Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-10-28

jail. Mrs. Thomas also said that FIRE
quently she became fearful Of losing
her mind.
HAVE MERCY ON ME-"
Mr.. Hutchinson then asked the
witness II her husband was home the
night prior to the shooting.
Her reply was:
mo, he wasn't. 1 prayed TO God
that night to bring my husband home
and l don't know why he didn't an
swer my prayer" Here Mrs. Thomas
turned TO the jury and with uplifted
hands and tears in her eyes said: u
pray you gentlemen to have mercy on
me, for I do not remember hurting
my husband"
The scene that followed was pathet-
ic In the extreme. 1t not only affect
ed the spectators. but the court, jury
and attorneys as we'll
Mrs. Thomas was kindly assisted
from the stand by Mr. Van Colt, but
she soon recovered and proceeded with
her testimony. Under ross-examina-
tion she held to her original story.
Or. II. s. Scott was then called and
gave 1t as his opinion that Mrs
| Thomas had predisposition toward in
sanity by hercdity.
Court adjourned at 11:15 until $3.50
this morning.
EXPERT TESTIMONY.
DR.. Scott was recalled this morning
and further cross examined by Mr..
Van Colt. Witness was asked II he
thought Napoleon Bonaparte was
responsible at an times for his &C.
lions and his answer was that he did
not
DO you think he was fit subject
fer the asylum
Not necessarily" was the reply
Mr.. Van Colt then reviewed the
al . - AZ
shooting and asked witness II he
thought such n person, premedltatlng
murder and carrying It out, was in
sane. The doctor said he took her
family history into consideration.
which was such as to show a predis-
position towards insanity mo physi-
clan" he said will deny hereditary
tendencies The woman's actions
Since the occurrence left no doubt on
his mind but what she became at
times mentally irresponsible. In
melancholla there was no special rule
to go by. a person may. or may not.
carry out a fixed purpose. He had
known cases where persons so suffer-
Ing would carry out n project to the
minutest detail, even to the procuring
of gun and the killing of person.
DIR. +. a. Meacham was then called
and testified that in conjunction with
the county physician, he had examined
insane patients. He believed In the
| hereditary 1t applied to the mental
! as well as TO the physical. The mind
always acted as II unit. The mind
was the center of the nervous system.
Mr.. Hutchinson then put the follow
ing question to the witness:
IF a woman about 40 years OF age,
of n mixed negro race, who had a
father who was given to habitual
drunkenness who at times had an in
sane tendency and whose brothers and
sisters were similarly affected, what
would be the mental and nervous con-
dition OF such family2"
IF had patient with such n fam
| lily history 1 should have to recognize
the fact that the same condition would
exist with her or him." replied the
witness.
Mr., Van Colt asked DIR. Meacham II
1t was proved that Mrs. Thomas pro-
cured gun the night of the shooting
| took car to the city; entered house
shot her husband and afterwards told
others of what she had done. would he
! say that such n person was insane ?
The doctor replied that he believed
there was such thing as double
| personality.
In case of double personality does
the person in question remember what
she has done?" asked Mr.. Van Colt
| mo, / don't think that recollection
goes with double personality" was the
/ reply. Mr.. Van Colt had not conclud-
ed cross questioning the witness at
noon recess.