The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-31
ALICE MITCHELL INSANE.
TEE JURY DECIDES THAT FER MIND
rs DkRlNGED NOW
The Qusstion as 20 Her Sanity st the
Time of the Murder OF freds ware Nee
Passed Upon-wrli Go TO an Asyiun.


Passed Upon-wm Go to an Asyis..
MEMrHIs July 3o-Alice Mitchell was de-
clared insane this morning and next week ahe
Will be taken to tho insane asylum at bolivar.
the verdict Of tho Jury being that IL would
endanger the public peace for her to be set at
liberty. She was on hand promptly at $3.50
o'clock this morning and remained chatting
with her father and brothers until court was
convened.
As soon rs Judge Dubose ascended tho
bench she walked with her usual firm step to
her chair at the bar and removed tho veil
which had entirely obscured her features.
She looked brighter and better after two days
rest from attendance In court. she was
dressed In the same black dress and iaunty
white hat. and there was q suggestion OF
anxiety In her face.
Tho Judge charged the jury. beginning with
the language OF the ,ode and an exposition OF
the issue before them as follows: When tho
plea OF present insanity is urged In behalf OF
any person charged with q criminal offence.
punishable By Imprisonment or death. the
Court shall charge the jury that II from
the evidence they believe tho defendant to
be insane. and that 1t would endanger the
peace OF the community to set her at liberty.
they should 80 find 1t Is further provided
that upon such finding the Court shall direct
Of the insane to receive and keep the defend-
ant as others When in the opinion OF the
trustees and physician such patient has re-
covered from her insanity they shall r cause
her to be delivered to tho jailer OF David
s9n uRy Sr safe s ooapt8 IN WhsS
H. AFTER this VIZ TIE 'fraiane wishes
sent to the county in I'M which She was arraiEned
to be there further dealt, with. However. II he
aSs T sSs
The issue In this proceeding is entirely
distinct from that presented when , the Hu .
DESCENDANT at tks time OF OF the commission Of
the act charged in the indictment. You are
ant has sufiicient understanding to know right
as is rule Ynen ths III Is
but the question Is whether the defendant has
mental capacity sufficient to make q rational
other words. has the defendant mental eapac-
~ to ths PERL in which she Is now
suggesting to them in the event Of her trial
upon the Indictment for murder such facts as
break ths .ss
culpatory, proof as her case Will warrant
You are then sworn to inquire and determine
sane mot That sho sss time Of
the alleged killing Of Freda Ward.
tain to du G T. n as
be guilty OF that crime. unless it be in viewing
the enormity OF the act you may discover from
present state OF defendants mind as to her in
the Judge sa ID: w It IS said BY an eminent au
thority on criminal evidence that in matters
psychological therets no hypothesis ,d 50 mon
xssn Of shs s,sn% j. Sc; sIsS an sp /
a9n1 IN hat whsqs the
ports is speculative. Theoretical, and state only
eas es epnoa w Sdnsssn Tn Wien fs@s
stated. It is entitled to little weight In the
minds Of the Jury. This condemnation is not
Where an expert OF Integrity and skill states
CONCLUSIONS which are the necessary or even yen
opinion OPT is BASED the evidense should not be
lightly estimated or hastily discredited."
% tHn q s ShaeT By w wheh
sanity had it desired to do so. The section ran
You. win remember that although the re
Is Of
trial and Of conducting or directing her de.
rule heretofore stated and explained to you"
Mitchell engaged in animated conversation
smiled and laughed as though the result Of
concern to her whatever. Her face frightened
up as she talked. and a stranger would never
have suspected that an inquiry into her sanity
was necessary. .
The Jury were out just twenty minutes; At
$50 o'clock they int2 yasr and the
i jury. ind the defendant. Alice Mitchell in;
the community to set her at liberty" There
was q momentary pause. and then Judge Du-