The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-04-07
CLIFF0RD'S WAYS
Witnesses Tell Stories That
Indicate Several Loose
Screws.
LOOKS LIKE CRAZY MAN
His Actions in Jail and Court
Room Those Of an In
sane Person.

The judicial investigation of Murderer
Edward Clifford's mental condition was
continued IN the oyer and ferfnirer
Court after recess yesterday but was not
finished. Clifford was in court and If he
is not insane he gave an excellent imi-
tation of a man whom nine out of ten
neople would declare insane from obser-
walton. He apparently paid no attention
To the proceedings His eyes wandered
about in an aimless fashion and he pre-
sented every appearance of man IN a
blank.
DR.. Thomas Byrne, who was formerly
connected with the institution at Snake
Hill, testified that he had examined the
prisoner in the County Jail and arrived
at the conclusion that he is mentally oe-
ranged
ssDid you examine him as to his power
of pereeption?" asked Prosecutor ERWIN.
81 examined him generally as well as
an ordinary practitioner could replied
the witness.
.What about his power of apereeption?"
asked Mr.. Erwin.
| mitted that he had never heard the Word
| before and did not know ITS meahiigt
There were many others IN the court
The Prosecutor piled the witness Win
series g., questions about delusions, hallu-
cinations and illusions.
Don't you think, doctor, that man
| may have Illusions or delusions and yet
have reasoning poWer?"
81 do
! 'tHow did you lind Cllfffford on tndt SUI.
.sVery deficient
| aDo YOU mean to say that Clifford at
this time is utterly unable to distinguish
| right from wrong?
| sfNot in all cases.
"Dol you think he is capable of inform
ing his his lawyas tbs TO tha tims "
II do not think he is.n
| ON redirect examination the witness
described the tests he had appned 70 tie
/ defendant He told him to cross his legs
i but Clifford did not seem to understand
! what he meant. He made Clifford close
| his eyes and turn around. and Cilfford
nearly fell down. The pupils OF MS eye.
! were sluggish and would not react.
sBut they did react finally?'' asked Mr.
Erwin.
John B; N. Gemmel tIt3esa who was f5lt keeper Sr
/ noticed very many peculiaritleS in Cliff
| ford's actions. When he was lying on his
| cot he would throw his arms out and
| emit a gurgling sound and his fingers
would twitch.
| The witness frequently woke him up
| and asked him if he was dreaming. very
| often when he was playing cards she
and set M and walk away Sometimes it
| would take three or four minutes TO wake
him up. He considered Clifford insane.
Edward Conger, another keeper, teSti-
F! fed that he had charge of CLIFFORD at
night for about year The prisoner
developed a mania for claiming al the
| laundry belonging to the other prisoners.
! one time he asked the witness to put his
washstaEd up against the wall SO that the
/ wall would not fall down. Only asst Nom
/ day afterr con whie playing game of
4 cards he suddenly jumped up and ran
4 alorg the corridor saying that they wanted
| him to saw wood.
his actions as to his mental condition.
4 should say he was crazy" replied the
Patrick ]. Cooney another keeper, gave
similar testimony as to Clifford's actions
and conduct in the jail.
Have you formed any idea as TO ms
present mental condition." asked Mr..
well I don't think he's all there, re-
p''io Doesn't he eat and sleep well?'' asked
Mr.: Erwin.
isn't he training squirrel?"
.Didn't he buy chances on a piano at
/ the Davis Association fair!
/ Il believe so.
/ had the appearance of having been in col
il lision With trolley car with disastrous
4 results to himself testified that he l:.sd
! known clifford Intimately Tor twenty
| years. -
lEfe gave some instances of clifford $
/ queer actions at times. On one occasion
\ he placed the muzzle of his revolver to
/ the Witness head and threatened to shoot
| him The witness said:-
"Pu1l the trigger quick and don't Keep
me In suspense
Glllford didn't pull the trigger. At
another time Clifford stubbed his toe
against coupling pin and toid the Wit