The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-14

THE QUESTION DISCUSSED BT En-
PERT, ~ 4 MURDER CdsE.
Mechanical Device by Which Physicians
Determine an Alleged Nurderers
Responsibility.

Whom the trial OF Viucenzio Nino, the
t,,lian harber. No. s. Baxter street, says
the New York Evening Post, VINO Is
charged with the murder OF ms vic N
the presence OF their children, on feh-
rt,ary 18th. was resumed before Ike
corder Gon, IN General sessions
two medical expert witnesses told Of
very singular series OF experiments they
had undertaken upon the person of the
accused man.
Or. {. II. Chetwood. OF the Tombs pri-
son. and DR. Charles l.. Dana. OF the
Bellevue Hospital, the expert witnesses.
testified that they entered Nino's cell IN
the Tombs prison, and there rehearsed
a mock murder scene with the prisoner.
drawing the blunt edge of a razor across
their own Threats, and requesting him 10
show them upon a dumb figure that mad
been placed iu his cell how he had COM
mittcd the murder on his wife. During
all these theatrical transactions. a record
ing instrument that had been attached
to Nino's wrist showed that the action
OF the accused mans pulse was IN no
manner accelerated. From this the medi-
cal experts concluded that the murderer
must have been insane when he commit
ted the murder
During the testimony Recorder Con
asked Or. Dana whether IL would De pos
! sible for a sane person 10 feign insanity.
The physician replied. mo; not for any
length Of time
The Recorder heroupon asked the ply
stefan whether he knew that several per-
sons acting in behalf OF a newspaper In
England and America within recent years
| had succeeded IN obtaining admission TO
insane asylums. whore they We're taken
for manlacs by The competent authorities.
In the case OF woman who recently got
| herself admitted TO the Ward Island in-
sane Asylum. the physician replied. her
| feat was not 50 remarkable "a thing, as
| she had merely simulated mclalcholia and
had been admitted together with some
fifteen other patients whose motives for
entering the asylum We're never called
| into question. Tho Recorder horcupon
askod the physician whether he did not
| think that the unrcstralncd exercise or
| the Imagination might not lead 60 ulu-
mate insanity rs instanccd by DR. john
| sen. and asked him whether he had ever
fcaI "Rassolas." The medical expert. who
seemed somewhat astouished by these
J questions. replied that he had read the
work.
Or Johnson" he said. was n man
who suffered q great deal from dcpres-
sion. but he was not insane IN any way.
| lie had some cccentricities, ! believe. so
| him out insane
We'll" exclaimed the Recorder. "Dr.
| Hasbrouck, one 0f the greatest authori-
ties on mental diseases in England. con-
| tended that Dr. Johnson was insane IN
a case before Lord Justice Campbell and
there stated that there was no perfectly
! sane man, and that the only truly sane
| mind I'm the world was that or God"
81 have heard OF that" dryly remark
ed the medical expert
| "NOw. referring 10 Rasscias." continued
the Recorder. "'lo you remember whero
he says that the unrestricted play Of fancy
and the unrestricted Indulgence of imasi-
nation concerning matters that are never
to be realized may lead the human mind
beyond the border line OF re1son|
The physician recalled the passage.
"Do you think that Othcllo was suffer
ing from delirum, or that he was re-
spcnsible for his murder of DesdemonaY
persisted Recorder Goh.
IL DO not think that he was delrous
but that he was a man Of violent tenn
who had merely been misled by the c.r
cumstanccs of the case and by the maiig
nant ius'nuations OF others He appear:
% sane man. however. in tho play. anc
should aesurcdly have been made account
able had be committed the act In rea
life" answered pr Dana.
rs this also your opinion of Leontes
the jealous hero OF shakepearc's Win
tors Talc9" inquired the Recorder.
Both Icontes and Othelio." replied th'
expert. "judaing from the manner 10
which their characters arc depicted I'm The
plays were TO all appearances insane
and should therefore not have been hclo
accountable for their acts had they COM
mittcd them in real life"