Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1894-03-30

croscope experts-inf fact, there is not bust J
ness of any kind carried on but what at |
some time or place expert testimony is nee
essary. There is a growing tendency in /
this city and elsewhere to call professional
expert witnesses. Especially is it so in
murder cases and condemnation suits and
in special assessment cases or where bene
fits are asked in condemnation suits. While
appreciate expert testimony and know of |
its necessity, yet cannot in too strong
terms condemn the practice of hiring expert |
testimony. 1t is so often the case that an ex.
pert witness is biased and feels himself COM |
PEELED to testify in favor Of the party en- |
ploying him as such witness.
: mean by professional experts such men |!
as hold themselves out as experts, who !
make business of testifying, who stand |
ready to be employed as expert witnesses |
by either side. In condemnation cases here
in this city, where railroad desires con.
domination of property, how often you see
witnesses on one side swearing to the great
value of the property and on the other swear
ing to its being of small value. 1t comes
from one side employing experts who un-
derstand that their testimony shall be in
favor of their employers. Such a witness
knows that he cannot beimpeached; that he
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simply giving his opinion under oath.
It is true that often expert witnesses give
their honest opinions, yet are mistaken
Physicians cannot always tell the disease
of man. They cannot always tell whether
a man is of unsound mind or not, and they
are oftentimes mistaken. Take the case of
the man who, not being a lawyer, but feel
ing that he was qualified to fill the position
of corporation counsel in certain city, his
object in insisting OH being appointed tc
the high and honorable position being fol-
the purpose of elevating tracks. His going
to the incumbent of that office and inform.
ing him that he was to be appointed to the
position and the incumbent introducing
him to his assistants as the corporation
counsel and the letters he wrote in relation
thereto are of more value as showing his in.
sanity than all the expert witnesses called.
Take the act of that man purchasinga
revolver, going to the home of the mayor
of that great city, who, while in the peace
and quiet of his family, admitted him into
his house, and then, without a word of
warning, shooting the life out of this peace
able citizen and public officer and then
running from the house and going to the
police and giving himself up, surrendering
either from fear or because of his knowing
he had murdered. That is more evidence
of his sanity than the testimony of all the
expert witnesses called to establish it. It
is of greater weight in showing that he
knew the difference between right and
wrong than all the expert testimony.
BY way of suggestion, would in murder
cases, where the plea of insanity was inter.
posed, have the law make it the duty of the
court to summon three disinterested physi.
clans, qualified as experts on insanity, to
testify in the case, the witnesses to be paid
out of the county treasury, and they would
thereby give their opinions without being
Influenced by employers.