The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-03
THROUGH
HIS NECK.
An Insane Man Who Partially
Breathes
Through an Orifice I'm the Side
Of His Throat,
is on THE STAND
In the Probate Judges Office
This Morning.
John Keener Who Tried Sui
eide, Sent to the Asylum.


John Keener. Sc. years old, is insane
BY a jury ia the probate court TINS
morning he was declared of unsound
mind and ordered sent to the Topeka IN
sane asylum Mr.. keener was in court
during the trial and he sat quietly be-
fore the jury looking at the moor t1e
has a complete opening in the side OF
his neck which penetrates the wind
pipe. and he appears to partially
breathe through this aperature. The
wound will not close. and on account of
it Mr. Keener cannot talk plainly 1t
was made in 1898 when he attempted to
XIII himself By cutting himself about
the neck in four places with knife
This he did while under the halluclna-
ti0n that Rock Island officials were
hunting him.
He is small man wearing a run
beard. He wore old shabby clothes
and about his neck was q handkerc nleI
tied to cover the horrible wound made
by his own hands
Juryman Dr. w. S. Lindsay examin-
ed the wound and said to the court.
fl find that there is an opening here
on the side Of the neck which extends
through the wind pipe Every time he
takes a breath the air blows IN and out
through it,"
Durlng the trial he sat stu and gazed
at the floor in front of him. 1t was
when DR.. Lindsay asked him.
do you know what has been going on
here 2" that he Wepr bitterly, putting up
to his eyes the handkerchief which he
had removed from his neck
Owing to the opening of the wind
pipe ii was difficult to- understand him,
so broken was his articulation To the
question he sObbed: Yes. / do
rs there anything the matter with
your head2" asked the doctor.
s.
there isn't.' said he between sobs.
Does your head hurt you at all2'
ut don't hurt me, but it seems to go
this way, and he waved his hand above
his head describing an oblong circle.
81 want some place to work When
don't work, my head hurts me-
Mr. Keener, would you take your
own life2'
mo; / wouldn't take my own life"
said he rather more clearly.
do YOU feel every day that some
thing is wrong with your head"
w hen the weather is bad. my head
feels bad, and when it is clear, my head
is clear"
IF you should go to the asylum and
be treated, and be allowed to work as
much as you wanted to, would you be
willing to gO2'
fl expect it would be best for me-
During this questioning, H. H. Keen
er of Plymouth. Neb., q son. wept at
seeing his father weeping Mrs Kate
Dimenderfer of North Topeka. sister
stood close to her brother and she. too,
shed tears.
The spectators stood about solemnly
watching the proceedings. There was
some doubt in the minds Of those pres
ent as to what the verdict would be af-
ter the testimony was closed.
II. H Keener, son of the man on trial.
and an engineer of Plymouth. Neb-.
testified to what he knew OF his fathers
condition and stated that he considered
his father to be of unsound mind and
unable to take care of himself
B- IT. Goodwin. a butcher of North
Topeka, to a certain extent corroborat-
ed his testimony, but claimed that he
considered John Keener now to oe "a
bright jolly man.
Mrs Kate DIffenderfer of North To-
peza, a sister Of John Keener. declared
that her brother was not insane and
that he was being tried on the instiga-
OF him.
n. Fl. Keener. son Of John Keener.
was put on the stand and he gave a his
tory of his fathers troubles
Judge Wood asked What has YOUR
fatner done lately which would lead YOU
10 tilnA lhar he was of unsouud mfnd go
gnen Che next letter was unseaIe7 and
Rae ne contents After that he Wrote
Ahat Ae was starving"
w NAT brought you down from Nebras-
ka at this time2
IL = came down to see what could be
- STATE t9, what what YOU know of his attempt
"On June 81. 1895 my father was v-orl--
Ing for the Rock Island He leff his
work suddenly and four miles west ~
Sylvia he cut his throat four times T4a
said that he thought the Rock Island of-
neials were after him.
Have you offered to keep him 2''
Yes sir I have begged him to come
and live with me but he Won't stav
have furnished him money time and
again and L IN poor man"
rs he neat about his person
We have given MIN better clothes. but
he Won't wear them
Il DO you think he is fit subject for
The iunaric asylum 2''
Either that or he should be sent to
fEas Vas. there ever any insanity in his
or his mother was insane
r. r. Goodwin of North Topeka was
SSAs4- ttoW recently have you known
Mt Goodwin Fl have known him for
lM1Hts SeA!Ss NQt recently haven
hhoWh much o1 him until the past six
49, NJ NY ,lsii ne came to rent piece Of
Nv hat 90 you regard his mental con-
wei, don't know. He alwa7-s seemed
Jolly and bright to me Abo7Ir a r7or14b
ago I heard him say that he would never
50 TO see his sons alive
ould You consider q man who haS
mad attempted suicide and had rn9Sa
threats within month against his own
ufe. of sound mind ~
I think he is of sound mind noV.'
Judge Wood Gentlemen. that's the
Here's his sister. she wants to say a
word said some one in the room.
es. i want to know, said Mrs Kate
9iffenderfer Of North Topeka, rather
Let her be sworn" said the judge.
Sloee W ood- state what you know Of
your brothers condition
-, ~ 90 not think he is insane at all"
ON