The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-17
SEATTLE. WEDNESDAY, APRIL II.
TNSrjsPECTFD MANIA.

The murder of the two girls In
San Francisco church will probably be-
come one OF the most famous In the an
nails OF medical Jurisprudence. Not only
will the Jury be called upon 10 determine
whether the assault which is assumed
10 have been made on the girls was per
petrated before or after death, but the
sanity of the accused must he determin-
ed In the former question there Is little
of interest so for as the enormity OF the
onense or the identity of the perpetrator
,s concerned. Its value is In helping TO
arrive at judgment upon the mental Son-
dition of the accused.
From such scanty testimony as the
newspaper reports afford. II seems that
the accused has a prediction toward
monomania, even IL 1t do not amount
10 mental alienation. That he Is sane
on all other subjects is not proof of limo
cence. Nor Is his self possession better
proof. for tho cunning of maniacs tn con-
cealiug for a time their alteration Is
weli-settle fact. Monomania does not
always take a vicious form. One of the
leading eases In kleptomania is that of
sprague. "a printer. who In Brooklyn In
1872. rushed out OF his Office. ran after
n
a shoe from one of her feet and ran of.
She wore a chain and locket and other
yewelry plainly In sight. but he made no
effort to take either. nor did he subject
her 10 any personal indignity. He was
acquitted. but his mania never left him.
He was married. worked steadily at his
trade OF job printer. and never gave
ofYense except by an occasional theft OF
a shoe. The late Earl OF Derby-not the
Rupert OF debate but his son, who was a
member of several cabinets as Lord Stan
iey-was confirmed kleptomaniac.
There Is. however. "A more horrible
form OF monomanta. 20 which, for con-
venience rather we think. than upon true
scientific theories. the term moral IN
sanity has been applied. II is not reeog-
nIzed as insanity. however. by all au-
thorltiez. except as dipsomania or any
other form Of exaggerated and pervert-
ed taste may be considered mania. 1t
ls rather a psychological than mental
condition. II Is not the result OF deter
mInahle disease or OF detective physical
faculties producing an imperfect work
ing OF the machinery OF the mind. 1t may
call for pity. such as one feels for the
poor devil" who cannot or VIII not ex-
prcIse self-wlll and abstain from the ex-
cessive use OF intoxicants; but II Is a
nerverslty which does not release the oh
je.t from responsibility for offenses com
mittcd. The resemblance between moral
insanity" and plain ordinary crime has
been caustically commented upon by very
distinguished authorities upon intcllectu-
al insanity.
A very notable instance Of this form
OF insanity WAS that Of Constance Kent.
girl or H. who murdered her little
brother bat with INFINITE cunning select-
I'd a time when her own physical con-
dltion would account for the eussnguin-
ii clothes Her device did not. OF course.
deceive the microscope. bat she was sem
fenced 70 hc kept In an insane asylum
during her maiestys pleasure" Her
cruel nature developed. and she set traps
Tor mice and birds only 20 tear their
limbs apart while sin alive. Up 20 the
sisne or the murder she had displayed
40 marked characteristics except a little
Eulienness-
The case 81 Jack the Ripper-the most
mysterious series of crimes known 80
police annals shows not merely the fe-
rocity Of uncuraecsf passions bat the cum
ming % madness.
\ wealthy young lady. Miss BaSaier,
was declared 81 uasoun8 miad and her
marriage dissolved she Impressed her
husband with her modesty. and he took
II as girilsh. romantic freak that she
proposed an elopement after their tu-
saEement- Upon marriage the husband
va. shocked and horride1 He thea
learned that abe had several times fse, n
engaged. ami the engagements broken
through her sndclA-acy st solitary mo
nsents With her nSncecs. although her
shSStity Was never questioned. At her
examination she impressed the learned
experts who questioned her IS a yolng
lady Of refinement Who hsa been grossly
~ai,gnea. The Earl % Portsmouth BAD
b great desire 20 bleed persons. Nearer
Seattle. was she case or yotur girl " ro
seemed - have mania Tor seGi{9r IRE
70 the house.
The Illustrations are snnume~ahie. ani
he law Is very reluctant 20 classify TIE
ssses, In America II has entirely igrorcf
h moral insanity distraction. II an
Acknowledged exnerg tessi1es that an ar-
ssSea - insane. the law does not stop 20
AK whether Il snsaifcstS itself through
he moral or intellectual faculties, TIE
spp0ssie view WAS taken ~ the e3cqueat
>harles Ncrks IN ths trial 81 Lord Fcv~
-ers. Sic declared that aIl cTuelsy. tru-
atty, revenge. injustice. s. insanity Sn
sense, There were philosophers Re
satt. who heAf thss opinion as strict
rt&S3sn, ts8t white n mls-ts ~ rfxnt sn
PHILOSOPHY. q - dangerous sa saateatare.
-. nav teach men 80 eoatrnt their rzS-
as ~ sss~sa sssea Ns. Ass 90 sxtana-
. - s.s.{cnra AErn r ->sfss. 80. :. !
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