The record-union., 1892-10-15
Afternoon session.

ReceSS.
Afternoon Session.
DR.. Martin was recalled and Judge
CARRIER asked him if he had ever known
OF case where a person had delusion
of insanity.
He replied that he had not
District Attorney Ryan then resumed
his cross-examination. In answer TO his
questions, DIR. Martin said that he had
been practicing medicine for fifteen
years. tie received his first commission
when he was Is years of age and his first
diploma when he was %.
Mr.. Ryan then showed the doctor sew
eral more letters written by Palmer to
various persons within the present year,
and asked him if in his opinion man
suffering from the species of insanity he
had ascribed to Palmer could have writ
ten them.
To each the doctor replied that it was
quite possible-very probable, in fact
that such person could have written
them.
These letters were all good specimens
OF photography and chirography.
AT Mr.. Ryan's request DIR. Martin il
Illustrated Palmer's attempts to touch his
nose with his index finger while his eyes
were shut. The defendant could not ac-
complish this at all.
Mr.. Ryan then wanted to know how it
was, then, that Palmer could write so well
when he was so badly affected.
DIR. Martin replied that the difference
was in the fact that the subject had the
use OF his eyes IN the one case and not in
the other Persons affected as was Palmer
could walk perfectly straight with their
eyes open, but could not do it with their
eyes shut. Another thing he had noticed
about Palmer was that when he closed
his eyes to wash his face he invariably
started to fall forward. By standing with
bis feet together and his eyes closed
Palmer would fall to the floor unless
caught or warned TO look out. In other
words, persons affected with the malady
Mr.. Palmer was suffering from COM
pletely lost the muscular sense" as it
was called, and in Palmer it had wholly
disappeared.
ERRATIC LETTER
On redirect examination Attorney
Stone produced several letters written
by Palmer to Attorney Bruner asking
him to call on him at the earliest conve-
nience. Mr.. Stone asked the doctor what
he would think ii when Mr.. Bruner
called at the County Jail in response to
these requests Palmer declared that he
had written no letters and had nothing
to communicate with the attorney.
1T would simply make my diagnosis
of his case stronger" promptly replied
IlIG dOCIOI. liz ca DldluGu lDdL II
was common occupation for persons
affected As was Palmer to write and write
for hours. In fact, this, in connection
with other things, was often symptom.
suppose this subject also evinced
desire to edit newspaper ?'' asked Mr..
Stone.
That would be perfectly compatible"
replied the doctor.
,Humph! Sure sign,'' remarked re-
porter soto UOce who was scribbling in
one corner of the courtroom.
Continuing, the doctor explained at
length the various symptoms of paretic
dementia and the caprices a sufferer was
liable to indulge in. They were often
kind to strangers, but tyrants at home
and brutal to those they love. AS the
disease progressed the symptoms would
be more violent when they were eXhib-
tied at all. a sufferer might be perfectly
calm and the next moment he would
commit suicide or homicide or some other
crime.
w. P. Harlow was recalled to explain
more fully how Palmer acted when in
formed that the coal mine he thought he
had discovered near Woodland was only
delusion.
"Why, he still stuck to it that the coal
mine was there, until l got mad about it
and wouldn't talk to him any MORE" re-
piled Mr.. Harlow. Continuing the witness
said that Palmer spoke of the coal again
atterward, and apparently could not rid
himself of his delusion.
MORE ABOUT THE LETTERS,
Attorney Bruner was recalled. He re-
iterated that he had received many letters
from Palmer, in which the latter wanted
to see his attorney-a great many more
than had been produced in court In most
all of these instances, when the witness
called upon Palmer at the County Jail,
Palmer did not remember having writ
ten any letters, and had nothing to tell
the attorney at all.
Attorney Frank Stone was sworn. He
|. said he had received a letter from Mr..
Palmer, stating that it was very necessary
that he (Stone) should come UP immedi-
ately from San Francisco to attend to the
case, as it was in such condition as to
need his attention. He came up in a
hurry, and Palmer did not remember
anything about the letter and had moth
ing to communicate to the attorney. He
had converSed with Palmer many times
in the jail, but had never been able TO OBJ
tain anything Ineligible from him.
Palmer had been of very little assistance
to the attorneys in preparing the defense
The defense then announced that all of
its testimony was in. A short recess was
taken, and then the prosecution proceeded
with the rebuttal.
ONE OF PALMER'S ENEMIES.
James Angus was called to the stand
when court reconvened, and in answer
to questions asked by Mr.. Jones said he
was formerly employed by Senator Fair
to expert the latter's books. He said he
was acquainted with Palmer's handwrit-
ing, and identified several letters he had
received from Palmer some time ago, re-
garding some land transactions in which
Fair was interested.
''For what purpose are these letters Of
fered ?" asked Attorney Stone.
For the purpose of laying the founda-
ton for Hypothetical question we will
ask several physicians, and for the pur-
pose OF showing the condition of the de-
fendant'S mind" replied Mr.. Jones,
The witness had a conversation with
Palmer later on, in which the latter told
him he could sell off the Monument
ranch and expected to get about $1,000
commission. With this money he ex-
pected to go into business in the southern
part of the State. Witness told Palmer
that he might also sell about 700 or 500
horses that were on the ranch, too, while
he was about it.
Mr.. Jones then produced copy of a
telegram, which was identified by the
witness as being one he received from
Palmer on the 18th of March in the pres
ent year. 1t read: Ranch all sold VIII
be down soon and get descriptions
Palmer kept this engagement, said the
witness. Palmer told him that he was
going to San Bernardino, but the business
would be attended to by his wife.
Mr.. Jones explained that this evil
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