Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-18

1t might have resulted in acute insanity!
A 1t might.
Q-And it might nots
Alt might not.
Q-And under your skillful treatment
ne might have recovered, might not he?
Aft the cause had been removed he
might have recovered under my skiliful
treatment, yes sir.
Q-Have you had men with the same
conditions that Michael Burns manifested
when he came to your office, become emo
tionally insane?
g., A'-1es sir. Don't remember who.
out have seen lots of cases of it. l am
not An expert on insanity
Q'-Did you give your opinion as to
whether man in such a condition would
know right from wrong, from your
knowledge as an expert, or from your
readings
Al should give 1t as my knowledge
as physician.
Q-Did you ever examine q man who
laoored under mental excitement to find
out whether he understood the difference
between right and wrong?
A.-Onder mental excitement, yes sir.
Q,-Who was it?
Al don't remember I have signed
a good many certificates, 80 probably, but
don remember them.
Q-And examined them to ascertain
whether they knew right from wrong9
A.-Whether they were sane or insane
took Burns statements as to his inabil-
lty TO sleep and gave him medicine to APP
ply TO the conditions he stated
Cora Greenwood said she came to
Burns to room, last March, and later
look her meals there and was treated as a
member of the family. Had noticed the
nrst month she vas there a change in his
condition, especially at the table. She
corroborated Mrs Burns testiomny that
he told her he'd break her jaw one time
when She spoke to him as he was reading.
and that he instantly repented. This
changed condition of Burns continued up
to the time OF the shooting affair. Used
to see the pistol on the parlor mantel ex-
cept such times as he was away, when he
took with him.
A. *. Butler testified that he paced the
distance from the centre of Hopkins door
to door of the Democrat Office, and found
it to be 33 PAGES, and from door of Burns
shop to Beale's store, 81 PAGES.
On rebuttal, Greenlief Il. Stevens, Judge
of probate was called. Testified that be
noticed nothing unusual in the appearance
of Michael Burns during the probate trial
of tho case in which Burns and Hopkins
were interested. This trial lasted two
days. The trial closed on the second
Wednesday of last April
Sheriff Norton had seen Burns at the iail
nearly every day save for the time imme-
diately after Burns was borught there, but
had not talked with him oftener than once
week. The court would not admit his
testimony, as 1t was not within the Hint
of the first few days after Burns was sent
to jail.
Turnkey Ramsell testified as to the ap-
pearance Of Burns for week or 10 days
after he entered the jail. Saw him six to
10 times day. Had known him for six
or eight years. Noticed no change In
Burns mental condition nor heard Of his |
having any deluslons
At $50 P. NJ, Hon. H. NJ Heath began |
the argument for the defence During
the hour and quarter he occupied intense
interest was manifested on the face Of
every listener. The following abstract
affords an idea of the thread of his argu- |
ment:
In our New England communities we
have great respect for human life and the |
peace of society. On the other hand, we |
have great regard for the law.
The offence charged in this indictment |
is serious one, an assault with an at
tempt to commit the crime of murder |
There are three different verdicts which |
you may give. A plain verdict of not |
guilty would not be warranted There
was an assault committed, which, if by a |
responsible man, was more than an assault |
Another verdict could be not guilty by |
reason of insanity; then if guilty of WHAT
One verdict would be guilty Of assault
with intent to commit murder; another
would be assault with intent to kill and |
Stay, or intent to commit manslaughter
He should ask the court to rule that the |
indictment is not in the form to sustain a
verdict of guilty of assault with intent to
murder.
There are a great many men who are
not insane from a medical or scientific
Continued on page T.