The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-16
TRYING PRIVATE NELSON.
THE An17LLkRYMAH 1EsTLFLEs IN
HIS OWN DEFENCE

Ne HsA Ne nsesusstie. OF Several o.
usual Aetsons He HAD fersernsa. Not
Even InseAiateiy After Thes-Dr. Atlas
| MeLane HsESitsn Says He H 1asass.
The trial OF Private Nelson Of the United
States army for the murder Of Private Mclean
| on the ramparts at Fort Hamilton was contin'
ued In the Federal Court at Brooklyn yester'
| day. There was no change In the appearance
| Of any OF the principals.
Victor E. Kalb Of Battery A. at Fort Hamil-
| ton. testified that he had known the prisoner
since 1882 He always seemed worried like
and down in the mouth. He complained Of
pains in his head. Ihave often thought that
he was wrong In the head" Private Materbach
testified that the prisoners actions were differ
ent from those Of other men. "Isawhim ontop
OF the hill near the hospital on May "a. the day
OF the killing. He looked white and desperate. "
Private Gibson occupied the bunk next to
that OF the prisoner. He had often gone and
got water and put wet bandages on Nelson's
head. Nelson said to him once: "Yes, I'll get
into trouble on account OF my head"
when methim on the day Of the murder. 7"
said Private Gibson. II said: Hello there.
Nels.' and he said: I don't know you.' His
eyes were all bulged out. Mclean was con-
sidered as bully. corner loafer. and dan
eerous man"
On cross examination. in reply to question
By the prosecutor as to why Nelson's curious
actions had not been reported to his superior
officers. the reply was: I'VE were never told
to do 80. and we are not instructed In psy.
chology"
Then the prisoner was called In his own be-
half He was in uniform. and had the rigid
bearing OF On old soldier His face was like
that Of Sphinx. In reply to question he
said: hardly believe that I slapped my sis
ter's face"
"Did you ever have any quarrel with herr
mo. SIR"
did you ever strike Mr.. Lancasterf"
mo. sir. I was told since was confined
that did 80. but I don't remember It"
do you remember that It has been stated
here that you went with Mr.. Lancaster to the
hSass Of strange man and tried to gain adj
vis sth H. L. 81 sHRRs
scious 81 Fort CLARK once. and when came to
i found d myself on horse long distance iFom
NO. s!r: there was nos5ing to drink"
ss the mater eat E Enaw yS
there was, You came out With your SIX
srs Ss: s q esasss I'D not remember tn.
SemisS e the killing Of Mclean the prisoner
ssSGn 6%r;S atss
sew sns @dns
Napiers and Mclean came, up again and
pushed me and called me robber: The next
to shot and the h H When
ed down and saw MCLEAN on the ground l
~ !? sss:ss aSs s is' As'
srdsnee to the
Be- stricken out The defence refused i to aeree
During RECESS the writer had talk , with the
stony and immovable He said in substance
My head feels very bad to-day: Nc. I don't
remember leaving the saloon on that day:
s ssps1s viii aas Els ali
Luncheon was brought in and Nelson ate
appearances. but he talked Quietly and slowly
On REORGANIZATION. in court about all
Prosecutor johnson got out Of him was the
WIZ Witch the king hnGx was DONE
tss e IT, Il Ra @:s u fss
the prisoner in q saloon. The men went away
and Nelson in paroxysm Of some sort. bit
from both sides Of his mouth. He looked like
q raging maniac.
Dr.. Allan McIane Hamilton. the expert in dis
eases Of the mind. was next called. Gen Catlin
put to him this question: Assuming that the
defendant has had sixteen insane relatives In
that he struck his sister and forgot 1t entirely.
that he forgot striking and throwing heavy
ing at q strange house and demanding admit
lance one night he knew nothing Of the occur
renee the next morning. that he has had ten
fits In nine years. the last one O. week ago-in
view OF those facts. do you think the prisoner
we admitT
!" He WAS undoubtedly suffering from epilep-
TIC mania. / have no doubt Of 4"
:On cross-examination Or. Hamilton said:
chronic epileptic. His appearance satisfies me
that he sinsane with homicidal mania.
have seen many such cases"