two years apart, In when
he would become recluse for weeks at
time. He spoke Of these.
"Just tell us about the last one," said the
court, listening to the minor details given
above. =.
!. 81 feel something approaching heavily. !.
sNid the witness, "but l can take care OF
ihsself here The queer sickness came on
me esUtn about year ago, and i became
Inua inucn hrmed at tho Developments. /
different ffse ibs nSi,ra ons s An s,e
u, IKE ne ,se',na h sr~t over me, beginping first
IN my brain. WAS then living at my
iathers mousse, III Vest Lake street. My
saa,nad m.nn dd !, not seem ssswing weaker, bnt II
materially. Presently =. It's .,rh, i"nct,pns OF q
tool or anything via, blade
would start every fibre and nerve
in me to tingling and / became
afraid Of myself, afraid for my frisrds. I
felt an impulse growing upon me to ksrm
or kill. knew what I was about
recognized the faces of my friends. I had
n cool control Of mental faculties. ! was
not out of my head In the least, but there
was desire which seemed to be muscular
as well as mental, and wholly apart from
my natural volitions. My father saw
only the. outside Of this and dared
revolution in my being. He sent
me to lake Geneva To be treated in priy yats
institution there, and now for seven months
l have been there under the constant care
Of several experienced physicians. They
have been unable to assist me. ! grew
change. Never have l lost my senses.
The doctors gave me chloroform, but !
fear that IL has hurt my nervous system
and served to augment this fearful de-
velopment rather than cure II. We consulted
and thought change would be good for
me. now insist that l be placed some
where, so ! may DO watched and treated
differently. The week / have been here
since left Geneva have not been home.
j will not go there. i believe that some
rapid change for the worse would take
place Immediately should go back. This
mania would unman mo and force me TO
do that which have been battling against
would kill them. | might kill my self,
and yet would know what I was about
The story itself was not different from
what one might Apect to hear from man
who felt himself becoming insane. What
terrified the jurors was the complete
change In his features as he proceeded.
From an innocent, harmless expression at
tho beginning, they changed to one of ex-
treme cunning and malignity. AZ he pro-
ceodcd, deep lines appeared In his check s
beside his nose. The eyebrows fell dark
and the corners Of tho month drew down.
His forehead wrinkled up as an old
mans. and his voice actually changed
so that n listener might have sup
posed that man Of forty-iive were talking.
The words came from deep down in his
chest, and, in fact the entire aspect of the
man was changed. He bent forward in
his chair, his shoulders stopped, and his
eyes became watcry. IL was remarkable.
h s safsa s h' s"o se srpe
reached that portion of his recital where he
spoke of killing, the jury gazcd upon the
face Of man about to commit murder
" That will do, F." said the Judge.
Munzer was startled at tho command.
He looked up wildly, then fell back In his
nttsAtr Irnlf a a.
fell down his checks. The wrinkles dis
appeared from his forehead. the tiondisb
expression left his face, and minute more
he was the young man, Harry Munzer,
again with tho innocent face. The Jury
brought In u verdict finding him insane.