The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-02-24
Question for the Jury in the Case Of
Edward M. Field.
ONCE DASHING SPECULATOR NOW
LOOKS BROKEN DOWN.
He Made No Sign When His Case Was
Called Yesterday, Sitting Through the
Proceedings With Closed Eyes-His
Counsel Raise the Defence of Insanity
That Question the Court Submits to

That Question the Court Submits to
a Jury's Decision.
New YORK, February 23--The an
nouncement that Edward NJ. Field. head
of the defunct firm of Field, Lindley,
Wiechers & Co., which failed for more
than $2,OO0,000, with $4,000 assets,
would be tried today on charges of for
gerry, drew crowd to the Oyer and Ter
miner Court room this morning. All
had good look at Field before the pro-
ceedings began, for he was brought
down early in the morning from Ludlow
by Deputy Sheriff Barker, and was
seated at the head of the little table just
beside the reporters desk and in full
view of the court room. His appearance
has changed remarkably. When he came
into the court room leaning on the arm
of the deputy sheriff scarcely any one
who had known him in his former days
as one of
The Most Dashing Figures
in Wall street would have recognized
him. His hair has grown long, is rum
pied and unkempt, and his brown, un-
trimmed beard has grown.
The expression on his face as he sat
with closed eyes was that of the most
abject misery. The prisoner presented a
pitiful spectacle, which aroused the COM
passion of not few of the spectators in
the court room. No one spoke to him,
not even his counsel, who were busy
preparing their papers at the other end
of the table. The lawyers who have
been retained to defend him are Cepas
Brainerd, Bourke Cochran, Mr.. Stone
and John Wilkie. On either side of
Field sat man from the sheriff's Office.
His uncle, Rev. Henry Fl. Field and his
brother, G. w. Field, Jr., were also pres
ent and sat near him. They did not
speak to him, however, and
He Did Not Open His Eyes
even whenJustice Van Brunt came in
and the court was called to order.
District Attorney Nicoll and his assist
ant, Barton S. Weeks, were present to try
the case. The indictment against Field,
which will be made the basis of the pros
ecution, is the one which charges him
with forging a bill of lading for cergo
of grain shipped in the steamship Cam
bria, which involved about $75, 900. The
Indictment charges forgery in the second
degree. Several other Indictments are
pending against him charging forgery
and grand larceny.
The defence will be that of insanity,
which Fields lawyers will try to prove
by the testimony of expert witnesses.
District Attorney Nicoll, however, be-
lieves that Field is as sane at present as
ever he was in his life. He certainly ap-
peared to feel his humiliation this morn
ing in court.
1t was nearly 11.3O when Judge Van
Brrnt went on the bench.
"Edward M. Field"
called the crier. ''Is the case ready?''
Lawyer Bourke Cochran was on his
feet in an instant. He said that he wish
ed to interpose plea on behalf of the
prisoner on the ground that he was in
sane, and that under the circumstances
it was impossible, under the provisions
of the law, for the prisoner to plead or
to go on with the trial.
In other words, he claimed that the
prisoner could not be alsaigned and tried
while he was insane, and he asked for
an indefinite postponement of the trial.
District Attorney Nicoll opposed this
motion, and argued that though Field
might not now be in condition to
manage himself or his property, he was
able to understand the nature of the
charge against him, and could therefore
be compelled to plead. He wanted the
question tried at once before a jury, an
alternative within the discretion Of the
court. Judge Van Brunt decided to try
the question of Fields insanity, before
jury, which he directed to be impanelled
at once.