The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-05-18
TAKEN TO MIDDLEToWN.
Walter r, Clinton, Who Threatened DR.
Smyth's Life, Adjudged Insane.

Walter II. Clinton, who was arrested
Saturday evening, charged with threat
ening the life of the Rev. DIR. Newman
Smyth, pastor of Center church, was
committed to the insane retreat at Mid
dletown yesterday morning by Judge
Bishop of the city court. Clinton was
arralgned on q breach of the peace
complaint, but this was not pressed,
and the unfortunate man will be con-
fined to the asylum until further or
ders of the court. In the meantime
everything will be done to restore him
to sanity.
Clinton's father and sister We're in
court yesterday morning Both tesu-
fed that at times Walter had acted
queerly Mr.. Clinton agreed that it
was best that his son should be placed
in confinement,
DR.. Smyth testified in regard to the
letters he had been receiving from Clin-
ton for nearly two years. He told about
Clintons scheme for building ma
chine shop to manufacture his new in
vention a lathing machine. The doctor
also told about conversation he had
with the young man, who wanted to
arrange for a loan Of $4,000 so that he
could push ahead the manufacture Of
the machines.
Dr. Smyth said that he told Clinton
that the writing of the threatening let
ters must cease, but that Clinton con-
| tinued sending them. Dr. Smyth said
| that Clinton had accused him of per-
scouting him and of being responsible
| for keeping him out of work. Clinton,
| the doctor said, declared that he had
| used up &c., 900 worth of brains" in
preparing the invention, and he wanted
DR.. Smyth to exercise his influence to
attain the money needed to start the
manufacture of the machines.
w. w. Smith, a real estate broker in
| the First National bank building, testi-
| fled about Clinton visiting him at his
Office Saturday afternoon. Clinton said
| that he had trouble with Dr. Smyth,
| and that he was geing up to his house
| in the evening for the purpose of kill
| ing him. Mr.. Smith said that Clinton
| was very nervous when he came into
| his office.
Captain Cowles of the Detectivue bu-
| reau gave a detailed account of the ar
rest of Clinton at his house on First
avenue, West Haven, Saturday night.
He exhibited two pistols which were
found on Clinton. They were loaded in
every chamber
| DR.. Louis ]. Gaynor who made an
examination of the prisoner, was called
to testify as to his mental condition.
He said that the young man was suf-
| fering from primary delusional insan-
| ity or reasoning monomania, in which
religion and persecution are predomi-
nant The young man while in this
| condition ascribes all his misfortunes
of the past to Dr. Smyth. whom he
claims has such a desire to make a re-
| former of him that he takes all forms
of procedure, such as keeping him out
of employment and putting poison in
| his food.
| DR.. Gaynor said that all of this went
| to show that the young man is in bad
way mentally.
| DR.. Gaynor testified that in a CONVEX
sation with Clinton the latter had told
him that DR.. Smyth had monopoly
of all the restaurants in New Haven,
and that when he (Clintonl went into
an eating house the minister was GER
| tain to have been there before him and
placed poison in the food that he was
to eat, On this account Clinton's wild
| brain made him reason that in order
| to protect himself it was necessary to
kill Dr. Smyth. While locked up at
police headquarters Clinton refused to
eat any of the food that was placed
before him, declaring that it had all
been poisoned by the Center church
minister
The witness said it would be danger
Gus to allow the young man to have
his liberty. He thought 1t best for him
to be confined in some institution for
! treatment.
DR. Park also testified concerning
an examination made of Clinton. He
said he was suffering from acute ma
MIA.
Judge Bishop said that he would find
Clinton not guilty of committing a
breach of the peace on the ground of
dementia, and would order him con-
fined in the Connecticut Hospital for
the Insane until further orders from
the court
Clinton was taken to Middletown
in the afternoon by Detectives Cowles
and Donnelly. He talked of his in
ventions necessarily. There was nc
outbreak, and it was not until he was
in sight Of the asylum that he seemed
to realize that he was to be incarcer-
ated.