Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-26
SANITY QUESTIONED
Examining yths Mental Condition Z
living s Beall
The Parenia and Experts Express. .
Be'iefta Hi. 1n..n,t,-rh.
other Evidence.

|
spectacle parents, but now in jail on
| charge of obtaining money by false rep
reservations, was inquired into by mar
shal's jury this afternoon. Attorneys C.
| T.. Yoder and Joseph Shillington represent
I &c the parents of the unfortunate young
| man, Assistant District Attorney Jeffords
appearing on behalf of the government.
| The first witness examined was the father
| of the unfortunate young man. o. r. Beall.
| He stated that his son is nearly twenty
one years of age, and since about
| nine years ago has exhibited men
| tai peculiarities Since then the boy has
developed an unusual desire for taking
| things not his own. Yet he has always
been aoundantly supplied with money and
personal effects, and there never has ex-
| listed any necessity whatever for his con-
| version to himself of the property Of
others. When spoken to about these
! things, the boy would reply that he never
realized at the time that he was doing
| wrong, and when punished he would in
varlably become worse In everything else
| the boy was always perfectly reliable
About eighteen months ago the family
thought of placing him in an insane asy
lum, and the boy expressed himself be-
Ing perfectly willing to undergo treatment.
A few years ago the boy suffered from
measles and typhoid fever and WAS de-
lirious for long time. Last April he
pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining
money by false representations. and Judge
Cole suspended sentence during Ills good
behavior. the young man promising to keep
out or bad company and abstain from
drinking. In a few weeks. however, it was
claimed that lie had become intoxicated,
! and that d pistol had been found ON him.
He was brought before Judge Cole, who
sentenced him to year and day in the
last month. and had not been home but
three weeks. when he was brought before
the Police Court on a similar charge. He
was committed to Jail to await the action
Of the grand jury, his father refusing to
give bail, because ne believed that 1t would
be best to keep him in confinement Until
his mental condition could be inquired into.
Chnrges Against Detectives.
Mr.. Beall claimed that his son had been
brought into this city after suspension of
sentence by means of decoy letter from a
woman or friend of hers. in an effort 10
induce him to break his promise of good
behavior. Mr.. Beall also intimated that
| the police were determined to send the boy
to prison. and said that the day Judge Cole
suspended sentence Detective Carter told
him ne would soon have him in custody
again. There had been insanity weak
less Of mind in the family and Mr. Real
remarked that the boy is undoubtedly Of
upsound mind through inheritance, sick
ness or The excessive use of cigarettes
The mother and grandfather of the young
man gave similar testimony. and Dr. Elmer
Sothoron stated that he had twice examin-
ca MIN, and believed him to be suffering
from emotional insanity.
lie should be sent to an asylum for
treatment. Incarceration in prison being
apt to aSgravate the mental weakness
DE- irving &. Rose, who stated that he
| mas been specialist in mental diseases for
twenty years. also stated thai he lad ex-
anlined the boy. and had found his condi-
ticr to be that of one whose will and
neral liberty arr compromised. Imrrison-
ment would only make him a confirmed
criminal He should be treated in an
asylum, although his recovery would not
De CERTAIN To Assistant District Attorney
Jencrds Dr. Rose said it is difficult to
define insanity. and be would not admit
that the young mans mental condition is
tnat OF every criminal or that of the aver
age erlmiha4. i,r. Rose admitted. too,
ihat ne h,:a testified that Murderers Tay-
| Tor and Schneider were insane and hal
| made an affidavit to that effect in the ca Sc
| OF Murderer Seam. Those men were con-
rictcd of murder, but DR. Rose claimed
| tfat the autopsy on Schneider confirmed
| his diagnosis.
! Other Testimony
DR.. w. P. C. Hazen gave similar testi-
| nony, and John A. Brown ana Jonathan
| Nichols testified to mental peculiariti,s
! OF the young man. Warden Leonard of the
/ District jail and Guards Woodward and
! II III
| times quiet. orderly prisoner and that
they have never noticed any mental weak
Tess in him. DR.. J. Wesley Bovee stated that
he had examined the prisoner AMI believ-
ed him tc be sane. He believed that he
has been guilty of many vices, as the re-
suit. perhaps. of being allowed too much
money. 70 Mr.. Shillins.on Dr. Boyea adj
! United that he agreed with DR. Rose in his
! telfef that the young mans will ia com
/ promised. but did net believe that his men
tai condition is such as to justify a sus-
| pension or a prosecution of the charge Nor
| could he agree that the young man is in
t capable of controlling his will
| Dr. w. Is. Snute testified that he had ey
amined the prisoner, and while he believed
MIN to be of weak will, yet he believed
| that he knows right from wrong and di,1
not consider him insane. Dr. Shute said
| tina; he believed nine-terth of all criminals
| to be me?.1ly affected and rem arked that
; he belie' ed it would be wrong to imprison
| the young man. DR.. V. B. jackson gave
similar testimony, and, after Detective
! Carter had denied that there had been any
! deeoy. letter sent to the prisoner, the Jury
! decided in a few minutes that the Young
| man Is suffering from emotional insanity
and has been for the past year The charge
| against him will now probably be dismiss
ed and the prisoner sent to the insane asv
! lum for treatment.
! PRESIDENT HIPPOLYTE DEAD.