The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-28
SIGNS OF INSANITY
Evidence That Shows John Sebastian
Might Have Been Crazy.
HIS RELATIVES AFFLICTED
He is on Trial for the Murder of
His Wife. and His Mother and
sisters say He Has for
Years Reen Mentally Off.

Great Falls. March 27.-The third day
or the Sebastian murder trial opened
to-day with the deposition of John r.
MCGEE, superintendent of the electric
light works of Marshall, MINI. He de-
posed that he had known the defend
ant intimately for two years in St
Paul, where Sebastian worked under
him as assistant engineer. He never
saw him touch liquor or knew him to
be under it's influence. He was strange
ana wild OF demeanor and had no con-
troll over his mind. About once in two
months he would have a nervous or
crazy mt. The least little thing de-
stroyed his reason, and at times he had
to be sent home. He was continually
complaining of pains in his head. He
would say and do things which he
would soon forget. He was twice dis
charged and then taken back as he
was a hard, Industrious worker. Dur
ing his attacks, he would act like
maniac.
Mrs. Annie Sebastian, the mother of
the defendant, testified that she was "a
years of age and had seven children liv-
ing. She said that John was a bright
scholar until, when 10 years old, he fell
OH OF wagon, the wheel of which
passed over his head, crushing the
skull After that he lost his memory
and was withdrawn from school. When
contradicted he grew irritable and an
CRY. After he was married one day his
wife came running up, saying John was
in the house acting as If he were crazy.
When Mrs. Sebastian went to Benton
last May she found John much worse
and very melancholy and morose. She
tried to cheer him up, but in vain. He
told her he was afraid of everybody
and everything In referring to his
wife, after she deserted him, he always
called her What you-ma call-it."
He carefully treasured the trinkets she
left and would allow no one to touch
them. He got very excited over two
old cans which Mrs. Sebastian threw
away, insisting that they belonged
to "What-you-may -call-it." He also
had an old tool box in which he kept
old scraps of things, calling them his
trinkets.
Mrs. Sebastian then testified to the
sanity of the defendants ancestors
Her grandmother's sister went insane
through religious excitement and her
grandmother was insane for years. Her
uncle was monomaniac Her father
was insane and thought he was being
poisoned for life insurance money.
Some of her children were not consid-
cred of sound mind.
The deposition of Mrs Helen L. Hunt
a sister of the defendant, of ST. Paul. |
Mimi, was read. She testified that her
mother had insane attacks and had one
just before the birth of the defendant |
who was born prematurely from a |
shock which her mother received Mrs. |
Mary Montgomery, another sister of |
the defendant, living in Minneapolis, |
gave similar testimony as to her |
mothers and brothers insanity.
The large scar on the head Of the
defendant was then shown to the jury
At this point the defense rested and
the state introduced several witnesses
in rebuttal.
j. j. Miller of Columbia Falls testi-
fed that he knew defendant who had
been frequently at his house and shop
lie did not see anything wrong in his
talk or actions. He could not say
whether he was insane or not. Upon
ross-examination he said that the de-
PENDANT was full of whiskey the night
of the trouble with Martin and could
hardly stand.
Miss Maggie Miller, the sister of the
last witness, gave practically similar
testimony. except that she said that
Sebastian was not drunk.
These witnesses were recalled later
at the request of the jurors and uues-
toned as to the time of the trouble
with Martin. The previous testimony
of Martin and others present at the af-
tair was that it occurred between -
and O'Clock at night. Miller insisted
hat Sebastian came into the shop be- :
tween and at night, with blackened
Eyes and said that he had Just had a
light. Miller said Sebastian was sober |
n the morning.
Officer Grillenberger Sheriff Dwyer
md John Hammond testified that they
ioticed nothing peculiar in the defend
IL