The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-07-26
DR.. JEkYlL IN A CHICAGO COURT
Becomes Mr.. Hyde Before the Twelve
Wondering Jurors.
The Story Harry Munzer Sane Told OF
Harry Munzer insane.
a Verdict OF Insanity Promptly Re-
turned by the Jury.

CHICAGO July pa remarkable story "a
that of a case of insanity heard before Judge
Gray on Wednesday. According to the evI-
dence. 1t would appear that the strange case
Of DR.. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde and the stranger
case Of Archibald MalmaiSon. which have
created much comment in circles Of fiction,
are not altogether physical impossbihtIes.
The story which Harry Munzer, sane, told
of Harry Munzer, Iinsane, was so fascinating
that the jurymen quailed and skunk back to
their chairs. half afraid to be 50 near one
who could admit that he was subject 10 ply
slcal and psychical changes such as the wit
ness claimed to have undergone. Munzer Is
about 27 years Of age. aud his features bore
decidedly innocent but IntellIgent expires.
sion as he entered the witness box. 81 feel
something approaching heavily" said the
witness. "but can take care OF myself here,
The queer sickness came on me again about
year ago, and became much alarmed at
the developments. L seemed TO be approach.
ing state altogether different from the nat.
ural one. An ague-like feeling crept over
Inc, beginning first in my brain. was then
living at my fathers house In West Lake
street. My mind did not seem growing
weaker. but it seemed to be altering its func-
tions materially. Presently the sight Of
tool or anything with a blade would start
every fibre and nerve in me to tingling. and
became afraid Of myself, afraid for my
friends. felt an impulse growing upon me
to harm or kill / knew what was about.
/ recognized the faces Of my friends. had
a cool control of my mental faculties. L 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 is
outside OF this, and dared not explain to
him the complete revolution in my being
He sent me to Lake Geneva. to be treated In
private institution there, and now for
seven months 1 have been there under the
constant care OF several experienced physi-
clans. They have been unable to assist me.
l grew worse. / knew 1t and realized the
dread change. Never have lost my senses.
The doctors gave me chloroform, but fear
ssat y has hurt my system and
rather than cure it, We consulted and
thought change would be good for me.
now insist that be placed somewhere, so
may be watched and treated differently. The
week l have been here. since left Geneva l
have not been home. will not go there.
believe that some rapid change for the worst
would take place Immediately should 20
back. This mania would unman me ana
force me 10 90 that which i have been bat
ting against. l would kill them. ( might
kill myself, and yet would know what l
was about"
f. The story itself was not different from
what one might expect TO hear from a man
who felt himself becoming insane. What
terrified the jnrors was the complete change
In his features as he proceeded. From an in
nocent, harmless expression at the.beginning
they changed to one Of extreme cunning and
malignity. As he proceeded, deep lines ap-
peared In his cheeks beside his nose
The eyebrows fell dark and the cor
ners OF the mouth drew down. His forehead
wrinkled up as an old mans, and his voice
actually changed so that a listener might
have supposed that man Of forty-fye 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 watery. 1t was remarkable. The
court gazed at the phenomenon before him
IN establishment When the narrator reached
that portion OF his recital where he spoke OF
killing. the jury gazed upon the face of a
man about to commit murder.
THAT will do, said the Judge.
MunZer was startled at the command. He
looked up wildly, then fell back in bis chair,
half exhausted, with sigh. Tears fell down
his cheeks. The wrinkles disappeared from
his forehead, the fendish expression left his
face. and minute more he was the young
man, Harry Munzer, again with the Innocent
face. The jury brought In a verdict fndias
him insane.