The record-union., 1891-02-27
is He INSANE?
Baltz, the WouId-Be Murderer, Ex.
amined by the Doctors.
No Decision Rendered Yet-The Young
Man Tells Weird Story
Other Testimony.

Thomas English, alias Baltz, the young
man who shot and seriously injured his
stepfather, Joseph Morrow, near Elk
Grove several weeks ago, was examined
again yesterday as to his mental condi-
ton, but the physicians again declined to
render decision, and a further examina-
ton will be made.
Superior Judge Catlin, District Attor-
ney Ryan, and Drs. Simmons and Park
inson conducted the examination, and
with unusual thoroughness.
Mrs. English, mother of the young
man, was first questioned. She stated
that she had been three times married,
and the prisoners father was her first
husband, Adolph Baltz, or Rudolph, as
he was sometimes called. Her second
husband was Morrow, the victim of her
sons pistol, and her third husband was
English, with whom she is living now.
Mrs. English said she had no doubt that
her son was demented. He
HAD ACTED STRANGELY
Since he was boy, but she had never
known him to use violence toward any
one. Something like eight years ago she
sent Tommy, she said, to San Francisco
TO live with her sister. But the lights
bothered him there and he cried until
they brought him home. He would take
bad spells periodically, and while they
continued nothing would pacify him. lie
would go away from home and be gone
for weeks
''How long was it before the shooting
that you saw your sonH' asked DR.. Sim
mons.
Just few days" replied the mother.
con To a,1tn No yis,-
vile, where / live, and inquired for him.
He had come over here to look for work.
They told me at the intelligence office
that he had not succeeded in getting
work, and was stopping at downtown
hotel. ] found him, and he accompanied
me to the depot. lie was acting rather
strangely, but he seemed more melan-
cholly than violent.
In answer to further questions Mrs.
English said, as far as she knew, Nor
row never abused the boy, nor gave him
any occasion for wanting revenge. Nor
row had never ill-treated her either, so it
could not have been on that account that
the boy shot her eX-husband
William English, the mothers present
husband, testified that he had frequently
noticed the boy acting strangely, and had
always believed him insane.
IoRRow's STORY.
Joseph Morrow, who came so near
losing his life at young Baltz's hands,
was the next witness examined. He has
almost entirely recovered from his
wounds, and does not appear anxious to
prosecute his stepson. The old man re-
peated the story of the shooting at Elk
Grove, and reiterated his former state
ment that at the time OF the shooting he
did not recognize the young man. No
words passed between them until after
two shots had been fired Then the
mr. S.pr1 SttIl
and he wanted Morrow to acknowledge
that he had stabbed him in the groin
when he was a baby. When Morrow
would not acknowledge it, young Eng
lish resumed his fusilade, wounding
Morrow in four places.
Did you ever cut him?" asked Judge
Catlin.
mo, sir,' replied Morrow, smiling. 81
never cut anybody III my life"
BALTZ,s STRANGE STORY.
After Morrow had given his testimony
Baltz was brought into the room. He
took seat opposite the doctors, but his
eyes We're fixed upon Morrow. "How
are your" he finally said, addressing
Morrow. First rate" replied the latter;
was Ba!tz's reply, and he then turned to
the doctors and carelessly asked them
what he could do for Them
Judge Catlin and DR.. Simmons did
most OF the questioning. and in answer to
their inquiries, Baltz related Il remarkable
story. He admitted that he shot Morrow,
and said he meant to kill him, because he
(Morrow) had done him bodily injury
when he was an infant. He also stated
that Morrow had constantly been in his
way in making a living, and lit came to
him. that he had to kill him in order to
get relief. He assured the doctors that he
possessed powers very similar to those
cd i
many startling miracles. He said he
never knew until recently that Morrow
had stabbed him. 1t had "come to him ,,
But, he said, Morrow knew it all the
time, and also knew that he was
DESTINED TO BE KILLED
By him (Baltz), and had tried every
means he could think of to dispose OF
him before that time. The young man
then went on to state that it had also
''come to him." that Mrs. English was
not his mother. n Mrs. Bovyer who
lived across the river was his real mother
but when baby he had been given to
Mrs. English to raise.
This man here,'' said Baltz, pointing
to Morrow, used TO be great man in
his time = he had great powers
but he don't amount to anything
now. He's lost his grip, guess. | never
had any ill-feelings toward him, though,
until all this came to me about the cut
ting. i didn't want to kill him, at first
but it come to me that had to do it, or
else he would put an end to me the first
chance he got.'
Baltz concluded by saying that he was
over fifty years of age, and, as near as he
had been able to trace it, he was born in
Asia-although before lit had come to
him." he had always believed that his
birth place was Benica.
After the examination, the doctors and
Judge Catlin held a conference and de-
cided TO defer rendering decision in the
matter.