The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-31
TRIED TO PROVE CRAZY
Everett B. Farrah's Mother in-Law
Fails to Make a Case.

Everett B. Farrah, a quiet looking
man about 40 years of age was tried
Tor insanity in the probate court this
morning, ana from the evidence intro
duced at the trial and from the state
nents made in very rational manner
py the man himself, it appeared to be
an attempt on the part of a mother-in-
law TO get son-inlaw, with whom
she was unable to get along out of the
way The verdict of the jury was that
the man was not insane
Mrs P. C. Humphrey. who resides in
Nofth Iopeka and is a physician is
tarrahS mOther-in-1aw and is the Der-
son who swore out the complaint charg-
ing her son-in-law with insanity Mr.
and Mrs. Farrah and their five children
formerly lived in Russell, Kan. but
removed to this city last July, and
since that time have been living at the
home of Mrs Humphrey On the first
of last January Farrah went to Mexico.
Mo, to visit his mother and while there
received a letter from his wife stating
that ne need never come back, and that
there was no longer a home for him al
her mothers house. Farrah however
dld return to this city on Monday prin-
c1p2lly to get possession of a team he
had left in charge of his brother-in-law
but it was only a short time after ne
secured the team that he was arrested
on the charge of insanity. He at once
employed Fred Slater to defend him
and fought the charge this morning.
ON the witness stand Mrs. .Humphrev
her daughter Mrs. Farrah and her son
Arthur Farrah, testified that Farrah
was subject to spells of insanity and
was not a fit person to attend to his f.
fairs or be at large. Mrs Farrah sta
ted that he had often threatened to kill
both himself and the five children and
that for several months before going to
see his mother in Missouri, he would lie
awake at nights and ''growl and wor-
~, ana thereby prevent her from get
ting Sufhcient amount of rest Mrs
Humphrey stated that her son-in-law
had acted and talked like an insane
cTx-
three ordinary men, and that after SO
gorgIng himself he would generally
have one of his spells. These spells she
explained, consisted of his STARING
about like maniac and then growing
suddenly angry without cause
With the exception of these three rel
at1Ves OF Farrah, all of the witnesses at
the trial stated that nothing in Farrah's
actions or conversation had ever lead
them to believe that he was insane
When Farrah took the stand he told
his side of the case in perfectly ra-
tlonaI and quiet manner, and said that
ms mother-1n-law was wholly resDon-
sible for his arrest because he was nm
able to get along with her He said
that he had some trouble with his wife
in the past, but that it was alvays in
sdgated by Mrs Humphrey. and that if
1t was not for her, he would be able to
live with his wife happily. There was
nothing in the mans actions or state
ments to denote insanity in the least.
1t took the jury but a few minutes to
decide that Farrah was not insane
w hen the verdict was read. Farrah
went over to his mother-in-law. told
her he forgaVe her, and asked her TO
shake hands. This Mrs Humphrey re-
fused to do, and said she would see her
daughter was separated from him