The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-11-26
OGDEN
EXPERTS ON INSANITY
Eminent Physicians Testify to the Manifesto
lions of Epilepsy in the Dillon Trial

Eminent Physicians Testify to the Manifesto
lions of Epilepsy in the Dillon Trial.
Court convened promptly at 10 O'Clock
yesterday morning, and the defense con-
tinued the rebuttal in the Dillon trial The
entire day was taken up with the hearing
of medical testimony. The attendance was
large all day.
The first witness called was ex-Police
Officer
B. F. SHEPHERD.
He was on the police force at the time of
the shooting, and saw Phillips and Dillon
in the night.
On cross examination the witness said
both were staggering when he saw them.
]. c. MATTER.
Am employed at the Senate saloon as
bar-keeper. Am not acquainted with Dill
Ion, but saw him on the morning of the
shooting of Mitchell; he and Jack Conley
were together. Dillon drank lemonade and
the others called Tor whisky. Dillon in
sisted l should drink. and 1 did.
On cross examination the witness stated
there was nothing quarrelsome about the
witness at that time.
WILLIAM FINNEY
saw Dillon in the saloon at the time related
by MIR. Sadd. Did not think he was intoX-
icated.
JAMES THOMPSON
saw Dillon about 20 o'clock the night prior
to the shooting in Fender 81 Carey's sa-
loon. Saw Dillon about ten days before
and hauled him to a house Of Ill fame on
Twenty first street.
DIR. BAsCOM
stated medical men recognize such a thing
as epileptic insanity. The doctor described
Some of the different forms Of that type of
insanity. The witness stated in reference
tc the testimony and the history of the
man as has been related indicated that Dill
Ion was suffering from epilepsy, and the
fact Of his mother being subject TO it was
another important factor in forming an
opinion.
The fact of his wife's infidelity, the
pending OF a long divorce suit, and the
shooting OF the brother, and the defendant
being cross and morose would not furnish
a foundation for medical men to form an
opinion as to him suffering from any men
tai disease. Hereditary epilepsy usually
appears in early life and simple intoxica-
ton aggravated by family troubles would
produce many Of the actions in the state
ment ] believe from what have heard of
Dillon's case that no one can state posi-
lively, without attending to the patient
personally, that he is suffering from epil-
epsy. There is marked difference of
opinion at the present time in psychological
science relating to this disease.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Court convened promptly at O'Clock
with DR.. Bascom on the stand. The defense
began the cross-eXamination.
A patient suffering from masked epilepsy
may commit acts and not have q con ception
of what had transpired, A man suffering
4haa oil k,o1 =
Ion did would have knowledge of 1t after.
When g mans mother suffered and died
from epilepsy, if that man met an old
friend and without any provocation
strikes him in the face and after
wards knows nothing of it 1 should
say he was suffering from some
mental malady. At the time he would
strike the blow he would be in the state OF
abnormal consciousness, and in that condi-
ton can control his actions, think unless
the degree OF consciousness is extreme
Redirect examination - Epeliptics are
usually left in heavy sleep.
DR.. d. @. Gregor, of Park City, was next
call and testified: L heard part of the tss-
timony OF DIR. Bascom. From what | have
heard of the history of Dillon up to the
time Of the shooting, it would be impossi
BILE for me to state positively that the mar
was suffering from some mental derange
mert, although 1t is likely he vas. 1t il
possible he was suffering from epilepsy
In many cases the actions of the defendant
were symptoms of a person suffering from
delirium tremens
The witness said he would consider the
defendant suffering from epilepsy, tax
ing the facts as stated by the witnesses Il
be true.
DIR. A. c. STANDARD,
of Salt Lake city, was the next witness
sworn: One form OF manifestation of cpl
lepsy is commissions although 1t sometimes
takes mild shapes. In the masked
type person may seem to have con
Eciousness when in reality he has none
The light might come on as fash and a,
quickly disappear, leaving the patient a.
before and with full consciousness Thu
person afflicted might transact his usua
business after an attack of this kind, even
with greater brightness than before TIL,
disease is hereditary and may also be in
duced by blow on the head, causing con
cussion Of the brain. l would expect thC
hereditary type of epilepsy to NANTES
itself about or before the age of u or 4
Taxing as a standpoint the testimony il
the case, do not think the defendant wa
necessarily laboring under an attack O
epilepsy.
WARDEN vANDERCOOK
was recalled and stated was at the peni
Tertiary at the time the defendant wa
taken there. AS far as l am aware tn
prisoner has never labored under any at
tack of illness during the time of his in
generation.
css-examination-I have noticed tina
there is a strange look about the mani
eyes. He seemed to be distracted.
Before court adjourned the defense re
quested that the marshal be instructed L
bring Ed Mccartney from the penitentiary
Judge Miner stated that the practice hat
been heretofore much abused and unles
the attorneys made affidavit that the mani
presence was absolutely necessary h
would refuse the request. Judge Dickso,
made the necessary affidavit and court ad
journed until Friday morning at 10 O'Clock