The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-26
SHARPE DECLARED insane
Will Go to Highlands Instead of
San Quentin
ISSUE TRIED BEFORE A JURY
Preliminary Steps Taken for an Appeal
in the Mayne Case
Mr.. Bradbury Wins His Suit The Indictment
Against Frank e. Lowery Declared
Defective-0enernI Court Notes

James Sharpe, the crank charged with
assault to commit rape upon little Re.
quena Moore. will 60 to the insane asy-
lum at Highlands instead OF the peniten-
tiary at san Quentin.
The trial of tbs queer individual had
been postponed from Saturday on account
Of the ueatl of the child in the orphan
asylum Friday night, the data Is OF
which were given in The Herali Sunday
murnlng, and in consequence there was
quite a crowd in the court roum of depart
ntnt one yesterday morning when
Judge Smith took his seat and CON-
mence business.
When the case was called. LeCompte
Davi. of the firm of Davis q; RUSH, who
we're appointed to defeni Sharpe some
time ago, adore sed the court. saying
that they believed Sharpe to be insane.
anu suggested that before proosedin,
with the t:ial. jury be empin'led to
pass upon the mans mental condition..
Mr.. Davis citei mum Der CT authort es
showing that where there was question
as to the sanity of person charged with
a crime, it was thin thu province Of a
judge to EN- panel jury to pass on that
question. MIR. Davis further said that he
and his associate Mr.. Rush we're con-
WINGED that their client was mentally
irresponsi BILE, and were prepared with
witnesses to prove that Sharpe was In
sane.
Judge Smith said that this point had
sugs sted itself to him, and accordingly
jury was at once empansle led. and tie
hearidg was proceeded with.
Sharpe formerly live. at Ell Monts.
where he did odd Jobs, and mum yer of
witnesses from that place who had
known him were examined.
Justice Quinn said that he regarded
Sharpe as a half-wittsd crank upon re-
li4ious m tiers. On one occasion his
vile had employed Sharp TO saw limb
off tree, when be got on the wrong end
and came down with the limb, falling
d stance OF about twenty feet. On another
occasion Sharpe was dressed up as a
cl wn by the bows, and appeared greatly
pleased over the attantiQn shown him.
Mr.. T llneyer testified that on one &C.
casiOn Sharpe hal come to his house
dressed only In his undertaking. He
had great difficulty in inducing him to
leave. Sharpe said that he nal bsen told
tnnt this was the corr ct style, and be
could not be made to understand that his
costume was not III accordance with CIVIL
lied ideas.
Other witnesses testified to the eccen-
tricities OF tho prisoner and said that
they CO ,sidered him mentally irrespon' ii
BILE. On one occasion Sharpe had said
that If the Lord told him TO kill a GER
| tain young lady he wouli do so.
The Try retired. ana after few min
utes deliberation, returned a verdict that
| James Sharpe was insane.
Jud Smith at once suspended further
prOcet dings ana made an order commit
ting the said James Sharpe tn the insane
asy UNI at Highlands, were he IS to be
! confined until he shall regain his reason.
In this event he is to ne returned to the
custody of the sheriff of Los Angeles
county, when he will be tried for his
crime. AS Sharos is hopeless lunltic
this IS probably the last that will be
/ heard of him,