The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-02-19
4 BROTHERS. CHARGE.
Peculiar Insanity Case IN the
Probate Court.
the SAD STONY or AwEAk MIND.


Before Judge Osborn yestesday m In
sanity case was tired which developed
soms quite interesting features. Homer
Brown wss brought before the court by bis
brother. Watson II. Brown, With whom he
lives at Eaeewat<r. Homer Brown b :
miid~manneresi looking Old man. appar-
entity about 60 years Of age.
The trial Was resumed yesterday. having
been continued from the afternoon before
Homer Brown Was represented By counsel.
Who demanded . jury trial, on the ground
that his client was sane.
Watson Brown was called 20 the stand
and told the portion Of his life's story re-
iasing particularly to his brother. He said
that their boyhood was spent II fanins.
n. ". twenty miles south Of SYRIA
cuse. He described his brother dur
ing his younger days - being
apt In his stndies, ard was considered =
brigh boy. Homer. he said, practiced Law
in Syracuse. ard afserward went TO Sioux
City. Iowa. While there the family heard
that he Was m excessive drinker and had
had delirium tFemens. They had also
heard it said that Homer was quarrels0me.
knowing thai he was in . pstiAbIe coHdi-
ton he Was brought back home by his
family, and subsequently placed in the In
sane asylum At Syracuse where ne ssaid for
twenty years
Eight years ago Watson Brown took
charge Of his brother and he has been with
him ever since. They have lived at Albert
Lea, Mimi. and abous year and . half
ago came TO Seattle. The witness detailed
several circumstances which happened dur-
Ing their residence at the former place He
said that his brother on one or two occa-
sions had used knife In . threat
enin manner towards him. and from
that time on. considered him unsafe. Since
they have been in Seattle, his brother, the
witness declared. continually talked about
going hack 10 Minnesota. He did no; like
the food At the restaurants. and wanted 10
SEQ his brother at Albert Lea. He also
said that Homer had fallen in love
with hrs daughter, g years of age. and
wanted her to marry him. Because the
girl snubbcd him and kept out Of bis way
IS much Is possible he would indulge in
hts Of anger and moroseness, and would
act in strange and unaccounta0le man.
ner.
In answer to q question put to him he
said that Homer read the daily papers and
appeared to be quite well informed about
the topics Of the day. He did not con-
slider his brother safe and could stand the
burden no longer, and wanted him taken
to the asylum.
Homer Brown, the accused, testified in
bis own defense that he was in possession
OF his mental powers. He said that he had
been in the asylum ct Syracuse, but con-
sidered himself perfectly sane. He wanted
TO go east. but his brother prevented him.
MY brother" he continued. .'dsslikes me,
and while he appears very much affected at
this proceeding. wishes 70 get me away
from him out OF pure malice.
The attorney for Homer tried to prove
that his brother was prejudiced and wished
70 be rid Of him. II h quite evident from
the testimony that there Il In
sanity in the family. and while
Homer Browns malady Is not considered
dangerous, according TO Dr.. Carpenters ex-
animation, he IL weak minded and childish.
II appeared that ~ he had once been insane,
his family considered him ever since TO be
mentally wrong. and treated him accord
ingiy.
When the case was given to the jury they
returned verdict 4 few minutes later that
Homer should be discharged.
Watson Brown did not appear 70 relish
the news and seemed to feel
a il an extra burden had been
added 70 his shoulders. The
childish old man accepted the jury's YER
dict with . smile, but IN expression OF
timidity stole over his face as his brother
joined him. and the two left the courtroom
together