Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-04-27
Mildred Brewster Declared Insane.

DIR. F. w. Page of Waterbury, expert on
mental diseases, who was on the stand when
court adjourned Thursday evening, was on
the stand at the opening of the trial Friday
morning. DR.. Page said the injury to Miss
Brewster caused by the shooting may have
obliterated the memory of certain incidents
of the tragedy. The mental manifestations
of the respondent, Immediately following the
| shooting, such as Mysteries, dependency,
suicidal intent, as expressed in her converse
| ton, may have been somewhat superinduced
by the injury of the shot wound, but not by
the shock. He said that from 20 to 80 per
cent of insanities are due to heredity.
Thought that the outcome of this Case was
due to a weak mental, faulty, nervous organ
ization. 1t is not melancholia nor mania.
He thought the mental condition of respon-
dent caused her to forget or be without
| knowledge of her doings the day Of the shoot
ing. 1t might have been confessional insanity
to an extent Thought that when she was in
| Barre the day she purchased the revolver she
was in such state of confusion that she did
not know what she was doing"
Didn't think the respondent had homi-
cidal intent. 1t was convulsive impulse to
shoot. Didn't think she had an intent to kill
| Annie Wheeler. Couldn't say with positive
ness that respondent was unconscious while
LIZ DING from her boarding place to scene OF
tragedy; thought, however, that she was.
Thought the greatest heredity influence of
insanity was transmitted from maternal side
There are evidences of hereditary insanity
on the paternal side of respondents mother
which makes the influence greater on re-
spondent.
DIR. Charles w. Page of the lDanvers,
Mass insane asylum, formerly in the Hart
ford retreat, said probably 10000 different
patients had been under his observation. He
Testified that he visited the respondent, Mil
bred l.. Brewster, at the Jail November l6,
for the purpose of making an examination as
to her mentality. Found her in fair, physi-
cal condition. She told the witness that she
lie ,uld not remain at home; that she found it
impossible to study much in school as her
head troubled her.
The doctor said that Miss Brewster was
insane at the time of the shooting and also
that she was not capable of discerning be-
tween right and wrong at the time of the
| shooting.
DIR. Page said that the hereditary effect on
the maternal side would be more pronounced
in girl than in boy. The witness said that
the respondent was at present insane.
Cross-examined he said, ''Probsbly if the
respondent was to be passed upon by insanity
experts four out Of five would classify thi:
case as suicidal melahcholia. / do not take
this view of this case.
Taking into mind the faulty mental ant
nervous construction, Facilitating nature anC
ungovernable deposition, l classify her as
subject of primary dementia. The insanity
at the time she did the shooting and when
visited her in the Jail were different. 1t maj
have been an impulsive act
| The state now takes hand in the trial ant
lby a long line of witnesses, including thu
teachers of Burlington high schools attempt
ling to prove that Miss Brewster and her i'm
mediate relatives are more ugly than Graz.
and entirely responsible for their deeds.