The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-30
TO A JURY
INSANE MAN PLEADS HIS OWN CASE
IN COURT.

Lem Barns, Win ms Eyes Shining with
the Evidences of Insanity, Tells the
Court What is Law and the Jury What
is Evidence-Was Stolen When Young
and Hid in a Cenar-How He Fought at
the Battle of Antietam When Bis
Brother FeII-Now Rumors of War Have
Driven Him Crazy.
Lem Barnes, prominent farmer of
Sherman township, was adjudged guilty
Of insanity IN the district court yester-
day.
Lem Barnes has been in this county
for twenty-four years and is well
known. He is the father OF eight chill
dren, the owner of a quarter section OF
land that is free from incumbrance and
has cattle, horses, and money IN the
bank
At the full of the moon last month
he was noticed TO be acting strangely.
One morning ne opened the window of
his fine residence and began shooting.
Whats the matter, husband?" cried
Mary Elizabeth, his wife, as she jumped
OuS OF the DeQ IN great dldTIl
'%Oh, nothing at all, good wife," he
exclaimed, 81 am just shooting a rabbit
that's on the top of that tree" pointing
to a tree fifty feet high or more.
"Why, husband, there is no rabbit up
there" said the good wife, but he still
kept shooting and caused great alarm
IN the household.
He got a little bit better, but when
the new moon came again this month
he became a raving maniac. "Ameri-
canism" was his hobby. but few people
knew what he ment by it. Il seems,
however, that the foreigners he is most
against IS the English. He read every
thing about the venezuelan war cloud
and began to think that the English
were about to overrun and overcome
this country and set up a monarchy.
He cogitated over the dangers to his
country until he imagined he saw men
crawling on all tours under his fence
and In his orchard waiting TO catch him
outside Of his door TO kill himself and
family because he was an American.
Then he told his wife that a line of
soldiers several miles long were COM
ing down from Newton to protect him.
He said he heard their Gantling guns
and saw the smoke from their camps
and was surprised why his wife didn't
hear them. He also saw through his
insane eye the men-of-war in Galveston
habor, sent over from England, and
firing on the flag Of America.
AT another time recently he went to
the hardware stores and gave an order
for twelve revolvers, two for each of
the members Of his family, who are at
home.
When he was brought before the court
yesterday he asked the right to plead
his own case. A young doctor from An
dale had been on the stand telling of
Mr.. Barnes peculiarities.
Doctor" said he, raising from his
seat with jerk, IAN I lunatic?'
81 don't think you are quite that bad"
said the doctor, ''but you know you told
me about your disease
81 am not the man that has that
disease" he said, turning around to
the jury and striking tragic attitude.
Another man has disease and am
accused of it,
He then said: Gentlemen of the
jury want TO tell you my history.
Can't get a glass of water. You man
there with the blue coat and brass but
tons. get me a glass Of water. When I
want anything 1 can depend on a boy
in blue for it.
ooh, yes, that IS water" said he,
taking a few sups SUPPLEMENTARY.
yes, that IS water.
''WelI. gentlemen Of the tury-I was
born in Broome county. New York. My
fathers name was Simeon Barnes.
am an American, every inch of me. Oh,
wish 1 had a stenographer to take
down my speech. Well, / guess ] will
take some more OF that water.
''As 1 was telling you, was born IN
Broome county, New York. Ny mother
died young. Myself and my brother
were stolen and hidden in a cellar for
three weeks. He was the brother that
was killed at my side in the battle Of
Antietam. That was a terrible day,
gentlemen We lived at Bradford
Pennsylvania, and when Gov
ernor Andrew J. Curtain called for re-
serves l was the first to enlist TO save
Old Glory" AS he said this he threw
his hand high over his head, interlaced
his fingers and with pathetic dramatic
effect said, "Old Glory, Old Glory, Old
Glory forever" He then went into
rambling history of the war and OF his
own boyhood and youth and finally he
became nearly exhausted and the court
said he had said enough
When he was being taken back to the
jail he showed disposition TO resist as
he imagined everybody would shoot
him. Once in the jail he put the mattress
up against the door and stood trembling
behind IL.
His case is pitiable one The jury
found him insane
SHOOTS HIS WIFE, AVN 4TusFIF