Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-22
THE HORTON HEARING
Witnesses Express Belief That Defen-
dant is Insane.
SUGGESTION OF MORAL DEPRAVITY
Oddities of Prisoners Character
Related by Former Associates.
THE VIDENCE HEARD

When the trial of George W. Horton in
dicted for the murder of Mrs. Jane Nicho-
son. the 9th of last June, was resumed to-
| day in Criminal Court No l. the defense
| proceeded with the introduction of test-
| mony tending to prove Horton insane.
| large number of witnesses were examined,
all reciting in detail queer actions and con-
| duct on the part of the defendant observed
by them from time to time and which gave
rise to the opinion in their minds that he is
of unsound mind. The appearance of Hor-
ton was unchanged today from last week.
Sitting beside him during the proceedings
| were his wife, brother, sister and niece.
DR.. Chapin's Opinion.
During the examina ton of DIR. John B.
Chaplin the expert on insanity. late Satur-
| day afternoon. the prosecution asked a
| hypothetical question. embracing all the
| lient points in connection with the killing
| OF Mrs. Nicholson. In reply DR. Chaplin
| stated that in his opinion, under the cir
| cumstahces set forth, the murderer would
De conscious of his act. The witness
| not cross-eXamined, the court adjourning
| until TINS morning, when the first witness
| caiied was Cora Holman. She testified
that Horton. on occasions of visits to the
| residence of her father. acted SO queerly as
to cause the witness to believe him insane
Samuel Walker, formerly a policeman,
stated to the jury that the first trick of
|
force was under the instruction of the wit
| ness.
"From his actions at that time said Mr..
| walker, Il considered him either fool or
crazy man
| The witness went on to say that Horton
| would make an arrest and then demand of
| witness what charge to prefer against the
! prisoner: that he would sleep in his clothes
| and discharge his pistol while in the station
| house.
He rampant through my beat one
| night" testified Mr.. Walker. THAT gave
rise to an alteration between US that
suited in Horizons transfer to another pre-
| cinct.''
After Horton was dismissed from the
| force the second time he offered to bet 500
| with the witness that he would be lieuten-
| ant of police.
What is your opinion Of Horton: is he
sane or insane?" inquired Attorney Wells
Il think he's crazy" declared Mr.. Walker
Former Sheriff Witness
William Aver, formerly sheriff of Fairfax
county, Va. was called to state that he at
one time was guardian of insane per-
| sen who was relative of Horton.
The next witness, Mr.. J. +. Rose ex-
| planned that he has known the defendant
| for about eleven years During that time
| he observed many queer actions the
part of the man, the witness testified, such
| rs dlScharging his pistol without apparent
| reason. Mr.. Rose, in undertone, related
| to the jury incident in which Horton
| figured, that, he said, formed the basis of
his belief that the defendant could not be
| d sane
Wrote "Reversible Poetry"
George w. Murray, colored, a druggist
| who followed Mr.. Rose on the stand re-
| cited the incidents based on frequent visits
| made to the store of the witness by Hor-
| ton. He seemed to devote his time to
| writing reversible poetry" and in the
opinion of the witness was unbalanced
| from worry or something else
The next witness was McKensie Scott.
| colored, an undertaken. He also detailed
| a number of queer actions on the part of
| Horton.
We called him the dirty police and 1
| believed him to be crazy or drunk all the
| time stated the witness He seemed
| greatly interested in the price of coffins.'
| Did he ever seem to want a coffin for
torney Shilington
| "Oh, no. the reply. He never
seemed to want to buy one for himself, al
| though he did say that were it not for his
| wife and children he would kill himself"
| Except in your own case, is not there
very large profit in the undertaking bust
ness next inquired Mr.. ShllIington, land
| is not the price of collins a sensible topic
| of conversation"
| The witness laughingly admitted that the
profits in the undertaking business are sat
lsfactory, after which Mrs Rosa Blum APP
peared before the jury. From conyerSa-
| tons with the defendant and his manner in
| connection herewith she did not consider
| him right in his mind.
| From his testimony, Simon Blum, hus-
| band of the preceding witness, shared the
views of his wife as regards Horton. The
| latter in the habit of asking the wit
| ness unusual questions, such as an inquiry
| to determine the distance from earth to
! heaven.
Il told him I didn't know the distance,
| not being professor" stated Mr.. Blum,
| and what's more" he added, Il don't
| know today
George w. Donaldson, who has known
| Horton for long time, remarked that he
! believed all along that the man would COM
init suicide or land in an insane asylum.
| This opinion, it was explained, was based
on questionable conduct on the part of the
| defendant.
Day of the Murder
| Statements of an interesting character
| We're made by Robert il. Key, he remark
ing that Horton frequently expressed the
! belief that he was going crazy.
| THE Gay of the homicide, about an hour
prior to the killing" testified Mr. Key,
| Horton came to my place He left a pack
| age OF coffee, saying he would call for it in
| half an hour, explaining that he had an
| engagement with lady in Armory Square
| He said to me that he didn't know wheth-
| er to keep the engd cement or not as he
| felt awfully funny reterating the belief
that he was going crazy as fast as he
could.
L visited iiiiii some time ago at the lail,'
| the witness went on to say. He acted
queerly, telling me he could not sleep; that
| he saw things at night, and that a lot of
men were continually grabbing at him.
| Horton would cry on the slightest provoca-
| ton.
What is your opinion of Horizons men
tai condition." asked Attorney Jeffords,
I I'm convinced that he is crazy" was
! the answer of Mr.. Key.
| Victim of Moral Insanity.
| Dr. ]. A. Stoutenburgh, the next wit
| ness, told of half dozen visits paid by him
| to Horton during the incarceration of the
| latter in Jail. He detailed the manner and
| conversation of the defendant on those oc-
| casions. Summing up, the witness gave it
| as his opinion that Horton is a victim of
| moral insanity being morally depraved
| man, having no control over his desires. Dr.
| Stoutenburgh further said that he con-
! siders the defendant at the present time of
| unsound MIND, although he said, his per-
| ceptive faculties better than they were
| 10 nd