The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-06

mad. has long been conclusion, the dr.
ference being only IN degree. II IS as much
as to say that no man whose mental fac
ulties. or rather whose plysicl machinery
for the operation of the mind. Is not alo-
sosuteiy symmetrical ami daily proper
<ionea IS entirely sane. Few men are
physically perfect, ard II Is scarcely more
r,rots bic that many men are perfect men
tally.
The English people use a common ex-
preston which. although somewhat
sIangy. IS very appropriate 10 the condi-
ton OF inperfsctness. It is often OBJ
served that a piece OF complicated ma
ehlnery will run fairly smoothly and do
SIS work, but there viii be an occasional
whirr or Jar which indicates that there
Is something wrong. although it cannot De
seen. A machinist viii say: There is
screw loose somewhere" IL may not be
q very important part OF the works. but
Il is a flaw which Will sometimes wreck
the whole mechanism. Men sometimes ex-
hibit the same phenomenon They go about
their business sanely and orderly. but now
and again whirr or jar viii disclose
the fact mat there is "a screw loose"
somewhere.
The Germans have another mode of deal
ing with the subject They call the occa-
saonal mental alteration dammerzustanoe
as applied to epileptosd psychoses. and
their researches lead TO the conclusion
that epilepsy is something moro than the
"a. 49, q e.
Of fits. Epileptio conditions are now be-
lieved to be symptoms OF a disease of the
! brain, presenting many phases and having
transitional forms. DIR. E Saemeriing, in
the course OF a recent lecture reported in a
Berlin clinical journal, says the transit
tory dream-states are characterized by
sudden interchange of an apparently regu-
lar. indifferent or ordinary behavior with
strange, unexpected acts. which often have
a violent character.
This had no allusion TO or connection
with any particular crime. yet the same
characteristics were claimed for such a
mental infirmlty in the case of Maria Bar
beri. whose escape from the gallows was
due entirely TO the belief of the jury in
such irresponsible alterations. The case
has attracted great interest. FOR she was
under sentence of death and escaped only
after heroic efforts TO secure a new trial.
She was an ignorant girl. belonging 70 a
low grade; she had not been long in the
| United States and could not speak the lam
gaage. A countryman dishonored her, af-
ter securing her confidence. she appealed
| TO MIN TO marry her, but he refused taunt-
| ingly; after repeated spurnings, she one
day leaned over him and made a last ap-
peal. Ne pushed her aside with a jeer: she
made quick movement. pulled hts head
back and cut his throat.
| II almost seemed as IL no insanity were
needed 20 extenuate her act. she had no
redress: he had committed no crime
| against her IN the eyes OF the law. He
| had offended society. but society offered
| her no reparatlon. she could resort TO a
| civil action. but before tardy justice. cas-
| lily coaxed by cunning 20 lag, might reach
| cut its mercenary compensation, her
shame would De proclaimed. 1t Is true she
| had been foolish: and abe had been a prin-
| cipal in his oaense; but that she had been
/ true and eonadlng her act OF retribution
! attests.
| II would not be permissible TO Justify
! the act as men justify killing IN self-de-
/ Tense, or rs they plead before jury that
| death BY dueling in defense OF a mans
good name is no crime in intent. She had
/ been a voluntary offender; the killing was
/ not in defense OF her honor. which she
| had not sought 20 keep untarnished. She
| Killed because she had NOT been paid the
price. She claimed that the promise had
/ already been made, bat the absence OF the
/ other contracting party makes Il impos-
sihle to determine whether the promise
was held cut as an enticement, or was
/ afterward oxscted by the woman IN des-
| peration AT her helpless condition.
| Ths literature Of insanity was ransack-
cd 70 fnterpose a presumption OF ire
| sponslbllity. and epilepsy answered. Her
attorney showed that the evidences OF its
I presence manifested themselves back
! through az least three generations, and
| laid down thu theory that sae was de-
| generate epiicptio herself, the offspring
/ q . family 81 epilsptics and drsnkar3s.
/ They argued that the disease was there.
/ her system had become weakened by =
/ tong period OF mental suffering. and that
| when she was scoTed at by Ca;aldo. she
/ was seized BY the epilepsy ana. becomIng
unconscious Of right and wrong. lost con-
| trol Of her vii power ana surrendered 10
TIE Involuntary violent manifestation tn
! csdentsl 20 her disease.
/ she was acquitted and now 81 may De
! remarked shat similar symptoms manifest
! themselves n any uncontrolled outoursi
| 81 temper. Bad temper esa bs con-
/ trolea ard kept IN subsection by some:
/ others become Blind. lose al sense q right
! aa1 wrong. are dead 80 all eoasl5srau tens
/ Of humanity. wil Violently strike ana even
XIII IN srutaI fury. People sometimes ex-
/ pe~seucs these sgasu,s % reckless anger
/ in heir dreams. when they viii pound
/ and seek 20 smash foes aad even friends
/ iu m outaurst oT-usaaliy smpotent-rage.
/ TIC eal.ept,c tendency. perhaps. brings on
/ AZ attenuation q Bloc: vessels witch
/ sAou,d. ln gooa health. eAeck the flow q
booa TO laa SPOT 70 which the nerves os
anger directed -
II IS certain that ths-e = great differ
eo-e hetweea tee co}a-biccde8 murder.
/ p'anrs3 "a advance IS RaEi O. a scheme
- roasery. ana sass form e murder wAtch
fellows swiftly an8 tnpesuoas,y uron =