The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-24
HE LIKES TO KILL DOGS.
One of nurderer COuiter'S Most
Pleasant PaStimeS.
MEDICAL MEN EXAMINE HIM

For Evidence That He Is n ''DeSen-
erate''-Of a Low Order of InteIIi-
sence.
Eleven of the third year students at
the medical college, the senior class, this
morning made a scientific study of David
Coulter, the accused murderer of Edward
Illston. The examination was made in
side cell of the jail under the direction
of DR.. R E McVey and occupied about
an hour and a quarter.
Coulter submitted to the ordeal cheer
fully. In fact, he was joked by the
students into laughing almost aloud on
two or three different occasions. At first,
however, he refused to answer a ques-
ton until he was assured that the men
were medical students and not news
paper reporters. Il don't want this all
in the papers and maxim me out to know
nuthin'," he said
The object of the examination was to
show, or 10 find out, if Coulter and his
family were not of low order of intel
ligence. Questions as to the age of
Coulter's parents and similar inquiries
were made, but nothing important re-
vealed.
Measurement of the bones of the sub
jects head showed that most of them are
normal, except that he has receding
forehead, He wears 67s hat
"Have you any pain In your head?"
asked DR.. McVey.
yes, here in my temples" replied
Coulter, placing his hand on top of his
head. This seems to be one of the boys
peculiarities. He knows a lot of Names
but is not able to connect them with
what they have reference to.
"Do you have pain here?" asked the
doctor, placing his hand on Coulter's
temples.
Yes, quite often; I have it there,
too"
"Do you have any defect in hearing?"
81 haven't been able to hear we'll for
five or six years, but that was caused by
my taking so much medicine-so much
quinine."
This is a good point to note" said DR..
McVey to the students. Every deranged
physical condition which was revealed
was eagerly jotted down by them. The
theory was that a man whose physical
faculties are in bad condition cannot have
very acute mentality.
SHOW are your eyes?" asked the doc
tor.
"They are not strong, and they are sore
part of the time"
A small instrument, like a carpenters
compass, was placed on the hand, arm
and leg of Coulter to ascertain his sensi-
bility TO touch. First one point and then
both would be pressed against his skin,
and he was to tell whether he felt one
or two. The result of this was a disap-
pointmeRt to the class, being the reverse
of what they expected to fnd. He ex-
Eibited the most acute sense of touch,
and he never missed telling correctly how
many points were touching him.
''Sensibility is the basis Of thought" re-
marked DR.. McVey.
Coulter gave his age as eighteen.
weight as 40 pounds. and height as five
feet eight inches. He is not particularly
slight, though he looks so. His muscles
seemed to be quite hard as though thew
had been used and developed.
The accused murderer was tried IN
figures by the doctor. He named the
units, tenths and hundredths columns
but said he did not know why they were
60. DR. McVey showed MIN some fipures
and writing in book and after it was
closed Coulter told correctly what he
had seen, showing that he has memory
and is not Eighty. Whatever he sees
makes due impression upon his facuI-
ties.
Once when the doctor said something
amusing TO Coulter he smiled broadly,
out only momentarily. "That'5 the only |
time l ever saw him SMILE" exclaimed
JaiIer Larry Sheehan. ST have said all
the funny things could think of to him.
too" It seems that Sheehan's wit is not