New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-14
DOCTORS SAY HE is INSANE.
uxpERT TESTIMONY AT THE HANNIGAN
TRIAL.
,,,s GRAY SMITH AND MDONALD AGREE THAT
THE DEFENDANT IS SUFFERING FROM
MELANCHoLIA-soME BRIGHT SAL
LIES AT THE TRIAL.

N.
rin,h-st the first witness at yesterdays ses-
.,os of the trial of David +. Hannigan for the mur
asr Of solomon ii. Mann. He was examined by Dr.
" J. O'Suvan. the medco-legal expert, who Is
associated with Mr.. Brooke IN the deferce
The witness said he had examined Hannigan IN
The Tombs or September Il. and in his opinion Han
nigan was insane. Dr.. Gray said that Hannigan
vas suffering from, melancholia The witness then
cave minute description OF the various forms of
insanity.
..Hannigan told me-" said the witness. that the
,p,rit Of his sister Loretta had urged him to the
decd and tina; afterward she had expressed her
approval of the shooting"
DO men have delusons?' asked Justice
Ingraham.
.'Men may have false beliefs" said the witness
"Around election times half the voters are mentally
affected Their beliefs disturb them"
so that the only sane men in the community
around election times are the fellows who don't go
near the pos?' said Justice Ingraham This sally
produced laughter in court
Yes and the men who in Office" retorted the
witness.
when a man believes he the face Of his
dead sister. you wouldn't hesitate to say he had
halrcination?"
mo. sir: | would say he had a pronounced nal
Ecination
TIE witness was then asked several technical
questions about insanity and its various symptoms
AZ this point DR.. OSullivan asked the witness TO
define the method by which he would go about the
examination Of an insane patient 10 determine to
what degree the reasoning faculties had been af
fected.
The witness smiled at the question why, DR..
osullivan." said he "it would require year to
answer that question.
Mr. Brooke here whispered TO his colleague.
Try and make the term three months. Doctor,
ssid the examiner.
Remember. too said Justice lngraham that
rv term expires in this court on the first of the
year
In reply 10 another question the witness said that
Eannigan has tho facial expression Of one suffering
from meancholia.
He has II now" said DR.. Gray 'as l look al MIN
before me-
Bannigan raised his head YEARLY as he heard the
,,Dly and looked at the witness with dull kind Of
gaze
Or Gray then gave elaborate explanation as to
how he made his diagnosis OF the defendant. When
he had finished Or. O'Suvan produced the famous
hypothetical question. consisting Of thrty-sx type
written pages. and rehearsins all the evidence in
tne case and began 10 read 1t. This question VIII
M put 10 every one Of the expert witnesses for the
defence The witness took notes OF the question
as Dr. Osullivan read.
When he had finished reading the question, DR.
Osu,livan asked the witness If the facts contained
IN the question were proved what was the condition
OF Hannigan on May %. the date of the shooting.
Mr. Mcintyre objected to the question. but Justice
lngraham overruled him.
Answer the question, please, Doctor. said Dr.
OSu'livan.
Dr. Gray paused a moment and Their replied
slowly:
III these facts can he proved there is no doubt
whatever in my mind that David Hannigan was
insane
In reply to another question. little later Dr.
GRAY said re did not believe Hannigan was capable
of knowing the nature quality of the act that
he committed on May g.
MR. M'INTYRE CROSS EXAMINES.
Mr. MCINTYRE cross-examined the witness He
had only asked him few questions when the ex-
animation had TO he suspended. Hannigan was
taken i'll in court and had TO be led out OF court
by the attendants. He recovered. however, In a
few moments, but was very pale as he was leo
back 20 court.
Or Gray said in reply to Mr.. Mcintyre, that he
was visiting physician for some years to the Flat
bush Asylum. He also testified that he had quite
6 large private practice.
Can you give US some Of the names OF these
Question ana said to Mr. Mcintyre: -
ny patients 1t would be gross breach OF con-
Mr. McIntvre looked a tife astonished and said |:
Well doctor, if you put 1t in that light won
press the question go. ..... ro,.oa
that prior to his sisters death Hannigan was a
sober man. bat that after her death ne began 20
drink intoxicating liquors-Irish whiskey ana lager
beer-what effect would that have on hin? 100
Mr. Brooke jumped to his feet ana sald there
The only testimony. said ne on ma a., POM Trsh
Nj Mcintyre was obliged to modify his question
have on his opinion if it was proved that Hannigan
was drinking from March % to May e .-o,.aa
thai The defendant was temperate man until ne
learned his sisters condtion snou no, BEEN pro-
duced by the same cause as that which produced
The rnelancholia.' ,. ..o,aaa - his
business regularly from the day after his SISTER ;
funeral May g. would that alter the op,1n cues
f sIon expressed !" 'ep'' - wv ,n man who
not in the least sir have known sr man f wmo
made million dollars while he was suHerihs i'o''
Jsnnigsn under an order from the Court
and declared hin, sane enough 40 w line between
99allhk lsii t s man might understand what
was going on all about him well enough ou' ''''
aN Witness was Dr. George De Forest smith n
He ,estined that he had made sp was examined
by Dr O'sullvan.
MELANCHOLIA FROM HIS SISTERS If'o0 oNr'
DR. O,sul,van had put the witness only IL"
questions when Mr.. Brooke proceeded 10 e"a'''"e
the witness in his place. o.e.,,,,,,.n
Il am fatigued, Your Honor. saia Dr'
Mr. Brooke began TO ask question: '0' -"
ospno, allow You Mr. Brooke 70 examine me
witness The counsel that began inus So Va that
txsm,na,ion There is a rule In this state 10 '"a'
effect" u,,i, mt ner-
DO understand that Your honor VIII "'' pc
nit me TO examine the witness,
Yes sir that Is what l saio. ,. has heen put
Wei that's the first time the RUE p nas az he
in force in regard to me-" said Mr.. nroo"e' CO
Dr. Osullivan then resumed the exam HIsnnsan
Tn. witness said that in his opinion it
~, I'd from the beginning or his
trouble and Thai his insanity covered perioa u
Dr. caT.os r Macdonald. president OF t 0aS nex,
York State Lunacy Compassion wa" va ,be Tombs
He sa,d he had examined Hannigan IN the s yon-
As a result OF your examination wha' was ''
diagnosis" md ballucnations
u sight and hearing. 81, a. ,o,9'
DID Hanngan say anything 10 yoj Nv the express
ron o her eye on her deathbed soia n ns to him
her death lie also said that she 99one right
after and told him that ne mao md l9 he said No;