Rock Island Argus., 1893-12-20
DOCTORS DISAGREE
Medical Experts Testify in the
Prendergast Case.
Some Think Him Insane. While Others
Believe He Knew He Was
Doing Wrong-A Scene.
FAVORABLE 10 rHE PRISONER


YAvoRADLE 10 THH PRISONER
CnCAo0, Dec. l0.-''Insane," !" without
any modification. was the sworn opin-
ion of six doctors who claim TO be ex-
ports in insanity. when they were asked
Monday what they thought Of Prem
dergast's mind. For moro than
four hours they argued with Mr..
Trude, who used every means at his
disposal to belittlc their opinionA He
attacked their records. quoted suthori.
ties and put SO many hypothetical
cases that at times Il was difficult to
tell who knew more about the question,
the attorney or the witness The ex.
pcrts, however. remain firm in their
statements
Says He n Rssponsiblc.
CHICAGO. Dec. lO.-At the morning
session Of the Prendergast trial, DIR.
Dewey, who was medical superin-
tcndent of the state insane hospital At
Kankakee for fourteen ycars and 1t
present resident Of Chicago, was
called rs q witness for the defense
in the Prendergast case. He gave
the prisoner q little the worst of
il, and while admitting that the assas-
sin was not wholly mentally sound, be-
lieved that he possessed reasoning fac.
mites OF n responsible character. In
other words. that Prcndergast was
able to restrain himself at the time
aud place of the tragedy from commit.
ting the murder.
Mr.. Wade asked DIR. Dewey a hypo-
thetical question based on the facts in
the case. which assume rs true all
elements which the defense expects
10 prove. To this the doctor expressed
his belief that the subject showed
symptoms of insanity and was undoubt-
edly not entirely mentally sound.
what is your opinion as to his men
tai condition Mt the time Of the hom;-
cide?"
II believe he knew that the act he
committed wns contrary to the law of
the land. and could have dcsisted If he
had had the will to do SO. will freely
admit, however. that he has not the
logical power and ability of the aver
age man."
Mr.. Trude. Un crcss-examinatiou,
asked the witness: "Would Won con.
slider that q man who has q number of
vagarics, who discusses . number of
themes. for instance-single tax, etc
had symptoms of paranoia?"
Il should not"
rr~pderg.st Creates . Sceue.
Prendcrgast grew boisterors over
this answer, and thrusting aside At
torncy Wade he pointed his finger NJ
Mr.. Trudc, while his face flushed rs il
with anger, and he cried out: ..Yorr
honor, he is asking the doctor II ose
questions to prejudice the witness
against the defendant, and / make an
objection"
Mr.. Trudc toUk advantage OF the
prisoners coherent and incisive Ian.
guagc to ask the witness If he though,
the defendants actions indicated par.
apoia.
'.No, sir; the face was flushed with
anger and he did not tall; incoher.
emily"
Prendcrgast jumped up and repeated
hts former statement without q change
of syntax. The court ordered the pris-
oncr to remain silent and Bailiff Kcar
ncy attempted to quiet the now thor
oughly excited assassin.
Go way. bailiff. My life is ut stake
here and know wha. l am talking
about" cried Prendergast, after which
he subsidized with few mumblings.
He Wecps..
Witness had read the testimony al
DIR. Spitzka in the Guiteau trial and he
agreed with the doctor in the belle,
that Guitcau was not altogether sound
mentally. Prendergast again broke
out with his remarks: II object tc
any reference To Guiteau in this
case. lie Is not me-" Tears came tu
the prisoners eyes u moment later
when he heard DIR. Dewey declare with
an air of solcnnity that he though,
Prcndcrgast knew what he was doing
when he shot and killed the mayor.
lie wiped them away with the little
black handkerchief that he has carried
throughout the trial and he became
very quiet.
HAD Testimony for Freadsrgaat.
"Do you think that when the de.
fcndant entered the mayors home and
shot him down he knew the difference
between right and wrong'" asked Mr..
Trude. .r
II think that he was perfectly con.
scious Of the fact that he was commit.
ting crime and could have rested his
hand"
Mr.. wadcswas diseoncerted over the
answer Of the dcfense's own witness
and 50 was Prcndergast Witness said
that perhaps the element Of malice and
discomfort had worked upon the de.
fendant Prcnder4ast then angrily re.
piled that there was NO malice in his
act
fhiaks HIN Hooao0.
DIR. F. II. Wall, assistant county ply.
sician in charge Of the Jail, gave Il q
his belief that Prenderg1st b insane.
He saw him daily ut the jail and formed
his opinion from his observations.
Tlse 90 Tsen-Cstss Raetssy Dsrnsa.