Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-09
AGAINST INSANITY
Continued from secemih PAGE. J


engaged by the marshal to attend sick members
OF the jury. Witness had studied mental dis
eases somewhat, but had never made them
speciality. He had suggested to Or. McWili-
Jams that Schneider be given milk punches
three times a day.
Mr.. wilson-why did you advise them? As
a luxury?
The witness-No; merely as a compromise
between my position and that Of DIR. McWil-
liams. My experience is that prisoners in such
institutions are not overfed a rule
DIR. Bovee stated that he based his opinion
that the man was sane on his examination of
him in May and from what he (the witness)
had heard during this inquiry. Had the
witness known that Schneider only ate
food prepared by certain persons be-
cause he supposed other food to be
poisoned it would have led him to
conclude that the man was either insane
or feigning insanity. but the witness would
have to have before HIM more evidence before
he would care to finally pass upon the man s
mental condition.
HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION.
Mr.. Wilson then put to the witness
a hypothetical question covering the tes-
timony to Schneider's parentage
birth, life and condition during his
stay In the Jail, and asked witness to state
whether he believed, from that Hypothetical
question, that the prisoner was or was not in
sane.
District Attorney Cole objected on the grou nd
that the hypothetical question did not fully
state the case.
MIR. Wilson said that he only desired the
witness TO assume that the question
covered the case. He was aware that
there would be difference Of opinion
as to the. correctness of the question. but the
other side had the opportunity to cross-exam-
inc and to put question covering the case as
they saw it.
The district attorney then withdrew his OBJ
lection, but before the question answered
the court took recess until 1 o'clock.
AFTER RECESS.
After recess Mr.. Wilson'S hypothetical ques.
ton was read to DR.. Boyee and the doctor an
swered it by saying that he would be
led to believe that the man was insane. al
though If he had to decide the question on that
statement alone he would not declare him to
be insane. When he examined Schneider in
May there was no evidence of innutrition, and
the man was apparently in good physical con-
dition.
The doctor said he did not profess to be an
expert. neither did he examine him as an ex-
pert. He had not examined the prisoner since
the 31st of Nav.
He observed the man while in the court room
Witness noticed that Schneider refused TO look
at IA witness no had known him intimately I'M
til moment before the witness left the room.
In insane persons there was often twitching
OF the fingers. 1t indicated either diseased
mind or an attempt to convince people that
the person was insane. In the case of the pris-
oner the twitching was not always kept up.
THE PRISONERS ACTIONS.
Before this characteristic was mentioned BY
DR.. Bovee, Schneider had sat for some time
with motionless hands, but as it was mentioned
the man began to nervously pick his left hand
with his right
To the district attorney DR.. Bovee said he
would not expect a child born as had been the
prisoner to be insane, although he would expect
the child to be of a nervous temperament. II
the delusions were assumed he would consider
the man to be feigning. So, too, il the man
told only certain persons of the seeming de-
lusions.
He believed that Schneider evaded number
of the questions put to him by witness.
To Mr.. Mr.. Wilson DR.. Bovee said patients
often feigned loss Of sleep. Irregular, broken
sleep was one of the symptoms of insanity.
HARRY T. KNIGHT.
Harry I. Knight said he lived at 1907 c
street southwest. He had known Schneider
intimately in 1888. and they were to-
gether for about seven months. Schneider
bad often drank whisky and beer. Every Sun
day during that period they went to Cabin John
bridge. and on those occasions Schneider drank
of liquor at night. When under the influence
OF liquor Schneider was boisterous. At other
times he quiet.
To Mr.. Mattingly the witness said his inti-
macy with Schneider terminated in December
1888. His habits were about the same as those
of Schneider during their intimacy Witness
drank beer and Schneider drank whisky
mostly. He never had any difficulty with him.
WI. F. sLAvEN.
VIM F. S1ayeO of q91 g. STRAIT southwest said
he was a compositor on the Washington Post
He knew Schneider. first meeting him in 1888.
Went to Cabin Johns bridge on Sundays
with Schneider and Knight. Never saw the
prisoner drink more than four drinks of
whisky in an hours time on any one occasion.
Never saw him drink to excess.
District Attorney-Didn't the four drinks
make him drunk?
The witness-No, sir
To Mr.. Mattingly the witness said that he
sometimes went out with Schneider and Knight
during the night. He never saw Schneider
drunk.
Deputy Warden Russ was recalled for the
purpose of explaining and identifying the
ground plan Of the Jail submitted to the court
this morning by the district attorney
He said thata person looking out Of Schneider's
cell could command view of portion of the
rotunda Of the Jail.
ROSS. A. FISH.
Roswell A. Fish, the foreman of the Jury
which convicted Schneider, said he never
saw Schneider before the trial. During
the trial saw the prisoner consult
frequently with his counsel Witnessed
observed him closely during the trial and never
entertained the slightest thought Of his insan-
ity. He was keenly sensible of what he was
about and of everything that was going on
To Mr.. Wilson the witness said the question
OF insanity was not raised m the trial
ROBERT W. DUTToN.
Mr.. Robert w. Dutton, a reporter of The
STAR. said that he sat directly in front of
Schneider during the trial. The defendant held
frequent consultations with his counsel when
ever it seemed to be necessary. Some
times the conversation was begun by Schneider,
sometimes by his counsel. The man seemed
to be intelligent and to comprehend
everything that was going on. The wit
ness interviewed him at the Jail fol-
lowing the conviction. He seemed to
be badly broken up. HE asked me what I
thought of the verdict" said witness. 81 tried
to avoid answering for time. but he
fretted me and 1 replied that il was
justified by the evidence. Then he
burst into tears and said that he did not have a
fair show; that his witnesses were not be-
lieved. He seemed to be surprised at
the result of the trial; said that God knew
that he did not intend to kill his wife ~
The witness saw Schneider in court when he
was sentenced. His beard was grown.
his hair was rough, his coat collar turned
up and he had the appearance of