The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-05-08
THE MURDER CASE.

CHARLES MIRKEL ADJUDGED
INSANE.
SENT TO THE HOSPITAL. AND CASE
CONTINUED.
The District Court convened on
Monday last for the trial of Charles
Alirkel for the murder OF his brother
in.law. Schleidvr, ut the farm Of the
latter, about six miles north Ut Adrian
In November 1859. < a..
At the March term the prisoner was
indicted by the, Grand Jury, arraigned
and the plea Of. Not Guilty entered on
his behalf. Geo. w. Wilson, Esq. was
appointed by the Court to be the
counsel for the prisoner. The Court
adjourned to this unexpectedly for the
trial Of this CASE. = So
On Monday the Court met, Judge
Perkins on the bench. Si,d the regular
jury in attendance. The prisoner MAS
brought in and counsel on both sides
announced themselves ready for trial.
Before the Call of n jury was begun,
however, a consultation took PLACE be-
tween court and counsel on both sides,
in which it was developed that the
| prisoners counsel intended to plead III.
sanity in his defense; that the prisoner
WAS demented when the homicide was
committed, and also, that at this time
he is incapable of understanding the
proceedings going on against him.
After u free consultation with the 1T
to,neys. and with DR.. James, who had
come from the st. Peters. Hospital, ut
TIE call Of the State, to examine tie
prisoner and testify in the case rs All
expert, the Court adjourned until five
O'clock +: NJ, to await the arrival Of
Attorney General C'app, then OH his
way to assist County Attorney DALEY
in the management Of the case. After
his arrival it was agreed IL submit the
prisoner to an examination ty u COM
mission, rs in the case Of patients for
whom admission to the hospital is de-
sired. The object was to determine
At once whether the prisoner was in a
proper mental condition to bs legally
put on trial.
A commission was promptly organ
lied consisting Of Probate Judge
e. W. W. Dow, DR.. W. $. Webb, and
DR.. ID. l.. Kenyon. Attorney General
Clapp. County Attorney Daley, Judgs
Wilson, aud DIR. James subjected The
prisoner to u pretty thorough test Of
his mental capacity. The man II
heavy featured, and sensual looking
with "n imbecile expression. lie il
evidently, So fur rs faculties are con
cerned, mot u there" AS tho Scotel
people say Of those mentally defective
His brother, father and mother wer
called to testify. The burden of thei
evidence was that while lie could IL
work, 60 on simple eriands, ETC., Il
, Was never reliable; that the famil
). never trusted him with any matter
where discretion WAS required. II
was not incorporate, though not AYERS
= to an occasional glass Of beer. I'll
:, testimony of DR.. James, who had spe,l
several days il the examination wa
that the man was the victim of de
mentia, and whatever he might l,av
i been ut the time the horrible deed WI
: done, he was not now a proper person
j. mentally considered, to I've put Oh tri:
for serious crime.
" The commission promptly gave
, unanimous judgment in accord wit
* this opinion. At P. NJ, on Tuesda,
" the court reassembled, when the CAS-
% was continued, indefinitely. The pri.
Oner was removed on Wednesday I
9 the State Hospital. Should his mer
3, tai condition be so improved as I
= make him capable Of intelligently r.
It spending to the indictment he will /
is still within the purview of the cour