The herald., 1898-12-13

a weakening of her reason, which left her
at the time in question in no suitable coII-
diton to transact business. Nelson was the
name of the man to whom Mrs. Knight was
engaged and while 60 engaged she had let
him have certain funds, but the witness
thought she was more concerned, over his
death than the loss of her money
For several weeks the young woman was
sick in the witness house, requiring the
services of nurse, and afterward she spent
some time at the county hospital, beng
sent from there to the insane asylum. Dur
ing the entire period her mind had appa-
rently been clouded.
Mrs. Loomis, the mother Of Hattie, said
her daughter had been more or less affected
mentally for thirty years, and for some time
previous to her Incarceration in the asylum
she had displayed more aggravated symp-
toms of insanity. The death of her be-
trothed appeared to have upset her mind
completely. During the time in question
Hattie was in no fit condition to transact
business.
While so affected Mrs. Knight had lived
at Pico Heights in this city and Kemp, the
respondent, had told the witness that in his
opinion Hattie ought not to live alone. Mrs.
Loomis had assented to this view OF the
matter and witness thought that Hattie was
actually insane then and for some weeks
previous. She was not dangerous, but mel
ancholy.
On cross.examination the witness was I'M
able to state when her daughter was mar
ried or how long she had lived with her hus-
band, but she said that Hattie had finally
been divorced and afterward formed the at
tachment for Nelson, whose death was the
special cause OF her mental collapse.
Kemp himself was then called to the wit
ness stand and produced several postal
cards received by him from Mrs. knight.
One of these complained of cold Loomis,
who was alleged to have been Showing him
self off again" Another urged Kemp to
collect $500 due the writer from Loomis
by any possible means, even if he should be
compelled to get him "as drunk as hos"
OF to administer sleeping potion to him.
A third told of Loomis having been to Mrs.
Knights house while drunk and asked that
Kemp warn him not to hang around there
and njure her trees by driving over them
with his stock.
DR.. Wernigk, one of the examining ply
ticians, on whose recommendation Mrs.
Knight had been sent to the insane asylum.
was the next witness. He had no recollec-
tion of the events attending this particular
commitment, but his name appearing on the
commitment the substance of the examina-
ton as to Mrs. knights sanity was read
from the official records. These showed the
patient to have been in practically the same
condition for some months previous to her
commitment, melancholy, inclined to believe
herself the subject of persecution, and af-
fected by other delusions.
Mr.. Kemp was then put Lack on the
stand, and said he advised Mrs. Knight to
go to the county hospital. as She was illand,
having sent what money she had to her son,
then in Racine, Wis, she had nothing with
which to purchase the necessares Of life.
Loomis and wife would not care for her and,
aside from her little home at Pico Heights
Mrs. knights means consisted of a note for
$50 and a due bill for $l45 executed by Kemp
on which he was paying interest. The due
bill he had finally taken up and in its place
had given note for that amount and other
advances amounting to $3.50 altogether.
Kemp admitted that he thought Mrs
Knight was demented when receiving the
postal cards from her and that he had shown
them to Mr.. Loomis in proof of her condi.
ton. The acceptance of funds from his eli.
snt while she was in that condition, Mr.
Heath maintained, constituted the crime of