Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-24
LEHR AS A LUNATIC.
Character and Antecedents of the
Camps Young Shooter.
SUBJECT TO TEMPORARY FITS.
LehrIs Friends Say He is Not Responsible
for His Actions.
A NEW LIGHT THROWN ON TIE CASE

The moment the first reports got abroad
of the unfortunate homicide in camp near
Confluence, on Sunday night, public
opinion-always addicted to jumping at
conclusions s-took dead stand against the
young man who had committed the action.
If, however, the affair be read by the light
of information CLEANED last evening for
THE DIS PATCH, a different opinion may
be formed as to the guilt or innocence Of
James Lehr.
In the first place, the residence of Lehr's
mother-now wife of James NJ. May, of 1877
Bidwell street, Allegheny-was visited.
Mrs. May was too deeply affected by the
unfortunate occurrence to appear, but the
young mans stepfather, Mr.. May, gave all
the information in his power. Lehr's
father and mother were separated many
years ago, and the father is now resident in
Mlf1in county, where he practices as an
attorney.
Young Lehr continued to live with his
mother after her second marriage, and Mr..
May has always found him hard-working
and quiet boy. He would sometimes act in
a curious way, as though his head were not
all right; but these fits were short-lived and
didn't amount to much.
SEVERAL HAD NOTICED IT.
He worked as short-order cook in Nc
Brides restaurant on Federal street
for good while, and about four
weeks ago he left his mothers resi-
dence and went to board with friends
named Hall, who live over the drug store
on the corner of Federal street and North
avenue. He reached his twenty-second year
only in May last.
A well-known and respectable resident in
the same neighborhood confirmed Mr.. Mays
statement as TO Lehr's general good charac-
ter; but remarked that the young fellow
never LETT home without carrying a revolver
in his pocket. He had never known Lehr
to drink, and had never heard of his being
involved in any quarrel, or mixed up in any
disorderly conduct.
A trip was then made to Federal street,
where Lehr has been boarding of late, and
it was here that the reporter obtained the
clearest description of the strange fits to
which the young man Is subject. Only
Mrs. Hall and her daughter were at home
and 2, they seemed in deep distress about
Jim, " as they call Lehr. Mr. Hall started
for Somerset to-day in order to help the
prisoner to the best of his ability.
Mrs. Hall, shrewd, quiet lady, stated
that she had known "Jim" ever since he
was an urchin in short pants. Her son Tom
and he had always been friends. and to this
dav Tom is'the only one who can manage
Iehr. "You see," she continued, "poor
Jim is not all there.
SELF-ADMIrTED INSANITY.
1--WE all know that, and have heard him
own 1t himself, over and over. Sometimes
he takes fit of the queerest kind, and while
the fit lasts he is little less than a madman.
He goes about swapping at everyone. and
behaving in the most frantic manner.
Why, few weeks ago he took fit in this
very room, and you would have thought
cyclone had broken out. He recognized
even me-and heaven only
knows how the m after would have ended if
my son Tom had not happened in and quieted
him down. Tom has great power over him,
even in the worst of his fits. Jim remem-
bered noting about his conduct next day.
AS to his drinking, 1 don't believe
word OF it He always hated liquor, and
last week he threw five bottles of whisky
cut of the window for fear any of us might
drink the stuff
Mrs. Hall then went on to note Lehr's
many good qualities. When in his right
mlno, she says, he was very good hearted
and quite peaceable. She had never known
he owned a revolver till few days ago. and
she thinks his brother in Indiana county
must have given it to him. He could have
got drunk hundreds of times if he wished,
as MS father sent him plenty of money, but
she "had never seen a sign of liquor on
him."
In conclusion, Mrs. Hall declared her
firm conviction that the homicide was the
result of one of Lehr's frequent and peculiar
fits of temporary INSANITY.