The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-21
LSADORE SCHOPPs.

4 VERDICT OF mot guilty by reason
~ of insanity was brought in yes
terday in the Schopps homicide case.
The prisoner. Isadore Schopps, heard
the sentence without betray.ng the least
evidence of emotion. The Jury came TO an
agreement shortly after 1 o'clock in the
afternoon. The attorneys on both sides
were notified. but only Melvin G. Win
stock was present when the verdict was
delivered. Schopps was brought from the
Jail by Sheriff Van de Nanter. When Fore
man W. +. Donaldson delivered the YER
diet Sehopps' face was closely watched.
He was most unconcerned. seemingly not
realizing that on the words or the juror
hung his fate.
Schopps was recomnitted to the county
Jail temporarily, and Judge Jacobs is now
considering the final disposition OF the
case. He will likely be committed to the
insane asylum.
The written instructions given by Judge
Jacobs We're filed with the county clerk
This was done at the request OF the de-
PENDANTS attorneys. The instructions
asked by the defense were for the most
part granted. That portion of the charge
relating TO the insanity plea and on which
the verdict was based was in part as fol-
lows:
ITO establish defense on the ground Of
insanity, II must BIZ proved that at the
TIME Of committing the act the party ac-
cusea was laboring under such a defect
OF reason from disease OF the mind AS not
TO know the nature OF the act he was
doing. or, III he did know IT, he did not
know he was doing what was wrong And
the question whether the accused knew the
difference between right and wrong at that
time Is not To be put or decided generally.
but in reference TO the very act with which
he Is charged and The INQUIRY therefore is.
had the accused il sufficient degree OF rea-
son al the time TO know he was doing an
act which was wrong, or was he laboring
under the species Of mental alteration
which satisfies the jury that he was quite
unaware eff the nature, character and con-
sequences Of the act he was committing
IL some controlling disease was IN
he could not resist. or If he had no, a
sufficient use of his reason or will 10 con-
troll the passions which prompted the act
complained Of. II you so find. then l In
s;ruct you that under the law he was not
responsible for that act and must be- ac-
Quilted by you OF any criminal liability
under this Information.
I'm determining in this case the oues-
ton OF the sanity or insanity of this de-
PENDANT at the time of the firing OF the
fatal shot. You should, in arriving a. a de-
termination Of the facts carefully weigh
all evidence that has been introduced be-
fore you as TO the prisoners ancestry. fam
lily history, past sicknesses or diseases Of
himself or family. together with such acts
and conversations on his part and de-
meanor of himself prior to and Immediate
~ surrounding the killing and subsequent
10 the hoHlsclde as well az his deneanor
upon the witness stand while teStify.ug be-
fore you You should also take into con-
sideraiinn the opinions offered by the med
icai experts who have given testimony in
this csSse.
If from the evidence in the case rea-
sonahle doubt arises in your minds as 10
the sanity or insanity of the defendant al
that particular time. and IL such doubt does
arise. then he Is entitled TO the benefit of
that doubt and you must acquit him
one character OF mental disease that
VIII excuse an accused for The comm, ssls,n
OF crime IL partial inSa nity consisting az
melancholy. accompanied by aeluston. as
when the belief Is that the party killed had
an immediate design npon his life. and
under that belief the insane man kills In
supposed seif-defenSe' -