The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-04
MACK IS INSANE
His DeIuSion Interests Jury
and Spectators,
VERDICT SOON RENDERED
Patient Put Under County
Physicians Care.

The strange features Of Billy Mack's
insanity were brought forcioly 70 view II
the trial OF MS case yesterday in the pro
bate court. The jurynen claim that they
never witnessed such 3 case before. and
some Of them have served often in such
caDacity and have witnessed many pecu-
liariries Of the insane. When the patient
was brought in TO testify in his own be
half, he looked much more Ike a sick man
than an insane one. HIS mind was per-
fectIv clear on all subjects advanced BY
Judge Haymaker pertaining 70 his occu-
patton and manner OF life, and the jury
men began 10 think there was nothing
in the charge that the man was insane.
He gave &. minute history Of his life and
the events connected with il, answering
every question propounded by the judge
readily and with ease. Finally Judge Hay
maker asked for copy OF the Eagle
and questioned him along the lines Of the
article published yesterday morning and
there ne found the evidence that satisfied
the Jury that Mack was insane The pa
tient calmly told the jury that he was
wholly in the control OF TWO women VINO
were alive and in good bodily hearth
No spirits bother him with their wierd
and ghostly advances. but these two Wo-
men, he says, have him completely n
their power One Of these women Is an
elderly lady whom he met when in Port
land, Oregon, about a year ago. She IS
about 81 years old and very gray for her
age. She made a profound impression on
him. 1t was afterward learned that ne
was in her company a great deal and her
disposition towards him was that OF low
ing friend When he left there and came
here to resume his work il Reckmeyer's
harness shop this woman pursued him
with her strange and superhuman power
She was ever in his mind and thoughts,
and he seemed in the grasp OF her hyp-
Motto influence He spent his wages as
she bid him, and ne followed the die
rates Of her will in almost every particu-
lar. Suddenly one day he was struck by
=. curious sensation as If something had
lodged on his brain. Then another woman
apDeared 10 him and exhibited her power.
The other women he had met personally,
but he would not tell her name. This
Wichita woman he had never seen eX-
ceot in his fancy, but her power was even
greater than that OF the other. He de-
scribed her as a fieshy. heavy-set lady OF
bout 2S years Of age, and OF queenly
beauty. She dark-complexioned. The
two women had him so completely in their
GRASP that ne could not remain here, and
one day while al work at ReckIneyers
he hacked up his kit Of tools and went
away. He went from here 70 Haysv1lle,
where he worked quite q while, until he
became sick. and was bothered so much
by the two women that he could work no
LONGER. Then he went TO Derby, and
from there 10 Mulvane, where he visited
with his sister until Sheriff Simmons
went after him last Wednesday.
while at 9fulvane didn't you start to
Oklahoma, Mr.. Mack?' asked Judge Hay
maker.
Yes. sir"
why did you not go?''
well. I couldn't. Every time got to
Tdau the women would tell me TO stop,
and 7 couldn't break loose. I just had 10
sit down
How often did you try to go TO the
territory"
Two or three Times.
do You think you could go back 70
work and earn q living If you could be
free Of these women"
The man frightened up as Il n hope,
and said:
yes. II I had some medicine and
could get rid OF the power OF these wo-
men I could resume ny trade and would
be all right"
No other witnesses being present. Sher-
II Simmons was called 70 testify as %
what the relatives had told him about
Mack. His testimony was principally
along the line Of -he nature Of the nal
adv already related He said Mack's
br1ther-in-Iaw had a revolver concealed
in a drawer IN his home. and that several
times Mack had tried to get al the weap
on and had said that he would be reliev-
ed Of the women II he could get the re-
vo,ver.
Dr.. Parr examined The patient and
found that ne had a fever and was IN
very nervous state. He needed medicine.
Mack told the jury that he had been a
very hard driaker and had taken the
Kelley cure from physicians in this city
about four years ago. but IL did not cure
him. he resumed drinking within nine
months after quitting the treatment. and
was "on a tear" about four weeks ago.
The jury promptly arrived a. a verdict
Of insanity after hearing Msck's own
story. and the sheriff was ordered - call
the county physician 20 attend the pa
tier-.
There was much speculation as 70 tie
strange hallucsnatioz q Billy Mack. and
il may yet be the subject Of an inveSc.ga-
ton IN the interest OF science Whether
he is under q hypuotic spell that has
never been broken. or Is suffering from
the effects Of the Kelley treatment or
the whisky habit. OF a natural tendency Of
the brain il certain physical ailments. Is
a question mat VII be- hard 20 solve
1Iack's calm and even manner u reclci1g
his experience with The women q his
fancy makes rs stony 50uoly mysterious
and IncoUpreheusI5ie-
Il was learned after the verdict C. IL
fCoalzued OF Sixth Pags)