The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-14


in the Douglass case. The testimony
was all directed toward proving the
defendant insane. Members of his
family, his two sisters and his parents,
gave testimony along this line. The de-
tense did not cross-examine any or
these witnesses to any material extent
]. w. Graham said Douglass was an
inveterate drinker, but that his talk
was usually rational. Did not notice
any insanity about him. He once teil
down in a faint in Graham's office.
John NJ HasselI, who had known
DOUGLASS for five years, said his con-
versation was erratic; once saw MN
fall down in a faint and lay there Tor
an hour.
L. W. Emily testified to Douglass
being a hard drinker. Robert Lam
caster, William English. NJ o. Gala
han. Mr.. Meyers, Lars Hamre and Fred
Garner all corroborated this point
THE PRISONERS FATHER.
George 3. Douglas, father of the de-
PENDANT. gave testimony to show that
his son was afflicted with fits, was a
lard drinker and of erratic DISPOSE
ton
On one occasion the boy fell in an
unconscious state while engaged IN
shoeing a horse and remained uncon-
scious about an hour. Often he would
be found on the doorstep unconscious
at night He would then be put TO
bed and would remain in stupor.
Douglass wife had come to the house
OF witness just after the affair of
smashing the dishes, related by Joseph
Larsen and Mrs. Stark. Mrs. Douglas
had said she thought Jack crazy
Witness had often seen the defendant
fly into a sudden passion and abuse
horse. Had considered defendant in
sane for the past ten years His gen
eral condition was weak-minded, VIC
lent by spells. Douglass came home
from Amy and drank heavily, being
intoxicated nearly every time he came
10 the house. He left about l o'clock
the day of the killing. Was drunk at
The time. Thought he had been insane
of and on for SIX or seven years. Wit
ness told his son several times he was
sorry that he was back and hoped he
would go away and never come back.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Evans, Mr..
Douglass said he had never applied to
any proper authority to have the boy
confined. Did not consider him violent.
Mrs. McJilton, elder sister of. the de-
PENDANT, had considered for many years
that Jack was insane. Was always
weak minded. Could not advance at
school and had a peculiar delusion that
Ile rest OF the ldUlllN lLlpOSGQ OAA AAlAAA-
Once he made out as if TO throw the
sugar bowl at the witness, and again
was about to strike her with ham
lner Had a peculiar expression about
his eyes and mouth. Had jealous in
sanity over his wife, jealousy en-
tirely without reason His two BROTH
ers were well educated, one an cleo
trician and the other q druggist. No
cross-examination.
Miss Beryl Douglass recalled an in
stance when ne was quietly seated
with her and her sister, when he sud-
denly appeared frightened and said
I've got 'em, sure" and then. after
pause, I know what's coming, just as
well as YOU do, and I've got to clear
out of here" He then rushed out. Wit
ness corroborated her sister about the
comparison Of the two other brothers
with John.
THE DEFENDANTS MOTHER.
The defendants mother. a sweet
faced lady, g. years Of age, took the
stand. and in clear voice, with en-
tire possession, told her story, be-
ginning a few months before the birth
of her son John. At that time she was
overworked and Respondent; thought
she was going to die. About this time
she received a bad fright, when some
drunken men began fighting just in
IEOuN " mel 1 l4t Jpg new @ az dlAAIGu
in his reasoning powers. did not under
stand consequences of things and
formed a bad habit of drink. Before
he was married. Mrs. Douglass had
Emma Larsen spend an afternoon with
her and begged her not to marry John,
or at least to put him on years pro-
baton They were married, and he
got worse instead of better. Last sum-
mer he got his leg broke and was in
the hospital for four months. Here he
had no lqucr. but still his faculties
were weak and his talk disconnected.
He had much sickness. including faint
ing fits The habit OF incessant drink
ing and smoking developed when he
was about. Is. His custom was TO re-
main out very late at night and he
would come in the gate, but not in the
house The father and mother world
find him stretched out on the porch.
Sometimes this was due to liquor. but
again ii would seem to come when
there had been no drinking. Iney
would find bits of foam about his
mouth and a peculiar blue cast 10 his
lips. He came back from Amy, Wyo.,
Friday. The shooting occurred Satur-
day.
EXPERT TESTIMONY.
Dr., r. s. Joyce was the first of the
experts to testify. Mr.. Bagley put to
viewing the testimony regarding the &C
tons of Douglass from the standpoint
of the defense.
Now, doctor. assuming those facts to
be true, do you think him sane or in
sane?"
Z would consider him insane" was
the answer.
What kind of insanity?''
81 would consider it alcoholic insan-
ity, and the fits your describe are cpl
leptic fits"
Continuing, DR.. Joyce said epilepsy is
not insanity, but is often a symptom
that develops in insane people.
=trong symptom of alcoholic in
sanity is distrust of friends. An in
sane person might carry out an insane
act with method and fOrethought.
Cross examined, the witness said an
insane person might remember what he
has done. and yet be insane when he
committed the act This was true in
alcoholic insanity, but not in epileptic |
insanity
Mr.. Evans adopted Mr.. Bagley's style |
n cross-examination and supposed a 4
"a se-describing Douglass from the !
-tandpo:nt Of the defense, Interpreting 1
the acts TO be those Of a quarrelsome !
5run kard. Mr.. Evans then put the n.y. |
pothetical question:
Now. under the circumstances that /
have detailed. would you consider the
i' Not necessarily So" was the an
swer.
sane?"