The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-02-16

facts. Davis replied firmly, "The man is
sane, colonel, and l so reported"
''Hes not sane the commander rotor
ted. 'Why influence me to stir up civil
murder trial which disintegrates a COM
mand and disturbs discipline? He should
J be sent to an asylum"
Ten years ago Davis would have ex-
planned and at length why he thought
Henderson sane, but since these callow,'days
he had once offered gratuitious information
to superior in command, so he simply,
"I'm not influencing you to do your duty
by doing mine"
| Davis spoke with the gentle firmness of
one struggling to be respectful aud showed
the effect of severe staff training in duty
untainted by the despotism of absolute com
mand. The word permitting" had been
delicately chosen. and passed below the
colonel's guard.
'tThat will do, doctor, said the colonel
stitfly, his color rising, as Davis left the
office. Even after Arizona service has
killed your respect for man his opinions
are still entitled to it, for they are the
result of experiences that have cost the
man. Yet my faith in Davis weakened.
1t takes more than five years confidence in
a human being to outweigh our own fall
we are variousy ignorant. The egotism of
being rational is so pleasing pleasant. Still
the colonel sent Henderson to civil trial
and bullied Davis in the hopes that he
would stopi it.
The trial was held near the post and
many attended it, Before it proceeded to
the arraignment the court summoned Davis
| for opinion. Again the same reports he
had made so confidently to the colonel.
Every one was dissatisfied, and the court
proceeded to trial. The colonel again called
Davis up
Davis, y said he bluntly, 'this has gore
far enough. | was witness in that mans
trial to-day, and the man is mad, and the
court and every one knows it except you,
who of all persons should know it. From
the testimony the jury must convict, which
means the man shall be hung don't
want a man of my regiment hung unless
Pm convinced that he deserves it, Now,
stop your professional stubborness and
request some one in consultation before the
verdict. Would you have IA crazy man
hung"
1.-THE man S a. sane as You are, colonel,
and even granting he is not-whch don't
the class OF insanity which he affects, il
real, would be subsequent to the act, so he
would be punishable whenever reason or a
lucid interval reappeared. 1t would be
only too kind to hang him now, that is
all, " replied the surgeon.
SO the trial concluded, and Henderson
was sentenced to be hanged On petition
of the jury the judge granted a stay of exc
cution until medical experts could be sum-
montd from San Francisco. These, after
consultation with Davis, pronounced Il e
prisoner sane.
j bull w "Nth otl iOl
his execution Henderson confessed his
feigned insanity to me while was taking
| him some tobacco and said that he felt
| kindly toward every one for his treatment
on trial, except that id post surgeon
who had played it on him that he might
hang. ''If ! only had my liberty long
enough to kill Davis he said to me one
day. Cpd die happy" He said that had
been good to him. had fetched him some
clean clothes and tobacco, and that he
would reward me. Then he outlined how
he had killed Mexican miner near Las
Cruces three years before, but that he had
robbed him of but half his buried gold and
that he had intended to return for the
balance and had never done so. Then he
gaze minute directions as to the place and
exact locality and amount of the buried
treasure
"Henderson," asked when he had fin
ished ARE you still crazy, or are you only
lying
"Neither," he said simply. GAS |
mount the scaifold IN incline my head
towards you, which is to affirm in the
presence of eternity that speak the
truth
After my discharge actually went from
Deming up to Las Cruces and followed the
rascal's directions. but found no money,
though old Perez had been murdered, as
stated. shortly afterward met DR.. Davis
and told him of my chase He laughed
pleasantly, and then asked him, "Doctor
would you mind telling me how you could
BE- 50 certain that Henderson was not really
insane
"Why. you should know that" he said
with slight twinkle 'lou helped me
establish the fact. DO you recall that |
gave you diagnosis of his case before his
cell and had you placed on guard to observe
the completing symptoms"
eyes, but he really showed them"
$50 would you had you been fegninp
insanity, as he was doing, and overheard
me and believed, as until now you evidently
did believe, that | spoke the truth"
| now understand Henderson's extreme