The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-05-21
A PHYSICIANS STORY.
Homes Ruined and Haunted by Poor Al
cOllOllc Dement'S.

cohOlic Dement'S.
Some years ago was an expert wit
ness in noted murder trial. The
prisoner was the son OF very promi-
nent family, who had killed compan-
ion while intoxicated, and made some
laundering efforts to conceal the crime.
The man who was murdered was a pop
ular clerk, and had a large circle Of
friends; public sympathy was very pro-
nounced against the murderer and de-
handed his extreme punishment Some
of the ablest lawyers and medical ex-
perts were retained on both sides.
AS the trial went on the medical wit
nesses became intensely interested, and
grew more positive of the sanity and
insanity of the prisoner. A very noted
asylum superintendent led the party
who believed the prisoner sane and re-
sponsible. On the other side an old
fashioned physician and several young
men were equally confident Of the in
sanity and responsibility Of the pris-
oner.
Their convictions deepened with each
new turn of the testimony; what was
called symptoms Of disease and mental
degeneration by one party, was called
depravity and willfulness by the othsf
The disposition to drink spirits to ex-
cess in early life and violent temper
displayed were considered sign of
mental disease by one side, and eice by
the other. No one of family Of FIVE,
all younger, had ever shown such tastes
or disposition, or had used spirits.
Both parents were very temperate and
very reputable people, and this, the eld-
est, had been the "Ishmaelite' of the
family The parents had treated him
with great tenderness and forbearance.
At times he had threatened them with
violence when intoxicated, but they had
overlooked it. He had been terror to
all his brothers and sisters, and to many
in the neighborhood. He had gone
about for days in the most sullen, saw
age mood, repelling every advance
with violent language. Then he
would become emotional and weep at
every reference to his past conduct, and
beg every ones forgiveness; the very
next day he would be harsh and sullen
again. These changing moods were as
sociated with criminal cunning to take
advantage of every circumstance to
procure spirits and possess himself of
any thing that could minister to his
diseased appetite and impulses. When
the time came for the medical experts
to go on the stand, a feeling Of regret
came over us that we should personally
differ so widely; not that we had any
doubts about our convictions, but that
we were forced to come before the public
and be prevented by the opposing coun-
sci from making our views and conclu-
sions clear and rational. The unthink-
ing public accepts this confusion of
statements by opposing medical wit
nesses as evidence of venality, and Civ
ing evidence according to the fees paid.
Scientific men always feel the injustice
of misinterpretation of an honest differ
ence Of opinion.
We were seated in private parlor at
the hotel one evening, urging our vari.
GUS opinions with great earnestness,
when the father of the prisoner was an.
nounced. He apologized for intruding,
and with much emotion said that he
wished to make statement to us as
physicians if he could have our full con.
fidence and promise of secrecy. This
was readily assented to. In a state oil
suppressed excitement, he said that he
! had been hard drinker for some years
before marriage. He became temper
ate up to the day Of his wedding, whsr
some friends gave wine party. and
both himself and wife became intoxi
Gated, and continued so for two days
They went on long journey and drank
nearly every night for two weeks, wher
his wife became i'll, and her life was de
SPARED of. She finally recovered, ant
both Of them solemnly pledged them
selves never again to touch spirits.
few months later the first child wa
born, the prisoner. In infancy he wa
nursed by professional nurse whit
drank beer freely. When little chile
nothing would stop his irritability 81
quickly as few drops Of spirits. Fl,
grew up drunkard from birth and hat
all the marks of half intoxication at al
times, whether drinking or not. Hi
mind had failed steadily, and to then
he only showed natural feelings whel
partially intoxicated; at other times h
was without ari sense OF manhood. HI
appealed to us as physicians not to con
slider h.. snn As responsible, no matte
what the punishment might be. II an