Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-03-05
DECLARESITA PLOT
Or. Scudder Denies That He
Killed His Mothcr-in-law.
ACCUSES HIS wlfE's FRIEND
lie wildly Asssrta That They Are Ttysns
- Ruin Him. Believed 10 ns
Shsmming Insanity.


that came before Judge nrown in the
insane court ~ the detention hospital
today. that Of pr. Henry Martyr
scudder, Jr., was first called. pr.
scudder himself was not brought IN.
All negotiations were conducted oy
George w. Wilbur. Seudder's attorney.
lie appeared before judge Brown and
asked for continuance Of tho case
until next Friday morning, which MAS
granted without argument.
There MAS = double reason Tor the
continuance. Scudder's friends were
not yet ready 10 have the question OF
his sanity brought TO issue. aud the
physicians Mt the detention hospital de-
sired more time TO observe the prison
er's actions and learn his real condl-
ton. There being criminal charges
behind those Of insanity, the question
arose whether or not Scudder was
feigning insanity to rave himself from
the criminal court.
DR.. Lyman, the insanity expert, went
into Scudder's cell with the accused
mans brother, DR.. Doremus Scudder,
and his attorney, Mr.. Wilbur. but
Dr. Lyman refused to make any state
ment regarding his mental condition.
The Doctor Denies IL.
DR.. Scudder, from his cell in the de-
tention hospital, emphatically denied
that he murdered ms mother -ln-lsw,
Mrs. +. IL. Dunton, and wildly asserted
that his arrest waa the result of dia-
boiical plot conCocted by his wife's rel
tives. He WAS asked what he had 10
say in regard to charge OF murder
brought against him.
"Murdern' screamed the doctor.
"Its damnsble lie. know nothing
about it. Oh, yes, believe they did
cay something, but was too sick to
| pay any attention to II"
"Then you deny that you are guilty
as chargedT'
The doctor, apparently by a great
effort.g grew calm and replied: "Such m
idea is nonsense, utter flsnsense. say.
1t is preposterous. 1t is the result 0f q
hellish plot. Do you think would kali
an old woman Who only had . few
months to live At hest. Rot and non
sense" The doctor then grew Wild.
Making a sudden spring in the direc.
ton of the reporter ne waved his arms
and shouted, "You look like the ma a
who CAME sneaking around to my
window last night and peered in at me.
l believe you are the man. He waS Z
perfect fend. All night long he leered
and smirked at me through the bars OF
the window. / could not sleep aud he
would not 90 away. Now you have
come here to torment me-
The doctor then suddenly dropped
into bed, turned his face TO the wall
and drew the bedclothes ever his head.
Fully five minutes were spent by tie
attendant IN z vain endeavor to rouse
him. de, however, stubbornly held the
bedclothes over his head and refused
to respond to further Questioning.
Belisved to 70 Shamming.
The reporter and attendant left the
room. locked the door and remained
watching at the "peek hole" Net a
minute had elapsed before the doctor
had uncovered hrs head and glanced
around the cell. Then he placed hl.
hand beneath his head, uttered . Sigh
of relief and reclined in an easy posi-
ton. The interview was ended and the
wild look Of insanity had completely
left the doctors face.
"What do you think of him." was
asked Attendant Donnelly. The at.
tendant, who for several years had
charge of q ward at the Dunning asy.
Ium and who knows insanity when be
see it, shrugged mis- shoulders and
said:
"a sham, . perfect sham. Pretty
clever at it. though, wasn't he? Rather
oveidid the matter, though. Why,
would stake my life there is nothing
the matter with that man. Pve seen
and handled every phase of insanity
| and If that mana insane 80 are you
and /. could hardly keep from
laughing most of the time. Did you
notice how disappointed he locked
wien he sprang toward you and SAN
thatit didn't frighten you? He might
fool some people, but he didn't fool
me. don't believe he 10 even SICK
JASEsvrLLE, Wis, March THE
autopsy on the body of Mrs. Dnntor
was completed this evening. The re
| port of the examiners made 10 the Chi
cago authorities shows the woman me-
her death by. violence and fully con
firms the theory that she was mur
dered. Six external injuries and five
fractures OF the skull were found.