The record-union., 1896-04-18
AMATEUR INSANITY EXPERTS
Further Inquiry Into the Quality Of
Raten'S Mentality.
Some Who Believe He is Insane,
and Others Who Think
Otherwise.

The examinatio of Simon Raten as
to his sanity was resumed in Judge
HinkSon's court yesterday morning,
and the jurors that are to try him for
the murder Of Kuwana, the Japanese
should he be judged sane-were eX-
cused until Monday next
L. NJ Landsborough, Clerk of the
court, was examined as to his knowl-
edge of Raten and the latter's manner.
Mr.. Landsborough said he saw him on
his farm near F'lorin. Raten was walk
ing along and talking to himself and
laughing The witness then related to
the jury how Raten acted when ar
raigned in court on the charge OF muir
der When told by the court that he
should prepare for his defense, he said
the railroad company owed him money,
and that he could do nothing until he
got it, He wanted lawyer from Chi
cago. The court had already Informed
him that competent counsel had been
appointed to defend him. His manner
generally and speech were irrational.
Under the ruling of the court the
witness was permitted to express the
opinion, from what he had seen OF
Raten, that he is not sane.
On croSS-eXaminatiOn the witness ad-
mitted that in his opinion Raten pos
Sessed a great deal of shrewdness, has
considerable intelligence. and knows
the difference between right and wrong
Lincoln White attorney -at-law, was
called on to tell what he knew about
Raten. After the prisoner had killed
eX-Sheriff James Lansing, some four
teen years ago. and was sentenced to
he hanged, the witness, then student
at law, said he had considerable to dc
with Raten on behalf of the latter S
counsel. They could not prevail on him
to sign the writ of error to the United
States Supreme Court that was to delay
his execution. He seemed to have nc
conception of the danger that con-
fronted him, but kept talking about a
small sum of money that he said his
counsel had secured, and which be-
longed to him (Raten)
From Raten's demeanor at that time
and since the witness believed him to
be insane.
Hiram w. Johnson and Charles F.
Gardner, of counsel for Raten, also tes-
titled as to the opportunities they had
had to judge of his mental condition.
They believed him to be an irresponsible
person.
WARDEN AULL'S OPINION.
This closed the testimony for Raten,
and District Attorney Ryan called
Charles A Aull, Warden of the Folsom
Prison, to the stand. After detailing
his experience with Raten at the prison,
Warden Aull expressed the conviction
that the prisoner well knew what was
going on about him.
A long argument ensued on an OBJ
lection by Raten's counsel, as to War
den Aull's competency as an expert on
insanity. District Attorney Ryan held
that the Warden's experience for twelve
years in dealing with criminals who
were insane, or simulated insanity, was
of more value than the theories of one
who had simply made the subject of in
sanity a study.
The objection was sustained, Judge
Hinkson saying that if authorities
could be produced later on to convince
him that he was wrong, he would re-
scind the ruling.
Replying to a question by the court,
Warden Aull said in his opinion Raten
knows what is unlawful, but evidently
believes that all laws are wrong. and
that he is not required to obey them.
he had been able to get but very little
work out of Raten unless placed by
himself. He could not get along with
other prisoners. AT one time he was
punished by having his hands kept
above his head for five days, two hours
a day, and fed on bread and water, with
one full meal every other day
This was done because he became un-
4
to be a fine mechanic. and demanded
lighter work and better food than fell
to the lot of ordinary convicts.
The prisoner, said Warden Aull, may
have some peculiarities that might be
by some considered evidences of insan-
ity. Still, he knew when he did wrong.
In the witness opinion, Raten cares
very little for punishment. Instead of
having any feeling against Raten, he
had declined TO interfere to prevent the
Communication of his sentence by Gov
ernor Markham when by one word he
might have prevented it. 1t seemed to
be Raten's belief that he has the right
to take the law into his own hands
that he believes all laws to be wrong.
RATEN'S EMPLOYER.
Joseph Rutter, on whose farm Raten
went to work the day after the Japan
ese were murdered, related the circum-
stances under which the prisoner went
to work for him. Raten called about >
o'clock on the morning after the crime
was committed. Mrs. Rutter did not
like his looks, but the witness employed
him. Raten asked 81 a day for his
services, which was satisfactory. The
first day and half of the next he put in
a making a kind of stove for his own
cooking.
The next day witness learned Of the
killing of the Japs. and going to where
Eaten was at work spoke OF the mat
ter Raten remarked: Plenty more
japanese tramps, guess. Is the second
cne dead?" Witness did not then
know.
on Friday the witness showed Raten
what he wanted done. An engine
needed fixing, and he said he could do
1t all right He worked rapidly and
efficiently during the day. At the time
the murder was spoken of Raten said:
81 was here then"
-----------------