The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-08
George Baum Examined Before
Judge Lindsay.
HE KILLED JACOB BRANDT
A Jury Of Doctors Will Decide as to His
Mental Condition Before He Is
Placed OF Trial for the
Murder Of Brandt.

as 10 MS sanity yesterday Dy q COM
mission composed Of Drs. j. s. Ham
mond, Louis Bernheim. j. w. Gum. H.
j. Mcdonald and G.. 8. Blackburn.
There has been considerable evidence
of Baum's insanity since the commits
sion Of the murder. and the county
physician gave it frequently as his
opinion that the man was insane at
the time he killed Brandt, and therefore
not responsible for his act. The county
attorney concluded to have Bau ex-
amined by a jury of doctors before put
ting him on trial for murder. as the
question OF his responsibility could in
that way be more certainly and expe-
ditiously determined. The examination
was begun in Judge Lindsay's court
yesterday and was by c. p.
Connolly, the chief deputy county at
torney. o N. Kirk. counsel for
Baum, was also present but took no
part In the examination. Mr.. Connolly
made a statement of the case to the
doctors, and explained hat II they
should find him to be insane and sent
him to the asylum he could still be
prosecuted for murder IL he SHOULD ever
be discharged from the asylum as
cured.
County Physician Sheeran was the
first witness and testified that he first
saw Baum on the 18th of February and
since then he has seen him 25 or 30
times and observed him closely. He
said he became convinced that the man
was decidedly deranged. suffering from
hallucination. He has absolutely no
conception of right and wrong, n
imagines that he receives visits from
heaven. He also imagines that he is
possessed OF supernatural powers. The
history of the case Is that Baum be-
m insane nxynr vnora or in Mis-
souri, and was confined in an asylum
from which he vas discharged before
he was cured and came to Montana.
rs he v~iolent?" asked DR.. Hammond.
NO"
Does he talk much?"
What is the character of his hallu-
cination?"
He imagines that he is visited by
angels"
The witness said he believed the man
was dangerous as he might consider
himself commissioned from heaven to
do destructive acts. He also believed
hat the man was incurable and would
go from bad to worse. In answer to
questions from DR.. Mcdonald the wit
ness said he had talked with Baum
about the murder of Brandt Baum
said he did it because Brandt had
called him bad m He expressed
no regret.
Does he know that he is insane?"
asked DIR. Bernheim.
II thinks he is not insane" said
the witness.
Does he plead insanity because he
has certain reasons for it"'
mo, l think not"
Does it not appear to you that
wayT'
mo. il does not
In answer to questions from Mr.. Con-
molly, DR.. Sheeran said Baum remem-
bered all about the murder and did not
deny 1t.
do you hin his present insanity re-
sponsible for that act?"
Yes, oh, yes; his insanity has been
continuous"
rs his form of insanity of a homi-
cidal tendency"
mo II is not"
The witness said he gave Baum no
medical treatment while in Jail.
Had anybody told you that Baum
was mentally deranged?" asked DIR.
Bernheim.
"No, sir"
You were the first to observe it?"
1T was very noticeable when / first
visited him."
James Campbell. with whom Baum
had worked for some time prior to the
murder, wal the next witness and said
the man ndu OFTEN dcteO S~tTdDketN.
Some times while engaged in a CONVEX
sation he would suddenly break off and
walk away.
II always thought there was some
thing peculiar about him." aid Camp
bell. Il heard from his brother that
the man had had some trouble back
East"
about him before his brother told you
that he had had some trouble back
East" asked Mr.. Connolly.
Yes. 1 had noticed him several times
when he came home from work"
How long had you known Mr.. Baum
before the commitment of the deed?"
asked DR.. Mcdonald.
Il had known him since last Novem-
ber."
when did you see him last before
the commission Of the deed?"
The night before"
Campbell said tina Baum hid him.
self in the cellar after he had the trou
BILE with Brandt and he was found there
by the officers who arrested him. He
didn't seem much frightened and eafd.
when arrested. He'll be all right; I
didn't hit him hard"
To Campbell the man at that time
seemed to be rational and all right.
The witness said he a never heard
Baum talk on religious subjects. He
IcNtT ndu ulucn 10 say jill any suDJttt.
Wendell Baum. brother of the de-
PENDANT. was the next witness. and said
his brother came to Butte in Inc of
last year. He came o Billings. Mo-.
where his father. mother and 10 broth
ems and sisters are living. There were
IL children in the family and George
was the fifth child.
when had you last seen George be-
fore you saw him in Butter" asked
Mr.. Connolly.
1T was about three years"
How was his mental condition
them"
1T was all right"
"What do you know about the change
in his mental condition? ="
We'll. IL was like a man in trouble"
What was the trouble?"
III was engaged to a girl and she
went back on him. He tried to force
the girl to marry him and he was ar
rested and semi tn iafl ard FROM iail he