The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-11-26
AFTERNOON SESSION

mere WIS Il luTSeT
of ladies in the afternoon than in the
morning. This was so noticeable that
some one remarked that it seemed to be
matinee performance. Everything was
very promptly arranged as usual, and
the trial moved off exactly at 2 o'clock.
The first witness was DR.. d. NJ. Wor-
sham, superintendent of the state lunatic
asylum at Austin. Has been in this po-
sition for four months, this last time,
and before that was eighteen months SUI
perintendent of the lunatic asylum at
San Antonio, and before that was four
years assistant superintendent in the
Austin asylum. Was called upon by
Burt's brother to make an examination
of Burt in Jail. Did so. with DR.. Wal
lace, and DR.. Swearingen. Has care
court room. Thought he had seen de-
PENDANT often enough and studied the
case sufficiently to enable him to have an
opinion as to Burt's insanity. Thinks
Burt is in his normal condition. He is
in relation to himself as of faulty
heredity, and yet up to this time having
been considered sane man-he thought
him a sane man now, or in his normal
condition. He had heard all the testi-
mony in the case. In his opinion, as a
medical expert, upon the testimony IN
this case the defendant fully understands
the nature and character of his acts. He
knows the difference between right and
wrong. Would not give his opinion as
to whether the defendant had the will
power to resist performing an act al
though he might know it to be wrong.
Cross-examined by Maj. Walton:
Thought he was competent to pass upon
the condition of the human mind-had
had large experience in insanity. There
are large proportion of patients in the
asylum who know the difference between
right and wrong. Objection sustained to
his passing upon the will power OF such
asylum patients.
Degenerate" is one from faulty hered-
ity, whether physical or mental; while
"moral pervert" is one merely who mas
no regard for moral laws. A man may
be moral pervert without being ae
generate. If Burt was ever sane. which
had been established to his satisfaction,
then he is sane now. Each mans sanity
is fixed according to his own standard,
by his own individuality. A moral per-
vert is one who is an easy mark Tor
insanity. Insanity is the negative OF
sanity. While the sane standard whlch
he has had from birth, unless born an
imbecile. is maintained and is not de-
parted from in an unhealthy way, he Is
sane. When that standard is departed
from he goes over towards insanity. "A
moral pervert is more easily subject to
insanity than one of sound bl1tn. a
change in his character would indicate
when the moral pervert became insane.
L hypothetical case was then put u!
Mai Walton of moral pervert VINO
in early life was frank, open and good
notured. but later became unkind, sus-
picious morose and secretive. Such o
case. DR.. Worsham said, would lhai'
cate n change to insanity.
You can tell by the conduct and ac-
tions to what degree man becomes IN,
sane. Any malformation OF Uranium
indicates faulty development OF the brain.
In hereditary insanity there IS a arSe
proportion of malformation, such as OF
head. facial defects, irregular teeth, ETC.
A well formed head did not preclude the
idea of insanity. 1t is not necessarily
moral insanity when moral pervert
becomes insane. He might nave any
form of insanity. The term moral m
sanity'' is now stricken from the medi-
cal classification. One who comes down
from an impure race would be far more
subject to insanity than one from
pure stock. Epilepsy is one of the most
potent causes of insanity. The. epileptlc
insane are usually the most dangerous
class of patients we have to CONTEND
with. , ;.,,
When moral pervert is struck with
insanity, the evidence of that INSANITY
would be different according to the char-
acter of insanity. Melancholia Is the
most violent form of insanity. When u
moral pervert afflicted with sternness,
secretiyeness and moroseness IS STRUCK
with insanity it would be melancholia.
Such n man would, if impelled by delu-
sion to kill, perform the act under, the
delusion and would do the deed with as
much care. deliberation and effectiveness
as n sane person. Such insane nave
great shewdness. Then Maj Walton
gave long hypothetical case based upon
the defense's theory of the case and thelr
evidence as adduced-in such a case the
actor. the doctor said, would be an IN
sane man. r. =,
Redirect: He saw no melanchoila III
Eugene Burt. He knew of no testimony
in the case which would make him be
lieye Burt a victim of melancholia. lie
believed Burt was Stimulating in his ac-
tions. Had talked with the defendant,
but the questions he had asked Burt
were upon objection not gone into. 1t
was the rarest thing for an insane man
to admit his insanity.
Mr.. G. Il. Jones, clerk in Tips store,
knew Burt. Saw him July "a, just after
noon. Wanted to look at hatchet.
Said he did not want to pay much for
Ratchet as he only wanted to nan up