The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-01

sisted in having her incarceruted in
Danville Insane asylum was devoid OF
any very exciting incidents. The large
court room was crowded at both ses-
sions Of the United states circuit court,
bus those who attended in the after
noon We're disappointed over the fact
that Miss Dickinson did not put in an
appearance. She remained at her room
in the Hotel Jermyn all afternoon rest
ing. A great deal of testimony was
heard on the part of the defense dur
ing the day, but less than one-thrd of
tho testimony that will be offered has
yet been heard. 1t is not likely that
the case will get to the jury before
Saturday or Monday.
When court opened this morning the
fight over the admission of certain rec
ords of the Danville Insane asylum was
renewed. Judge Acheson's decision ad-
mitting the testimony ended the battle.
DR.. Meredith, superintendent of the
Danville Insane asylum, testified that
when Miss Dickinson came there she
was insane. He then stated that she
was suffering from paronia, which was
a species of insanity where halluCina-
tions are a prominent feature. The
Authorizations she had when received
there were to the effect that she was
being prosecuted.
In cross examining DR.. Meredith, At
torney Hodge ELECTED the fact that on
the face of the certificate was a note
to the effect that one of the physicians
had not pructiCei the requisite number
of years, and was therefore incompe-
tent. In speaking of the proper meth
od of determining whether "A patient is
insane or not, DR.. Meredith stated that
the methods used depend entirely on
the physician making the cXamina-
tion. When pressed as to what the
methods We're, he sail that the physi-
clan usually talked with the patient
and in this manner arrived at a deter
mination.
WAS NOT SERIOUS.
Paronia, the malady which afflicted
Miss Dickinson, he said, was not seri-
Gus and the will power was not
dull. He saw no Illusions except as
supplementary to what he had heard
about Miss Dickinson. II what he had
been told was untrue, then he saw no
Illusions.
The illusions which he had noticed
under these circumstances was the re-
fusal of bread and drink for fear Of
poison. Further examination revealed
the fact that these articles of diet
which the patient had refused were to-
matoes, lettuce, etc, which Susan +.
Dickinson had sent, and that she ate
them after some of the patients around
ner had partaken of the same dishes.
No acts of violence We're committed by
Miss Dickinson while she was at the
asylum.
Thomas Ford. who was treasurer of
the West Pittston poor board in 1891
was the next witness sworn. He identi-
fed the signatures of John l.. Court
right and John II. Stone. He then
stepped down and Mr.. Stone was called
to the stand. He testified that ne and
CCurtright We're members of the poor
board at this same time. He knew
nothing of the removal of Miss Dick
inson to the insane asylum until after
wards, when Mr.. COurtright came to
him and asked him to sign an order to
reimburse Courttight for going to Dam
VILE with Miss Dickinson.
Mrs. Edith Stevens was called to
Identify the signature of her father,
John COuruight, who was one of the
poor directors of West Pittston in 1891
and is named as one Of tine defendants
in the action ON trial. He has since
passed away.
IN THE AFTERNOON.
When court reconvened at o'clock
after the neon recess Miss Laura Court
right, sister of the preceding witness,
was called and corroborated the testi-
mony of Mrs. Stevens. George Llewe-
lyn, the parliamentary of Luzerne coun-
ty, swore that on Feb. 25, 1891, he was
police officer of West Plttston. He
saw Miss Dickinson taken to the asy-
lum; no violence was used.
Mrs. Il. NJ. Hughes remembered the
day Miss Dickinson was taken to the
DanVille Insane asylum, At the rail-
way station Miss Dickinson wanted to
send some kilograms and George b.
Thompson offered to have them for
warded for her. She said she did not
want to have anything to do with him.
AS far as she could observe no acts Of
violence We're inflicted on the plaintiff.
She did not see Miss Dickinson get on
the train, as witness was getting on
one of the cars about the same time,
She rode for about three miles with
Miss Dickinson. The latter was very
quiet and did not say anything to her,
From the appearance of Miss Dickinson
on that day, from what she saw of
her and what she heard her say, she
considered her very insane. on cross
examination she admitted that she did
not hear her say or do anything that
was irrational and that her opinion as
to Miss Dickinson's insanity was
formed from her general appearance
and the fact that she was being taken
to an insane asylum.
DEFENDANT EGGLESTON.
Allen Eggleston, one of the defend
ants, was the next witness. lie kept
grocery store in West Pittston and fire.
quently hauled trunks for the Dlckin-
sons and took Miss Anna Dickinson out
driving a number of times. In the sum
mer of 1890 he heard Miss Dickinson
talk in a peculiar way. She told him
that her attorneys, Howe & Hummel.
of New York, and others, were engaged
in conspiracy against her. She had
suit pending and II seemed to weigh
on her mind and caused her to talk I'm a
strange manner and lead him to be-
lieve her mind was not right. She told
him that Ben Butler and the officers Of
West Plttston borough We're conspir-
ing against her Sometimes she asked
him TO pull her fingers and step on her
toes to relieve pain she complained of,
and when he would comply she would
say, HARDER harder"
Sometimes SHE would ask him TO
make the horse go faster, try to grab
the whip out of the socket and would