Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-27
TO PROVE HIM INSANE.
The Testimony in the Frank Grade
Murder Case Yesterday.
ALL SEEM OF THE SAME OPINION.
Physicians and Others Testify to His Many
Queer Actions.
DAYS DRIFT IN THE COUNTY COURTS

The trial of Frank Grade for the murder
his 9-year-old stepdaughter, Annie Homer,
was continued in Criminal Court yesterday.
August DOUGH was the first witness. He
testified that be was q neighbor and old
acquaintance of the defendant. but Of
late had noticed that his actions were pecu-
liar and that he had been drinking to excess
and appeared to be out of his mind.
William Grade, brother of the defend
ant, testified that the afternoon before the
morning of the murder, he went to his
brothers house and that his brother was
walking up and down on the porch, and at
first would not notice him. The witness
said: 81 asked him if he had the work for
me that he had promised. He told me that
he had never asked me to do any work.
Shortly after he asked me if was not going
to do the work, and then he complained OF
being sick"
James Marshall, Jail keeper, was the
next witness. He said: 81 was at the
Jail when Grade was brought there, and
have had charge of him ever since. He is
now better than he has been for some time
since. Just alter he was brought to the Jail
he would throw himself on the floor of his
cell, face downward, and lay there for hours;
then he would get up and sit in chair,
staring at one object for hours"
ALMOST GUEsswoRK.
DR.. Chessrown, the Jail physician, testi-
fed that in his opinion the prisoner was
insane, but that it was almost guesswork to
say whether anybody was insane or not.
Charles Album said that on the afternoon
preceding the morning of the murder he
met the defendant on Preble avenue, Allie
gheny, but that the latter refused to notice
him. The witness stated that the defendant
had a strange look In his eyes, but he did
not appear to be intoxicated.
Thomas Farrell testified that he met the
defendant in Marcos barber shop, Woods
Run, on the afternoon referred to by the
former witness The defendant had new
paint brush with which he commenced to
brush his face, and acted in other ways like
an insane man.
John Marco, proprietor of the barber
shop, testified that the defendant had come
into his place on the afternoon referred to,
and got in chair to be shaved. He did not
seem to be intoxicated, but after he had
been partially shaved he sprang out of the
seat. He was induced to get in again, but
repeated the same act three times.
Lewis Hilte testified to the unnatural
actions of the defendant for a few days pre-
ceding the murder.
DR.. George McCord testified to visiting
the prisoner in July at the Jail. He said
the prisoner glared at him and moved about
as if he intended to spring on him. The
witness asserted that the man was insane.
THINKS IT ACUTE DEMENTIA.
DR.. Ayres' testimony was similar to that
of Dr. McCord. He pronounced the insan-
itv that the defendant was suffering from
acute dementia, of which one of the charac-
teristics was sudden outbursts of violence,
which could take the form of homicide or
suicide.
DR.. C. G. Wiley gave similar testimony.
He was asked by Attorney w. d. Moore,
for the defense, if he believed that the de-
fendsnt was insane at the time of the MUIR
DER he replied that with the knowledge of |
the facts he had of the case and from his |
own personal examination he would state |
that, in his judgment, Grade was insane at |
the time and still is, although now i'm |
proved. District Attorney Johnston asked |
the witness if the prisoner was insane at the |
time of the murder, if he knew he was in |
sane. DIR. Wiley replied:
''In my judgment he was insane at that |
time"
The District Attorney then asked him |
when the man became insane. but this ques- |
ton the witness did not presume to answer.
Herman Grade, brother OF the defendant,
testified to the facts as related by the other |
witnesses.
The trial was adjourned until Monday,