Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-16

said brOOded over her troubles ana ire
quently showed evidences of absent mind
edness. Several times she had expressed
"a desire 10 end her life. saying that her
troubles were too great TO bear. When
Mrs. Ellis left home for Richmond she
borrowed "A spoon of her mother. and this
witness subsequently found in her grip.
Concerning the separation between her
daughter and her husband. witness SAID
she knew naught Of the causes.
EXPERT TESTIMONY.
When Mrs. Allen concluded. Mr. Rich
.irdson asked that Or. J. \. Hodges be
sworn I'm to testify as 10 the prisoners
mental condition. He testified that he
had examined Mrs. Ellis and heard the
evidence as adduced. The examination
had been made by himself and Dr. Cor
don at the JAIL and il was his professional
opiuion that there Is reasonable doubt
as 10 the sanity Of the prisoner at the
time the infantcide was committed.
Being asked by Mr.. Richardson as to
the power Of the accused 10 discriminate
between right and wrong and her power
IN resist IL. Dr. Hodges said that at the
time the act was committed she was
suffering from homicidal mania, and her
perverted mind could not comprehend the
Nervousness Of such an act
SUICIDAL MANIA.
pr 4 Monteiro was next examined
He testified TO having been for some years
i'm charge of an insane asylum, ana ne
gave il as his opinion that the act OF
the accused i'm itself constituted clear
case of insanity. and from the testimony
adduced ne gathered that she could not
resist the homcdal mania. lie thought
that II she were turned loose she Woulu
destroy herself He considered her 10 De
a suicidal maniac, and asserted that she
was possessed of an insane desire to JOIN
the child she had destroyed Concerning
the prisoner. witness testified that 1t was
his belief that childbirth al the early age
of Il had had the almost inevitable re-
suit of weakening her brain.
pr W : Gordon next took the stanu
and corroborated all that Or. Hoge had
testified TO- He doubted If the prisoner
had the possession Of her faculties at the
time of the homicide. and he doubted il
she had the power 10 resist the hoiniclu''
mania ~
Coroner Taylor was recalled, ana ne eN-
pressed the belief that the prisoner whlc
She knew the act she commlt,ed We
wrong. had not the power TO resist cum
hitting It.
ACOUITTAL ASKED FOR
When Or. INAltl lcll the Ht"NH --'
Richardson arose and said 10 the jury
"Cantlemen the evidence in this case
shows that when this young prisoner az
the bar committed the act with when
she is charged she was neither mentally
morally. OF legally responsible. In Jua'I0c
to her | cannot, therefore, ask Tor con-
viction. In justice To myself, however
desire 10 say. with reference TO
statement made and published To tle
effect that an agreement had been reach-
ed between myself and the defence mat
there was no foundation whatsoever L't
II. ,,..,
"The Court has appointed two physi-
oiars m examine as 10 the mental con-
dition of the accused. Ihey having 'es-
ti6ed that she was not sane when she
committed the act ! cannot ask you FOR
"a verdict of conviction. j. therefore, ask
Won for "A verdict of acquittal on the
ground Of insanity.
As soon as Mr.. Richardson concluded
verdict was drawn up as requested by
him and the jury. without leaving their
seats. rendered IL.
Mrs Ellis made no movement, nor uiu
any of her family, for some minutes AFTER
the verdict had been reached The jury
was discharged and the Court then ask
ed:
is there any pA'i'i'N'N t' ~ $50 -
um?"
II believe a preference has been eX-
messed for the Eastern" Mr. Wenden-
burg replied, and the order was thus
made out.
HISTORY OF THO CASE.
The case,is one that has attracted wide
srread attention throughout the State, and
AT first there was great sympathy for the
Young mother. she came here from Farm
vile with her infant child and registered
as Mrs. Jackson, OF indianapolis. Ind. She
took a room at he Windsor Hotel and
retired for the night, taking no supper.
She was heard walking the floor. until
after midnight and then nothing was
heard from her room until about A. NJ.
when she screamed for assistance, and
when her room was entered By Mrs. XII