The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-04-27
AUSTIN'S SANITY.
The Investigation Into It Con-
tinued.
Several Witnesses Express Their Belief In
His Total Lack OF VIII Power-A
Letter TO Jesus Christ.

Yesterday afternoon before the probate
judge and special commission. consisting of
Doctors Foster, Macleau and Hall, the
inquiry into the question OF sanity of
Charles w. Austin was resumed, the
father,
D. AUSTIN,
being on the stand.
Several letters from the physician and
managers in charge of the Keeley institute
at Olympia, written to the father and
brothers and also from the attorney in
Seattle, who had defended the young man
on the charge Of attempting to pass bogus
check, were read by the commission show
Ing that his sanity was so seriously ques-
toned that the hope of cure was unreason-
able. When he was placed In jail
at Seattle his friends allowed him
to remain some weeks, thinking it much
safer for him to be under restraint. While
there he threatened to end his life and q
knife was found i'll his possession, which
he intended TO use for that purpose. This
also occurred at Olympia.
Matters reached such pass that the
brothers and parents induced the wife to
consent to divorce (before the question
of insanity was determined) which she
did reluctantly, and only on the mllder
charge of failure to support.
The question of comparative conditions,
when he left his parents six years ago and
as he appeared few weeks ago on his re-
turn to his parents, the matter of habits
and especially of studious reading and
fondness for books, which he once
possessed in the strongest degree were
shown to have been completely abandoned
and the attempt to casually interest him in
this line proved failure, While in former
Sears he was cheerful and vivacious, Of
Sate he became gloomy and Respondent.
Before leaving the parental roof he haC
become what is commonly known as tast
young man and to his habit of cigarette
smoking and drinking were added other
designations.
AS 10 the immediate act which caused his
arrest the only reference made by the de
PENDANT was last evening to his father
when he asked, "Do you think would
have shot the man! l would not have done
il for my life!n
He made habit of commencing numer
Gus letters and never writing but two Of
three lines. One he addressed as follows
4-6 SALT LAKE.
Jesus Christ:
Make me nobler man and bring that dream
passion of mine to me.
CHARLES AUSTIN.
gun to his wife.
After review OF part of the testimony
Of the preceding day,
Il. L. BEAVER
was placed on the stand and testified tina
he was in charge OF the Turkish bath
house on Third South, and that at the re
quest of the father had taken the youn!
man as an assistant. While only there tW
days his condition was observed to b
strange and his father was told of it. H
seemed to have no memory and woult
leave one thing partly finished and turn t
another, which would in turn be treated Il
the same way. He would never engage ii
any conversation. but was very submissiv
to all. AS to the act in question, the wit
ness said II attribute it TO his unbalance
I. c. CROOK,
a real estate dealer, was next examine
and testified to many acts showing des
poniency and q total Indifference or lac
of capacity to converse on even recen
topics with which he could not have bee
unacquainJed very recently. Althoug
walking and talking with him often, yet h
could not be enlisted in any subject saw
, for moment. He was tractabe in tn
extreme, and his main trouble seemed
be a lack Of power to grasp any though
''Of what / know of him." said the wit
ness, 81 would have thought him total
incapable of such deed as the on
charged, and he was evidently laborin
under mental alteration
) DIR. c. W. HARVEY,
medical examiner Of the McMurray inst
tute, was then placed on the stand an
, testified that he had examined the part
for admission to that institute, and recon
\ mended his rejection on accour
of the condition of his ment,
faculties. His apathy was apparent, an
: all attempts 10 interest were fruitless. Tt
only symptom of note in the line of chang
! was an inquiry regarding religious matter
last Friday, when he grew very much Ell
; cited for time, but relapsed into the az
q athletic state. my opinion" said tt
4 doctor, twas that the patient was total
5 without will power, and hence we cou
:. not treat him. l believe his condition
4 due to softening of the brain, as the resu
of a fast life, alcohol. cigarettes and otht
excuses. From what have known o Il
party, ] do not think he comprehended u
character OF the act, but it was the resu
of mental frenzy, and l think he is yet
. that condition and subject to such chang
I yet"
r At late hour, the hearing was adjourn,
until o. m. TODAY