The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-08

similar actions in number or pa
tients, especially "soa.kers." He also
said that there was popular and mis-
taken notion among the iaity that doe
tors use silver plates in treat ting wounds
to the skull and that he had heard some
of his own patients talk about silver
plates in their heads, believing they
were there, when in fact they were
not
IF it should appear from the testi-
mony in this case that, as a matter Of
fact, James Larkin, during the period
covered by the years 1S90-12-3, pur-
chased and carried to his house limbur-
ger cheese, which cheese he kept I'M
der his pillow at times, and at times
in the bureau drawer; that he would
place oranges upon the stove at his
home, saying it was good for the atmos
phere and kept the room nice and
fresh: that he said the odor of limbur-
ger cheese was nice, and that he would
place green onions about his room.
saying that it had a nice odor and fla
vor, and that he would get up in the
middle of the night and eat such on
ions: that he quarreed with persons
who would remove such cheese from
its place of storage: that he kept raw
nam in the bureau drawer, saying that
when he was hungry he wanted a
piece of it to eat; that he said that he
had piece of silver in his head, when
in fact, he had no such piece of silver
there; that he frequently during such
time talked of having killed a man in
German gulch; that during the latter
part of the period mentioned, that is,
during the period of 1898, he became so
self-neglectful and filthy in his habits
that those about. him We're compelled
to force him to change his clothing;
that originally in prior years his hab-
its were orderly and neat, and he was
careful about his person. All of this,
taken in connection with the fact that
in June, 1894, Larkin was taken to DR..
Wells hospital, where he was found
to be suffering from dementia, and that
he was afterwards transferred to the
asylum, and there died insane in 1898,
what, in your opinion, would these facts
indicate as to his mental condition be-
ing sound or unsound at the time re-
ferred to-"
THE facts stated are insufficient to
base an opinion of sanity or insanity,
except the latter period covered by the
question, that is the latter part of 1893
and the early part of 1884"
The doctor then proceeded to say that
the limburger cheese and onion Incl
dents certainly were no evidence of in
sanity, for he knew some very emf
nent and bright men who did similar
Things. Any one becoming used to the
smell of strong cheese becomes excess
sively fond of it, and he knew men
who took onions to bed with them and
ate them during the night and slept
better after eating them.
Now, if the testimony of Witnesses
Wells Sievers and Sheeran is correct,
and that Larkin was in a state of de-
mentia from the time he went to the
hospital in June, 1894, up to the time
OF MS death; If person found in this
condition in June, 1894, had prior to this
time, during the year 1898, been in the
habit of wandering about the street,
talking to himself, sometimes recognize
ing his friends, and at other times not
knowing them, and his talk was discon-
nected and rambling; that he neglected
his person and was filthy: that he
would start frequently to talk about a
subject and would suddenly change to
another not connected with the subject
ABOUT which he had formerly been talk
ing: that he used to carry around bits
OF food and feed himself from his pock-
cts; that he used Intoxicating liquors
10 excess at times ard at other times
entirely retrained from their use; that
he was abusive and quarrelsome with
out cause; that he was forgetful; that
he would stand on the street alone,
looking up into the sky and muttering
TO himself; that he would talk fire.
quently of killing a man some years
prior 10 that time and detail all the cir
cumstances of the killing; that he would
also threaten to kill others, mentioning
lhem by name All of this taken in
connection with the fact that in June
1884, Larkin was taken to the hospital
OF Dr. Wells and there found to be suf
ferlng from dementia: that he was
subsequently taken to the asylum and
there died insane what, in your opin-
ion, would this indicate as to whether
or not Larkin during the period re-
tered to in this question, was of SOUND
mind or not?"
1T would indicate that he was nrob-
ably insane"
Inc witness questioned as to certain
authorities on mental diseases and Mr..
Corbett then asked him:
Is 1t possible that James Larkin was
sufIerlng from some disease of the mind
winch degenerated into dementia about
hospital?"
If I am not limited as to time 7
would say yes"
The doctor said he could not saw from
what was related in the hypothetical
questions, as to when the disease of the
mind commenced. r.Iy
On redirect examination the witness
was asked by Mr.. Harney it, from all
ne knew of the history of Larkin's case,
ne could say with what form of insan-
lty Larkin was afflicted at the time he
was sent to the asylum. The -dpef5f&
said it was dementia. -
The witness, in reply to other oues-
uohs, said the various peculiar acts of