St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-31
ALICE JUDGED INSANE.
Freda Wards Slayer Pronounced
at Present irresponsible by
Jury.
The Strange Being Receives the
Verdict Coolly-Of to an
Insane Asylum.

MEMPHIs, Tenn, July 30.-Alice
Mitchell is insane-so says a jury of
twelve intelligent men, who so pro-
nounce her, after herring the evidence
that both sides had to introduce and
after hearing the statement Of the de-
PENDANT herfelf in this most remarkable
case. After receiving the Judges in
structlons, it took the jury just twenty
minutes to arrive at conclusion. The
verdict carries with it the opinion that
it would endanger the peace of the COM
munity to set Alice at liberty, so she
will be at once conveyed 10 the insane
asylum at Bolivar. This verdict does
not absOlve the defendant from being
placed on trial for her life at some
future time. should she recover her rea-
son. and should the attorney general
see fit to prosecute her.
What the Verdict Means.
The verdict has nothing to do with
her sanity at the time she slew Freda
Ward. 1t touches her present insanity
alone. The only question involved was:
SIS the defendant now in such ment
condition as to enable her to confer
with her counsel SO as to intelligently
conduct her trial for murder?"
The jury answered by its verdict
''no," and, as the law forbidS the trial
of an insane person, the indictment
against her must be retired until such
time As she is declared sane, or it may
be nolle-prossed at the discretion of the
attorney general and the court. If the
defendant does, confinement will be for
life. If at any time she is declared
sane. she is not to be set at liberty until
action is taken Oh the Indictment i'm
pending against her. If the attorney
general decides to prosecute the case,
she can then be tried for murder. If,
on the other hand, he moves a nolle
proSegui, she would be set at liberty.
Alice Is Indifferent
The largest crowd that has been in
attendance during the progress of the
trial gathered at an early hour today to
catch suppositOry last glance at Alice
prior to her incarceration in an insane
the insane asylum at Bolivar Tuesday,
unless her friends prefer her being
taken to Nashville, in which event they
would have to pay for treatment there.
She showed no emotion of any kind at
the verdict. When the jury was dis
charged she adjusted her veil and
walked out of the court room with the
same air of Indifference that has char
acteriZed her throughout. The effect
of the verdict in the case of Lille John
son, who stands jointly indicted with
Alice Mitchell, will doubtless dismiss
all further proceedings against her. 1t
would be hardly logical to press an in-
dictment against her as accessory before
the fact in connection with the deed of
an insane woman.
Miss johnson has been a constant at
tendant during the trial, and she has
displayed great anxiety on its outcome.
1t is said that this young lady will die
of consumption in short time.
Miss Mitchell passed the evening
quietly in her room at the jail, where
she had her mother as companion.
She expressed wish to see Freda
Wards grave before being taken to
Bolivar, but beyond that she seems to
be absolutely Indifferent as to what may
be done with her.