The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-04-27


Wesley Brewster, father of respondent,
was recalled Thursday morning. In cross
he did not remember whether
1t was the day OF the tragedy or the day fol-
lowing that Mildred asked him II Anna
Wheeler was dead. He said Mildred want
ed to leave home because she thought she
was not wanted there. Peter Crane OF
Moretown was his mothers own cousin.
George W. Wing, of Montpelier, a trustee
in the State asylum for the insane at Water
bury, testified regarding the death of Peter
Crane at that institution. He was an in
sane patient at the time OF his death.
Carl Brewster was recalled and admitted
that his wife and Mildred had had trouble.
DIR. O. e. Chandler, recalled, testified re-
garding the operation OF removing the bull
let from respondents head. The day after
the tragedy he asked respondent II she
knew what she had done. She said she did
and was sorry she had killed Anna Wheel
er, she intended to kill herself instead that
she still wanted to die and that sometime
she would be successful in an attempt to
commit suicide. Witness instructed the
nurses at the hospital to watch her closely
and to keep all instruments and poisons out
of her reach. After the operation for re-
moving the bullet was performed respond
ent said she would not have consented to it
If she had not supposed it would kill her.
Witness had been her physician since the
tragedy and had never heard her express
any i'll will toward Anna Wheeler.
DR.. #. w. Page, superintendent Of the
asylum at Waterbury qualified as an expert
on insanity. He first visited respondent
July 10, last, at the hospital. She told him
OF her severe nervous spells and headaches.
She told him that under promise of mar
riage she was seduced by Jack Wheeler,
that she became pregnant and through
Wheeler's advice and assistance an abor-
ton was performed. The engagement with
Wheeler continued after the operation in
September 1896, until March 1897. When
she asked Wheeler in regard to his atten-
tions to Anna Wheeler he admitted that he
was engaged to her but said he would never
marry Miss Wheeler, 80 their intimacy con-
tinued. She knew no reason why she should
have killed Anna Wheeler, and remember
ed nothing about the shooting, did not re-
member of seeing Anna Wheeler the day Of
the tragedy. Respondent told witness that
as she sat there in the hospital her thoughts
too closely watched there, but she would do
1t sometime. In August witness saw her
again at hospital. She would laugh and de-
MED that she had ever been melancholy.
Said her life was wicked and she did not
care to live. Before she knew Jack Wheel
or she used to 90 to church, but since her
intimacy with him she considered herself
too wicked. Witness found by an examine
ton that respondent had at some time been
pregnant. She told witness she bought the
revolver to shoot herself, had often told
Jack Wheeler she would do 1t, that she did
not care what became of her, supposed she
would be sent to states prison or hanged.
She did not care, except for her father. She
said she still loved Jack Wheeler although
she knew he was not worthy. Said she had
always thought life not worth living and
would have committed suicide at Burling-
ton il she had had the means. She said
Jack Wheeler told her he could not marry
her when she was in trouble because he had
not finished learning his trade and could
not support wife. She had told Wheeler
she could make trouble for him, but she
meant in legal ways. She said to witness
people think Wheeler is all right, that
there is nothing against him, it is all against
me.' In November witness again made an
examination Of her mental condition. She
was then at the Jail. At this time he took
no notes. To hypothetical question of
4 900 words, covering twelve pages OF close
ly typewriter matter, and embracing every
phase OF the evidence introduced by the de-
fence DR.. Page replied that he considered
the respondent insane.
DR.. r. W. Page was recalled Friday morn
ing. The letter written by respondent to
her father eleven days before the shooting
was read to him, and he stated that it did
not change his opinion OF respondents in
sanity. The fact that there was strain of
insanity on her mothers side and q weaker
strain on her fathers side would have q
greater effect upon the child than II the in
sanity was confined to one side Of the fam
lily. Witness considered respondent insane
at the present time. He thought the shock
occasioned by the shooting had some in
fuence in causing loss OF memory OF events
preceding the tragedy, but thought the
memory would return in reasonable time.
The fact that the respondent recovered con-
seriousness soon after the injury, that for
several weeks she showed dependency,
hUa pptinn
very little to do with her mental condition
at the present time.
The cross examination of DR.. Page by
States Attorney Rowland lasted several
hours. 1t was battle Of two bright minds
that proved very interesting to spectators.
DR.. Page classed respondents insanity as
that OF q seduced woman. To use medical
terms. primary dementia or hereditary in
sanity. He said he had no patient in the
asylum at Waterbury at present suffering
from the form Of insanity with which re-
spondent was suffering, but he had patients
suffering from the same insanity respond
ent toould have II she lived long enough
He believed respondents insanity incurable
The redirect examination Of DIR. Page by
Mr.. Lord showed that classifications OF in
sanity vary continually and that no two
authors agree in their classification. DR..
Page said that among the five hundred pa
TENTS in the Waterbury asylum there are
several whose insanity cannot be classified.
DR.. Charles W. Page of Danvers, Mass,
medical and general superintendent Of the
Danvers Insane Hospital next qualified as
an expert. During the time he has been in
that asylum several thousand patients have
come under his immediate care and atten-
ton. Witness was chairman Of commit
tee appointed by Governor Greenhalge to
examine man sentenced to be hanged.
DR.. Page was called to examine the mem
tai condition Of respondent last November
Found her in fair physical health except the
wound in the head. She detailed in sub
stance to him the same story told the day
before in the stand by DR.. f. W. Page.
Said she was engaged to Wheeler, was
ruined by him and that he assisted her in
getting rid of her trouble. She supposed he
would keep his promise to marry her after
he had learned his trade, and believed him
when he told !her he would never marry
any other woman. Later she repeatedly
heard he was keeping company with another
girl. She admitted saying that Jack
Wheeler never would marry any other girl
but her, but she meant by that II worst
came to worst she could make public their
criminal relations and sue him for breach of
promise. She did not remember the shoot
ing and seemed TO have no fear Of convic-
ton. Witness observed no appearance Of
stimulation and thought there was none
To the long Hypothetical question read
Thursday to DR.. f. w. Page witness re-
,I;a5 tbat ba haliavad raspnpdapt uao In