Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-16
MRS. ELLIS IS INSANE
On This Ground the Jury Acqut
Her Of Murder.
SENT TO EASTERN HOSPITAL.
DIS. Hodges, Gordon, and Montelfo Say
Her Mind is Impaired.
JURY DO NOT LEAVE THEIR SEATS
The CommonwenIth's Attorney Asks
for II Verdict of AcauittaI and IL IL
Rendered Forthwith-Thc Prisoner
IN stunned
JURY DO NOT LEAVE THEIR SEATS
IN stunned

BY their verdict rendered yesterday al
in the Hastings Court, declared that Mrs.
Lizzie Miller Ellis is insane, and that AT
the time she committed the awful deed
which ended her infant daughters lite
she was Irresponsible On this ground
they acquitted her of the charge OF muir
der and the young woman was commit
ted to The State Hospital for the insane
at Williamsburg.
The trial OF the case took only rev
hours. and but little testimony OF interest
was adduced The defence introduced out
two witnesses, and the testimony OF both
Of these went to show that the young
mother was not clothed I'm her right mind
when she administered the poison to her
child.
EXPERT TESTIMONY.
The strongest testimony of all. how
ever, was that of Dr. J. Allison Hodges
and Or. W. s. Gordon. both OF whom ex-
amined the prisoner at the request of the
court and testified that she was mental-
~ irresponsible. Or. Hodges expressed II
as his professional opinion that when the
act was committed Mrs Ellis was u
homicidal maniac. and that she did not
possess the power 10 repress that mama.
DR.. a. MOnteiro also testified as an ex-
pert on mental Diseases. and he gave 1t
az his opinion that the prisoner WAS then
and is now suffering from a suicidal ma.
mia. He thought IT would be dangerous
to herself TO set her free now.
After these medical experts had given
I'm their testimony the evidence was
closed, and Mr.. Richardson, the Com
monwealths Attorney, asked the jury for
verdict Of acquittal. on the grounds or
insanity. and this they rendered without
leaving their seats.
MRS. ELLIS WAS STUNNED.
Mrs. Ellis, her mother father, and
brother-in-aw sat behind the bar during
the proceedings in court. and both mo-
Their and daughter wept bitterly. Mrs. Eli
lis being especially overcome when alIu-
sion was made to her baby. After the
jury had rendered It's verdict she sat az
though stunned for some minutes, until
aroused by kindly words of congratuIa.
lions showerod upon her by those Ia the
courtroom whom she knew She was
taken back to jail. and will be carried to
Williamsburg early this week Her mo-
Their has expressed desire to 40 with
her, but whether she will be permitted 20
do so has not yet been determined.
THE ACCUSED ENTERS.
Court opened NJ 1879 o'clock. there be-
ing some little delay because Of the fail-
ure Of one OF the witnesses 10 respond.
A large crowd was In attendance. many
ladies having seats in the courtroom
when Mrs. Ellis entered
As soon as all had been seated the jury
was polled and the names of Messrs. H.
a. Waddell X. A. H. Dabney. J. ID. Ten.
ser, and Il. S. Crump were stricken from
the list. The jury then embraced Nessrs.
Richard CauthOrn, c. r.. Williams. Il.
FAX, j. ID. Lyle, J. VI. Macon. George
Rives, w. II. CrCckmier, Robert Hennins,
Jr, A. Y. Stokes. Jr.. l.. c. VIM, W.
G. Tinsley and A. G Harmon.
Clerk Christian read the Indictment. and
CONCLUDED ON FIFTH PACED