Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-23
Trial of George W. Horton Drawing
to a Close.
DOCTORS VIEW OF HYPOTHETICAL Case
Defense Closes and Prosecution
introduces Evidence in Rebuttal.
BOTH SIDES REPRESENTED

| in Criminal Court No. 1. 1t was known
when court opened that the defense would
| conclude its case in an hour two; that
| the government would wind up its rebuttal
during the remainder of the day, and that
by tomorrow evening the matter would be
placed in the hands of the jury for deter
| mination. The attendance was very much
| smaller today than at any time since the
! trial began, but the deepest interest was
| manifested by every one in the room.
Frederick 8. COburn a Witness.
Among the witnesses called late yes
| terday afternoon was Frederick 8. Co.
| burn who is undergoing term of fmpris-
onment in the Ohio penitentiary at Column
| bus. At the request of the defense. the
court directed that Coburn be brought to
| this city to testify in behalf of Horton.
| Mr. Coburn formerly conducted a drug
store at the southwest corner of 9th street
and New York avenue. He was convicted
of violation Of the postal law when he
was in charge of the post office suDstation
at the place mentioned.
The witness stated that he had occasion
to closely observe Horton for two months
at the District jail and considered his MIND
| unbalanced; man of weak moral char-
acter, dangerous and one who should De
watched, The witness explained that ne
had had considerable experience In cases
of insanity.
OSS11 kllnRer, an OpeTdtOT III the SicS-
trical department at police headquarters,
formerly member of the police force, tes-
titled that he at one time performed DUTY
with Horton. Once the latter, without
warming, drew his pistol and fired two shots
past the head of the witness. Horton never
talked inteligently. The witness asked 10
be transferred to another precinct so tnat
he would not be compelled TO serve with
Horton. The defendant was insane at
times said Mr.. Kllnger.
John Hancock, nephew of the accused,
and John Connell also made statements as
to alleged insane actions on the part OF
Horton. .
Just before court adjourned yesterday II
was stated that the defense would probably
not call more than three additional VIII
neSSeS
Answers Hypothetical Questions.
The first witness for the defense today
was DR.. Irving C. Rose, who explained
that he has been engaged in the practice OF
medicine for thirty-nine years, hoids OIL
plomas issued by several well-known uni
versities, is active member OF NUMBER
of medical societies and has written several
medical works DR.. Rosse testified to
the classifications Of insanity, saying that
hereditary insanity Is recognized. The wit
ness then answered favorably to the de-
Tense a hypothetical question, tending to
show the probable mental condition or
person, under certain circumstances, one
of whose parents and number or other
near relatives were insane. Continuing,
DR.. Rose explained the meaning of halluci-
nations.
Another hypothetical question was put to
DR.. Rose, embracing the main points OF
the testimony covering the alleged queer
actions on the part of Horton. In the opin-
ion of the witness such a person would be
of unsound mind, suffering, specifically, OF
''paranoia." ..-.
Was a Witness in Gufteau Case.
On cross-examination. DIR. Rose made
stateme nts to the effect that Dr. Chaplin,
who testified for the government, is regard
ed as an expert on insanity only by q few
lawyers, and not by the medical profess
sion.
you testified in the Guiteau case that the
defendant was insane, did you notr' in
quired Assistant District Attorney Shn-
lingtOn
L did, replied DIR. Rose
And Guiteau was convicted and hanged"
remarked Mr.. Shilington
He was, answered the witness, ''but the
post-mortem examination demonstrated
that the mans brain was diseased and that
my testimony was accurate
Testimony in RebuttaI.
The defense at this point announced that
its closed, and the government
thereupon began the Introduction of testi-
mony in rebuttal, placing Lieut.. Holm
berger of the fourth police precinct on the
stand. Lieut.. Hollinberger testified that
Horton served under him. and was assigned
to important work. The witness considered
the man entirely sane.
Lieut.. James w. Gessford of the fifth
police precinct, Lieut.. Isaac Pearson. in
spector of police, and Sergt. E. N. Burgess
of the fifth police precinct testified to hay
ing had occasion to observe Horton while
he was connected with the force. They all
testified that the defendant, in their opinion,
was sane at the time referred to.
Dr. Percy Kicking, formerly police
| surgeon, told the jury that he attended
Horton professionally for several years, and
from his observation of the defendant, in
that capacity, he had no reason to think
that the defendant is not perfectly sound in
mind.
Lieut.. McCathran of the ninth police pre-
cnct, under whom Horton at one time serv
ed, in the fifth precinct, testified that he be-
lieved the man to be of sound mind, and
recess was then taken.
CorrObOrative Testimony.
John Stewart, w. T. Anderson George e.
Augusterfer, William Vermilion and
Charles S. Baum, all members of the metro
politan police force, testified, did thu
preceding witness. in effect, that they had
never noticed any actions on the part OF
Horton that would indicate insanity.
Mr.. Frank Hume, who Endorsed Horizons
application for appointment on the police
force, appeared before the jury, and eX-
pressed it as his opinion that the defendant
is of sound mind.
Mr.. George r. Repetti described real
estate tranSac ton between Horton and
himself and remarked that the defendant
conducted himself as any man would in
thorough possession of his Senses. The
next witnesses Mr.. N. H. Shea, Mr.. James
c. Ergood, Mr.. NJ /. Weller, testified to the
same effect.
Reviewing Stand.
Others present on the reviewing stand
were: Representative Alexander of Buff
falo; Controller and Mrs. Dawes Commits
soners Wight. Ross and Beach. Assistant
Commissioner Craighead, Judge Hagner.
Judge Bingham, Judge Scott, Judge KIM
ball, Civil Service Commissioners Harlow
Brewer and Proctor, v. Baldwin Johnson,
Mitchell Dyrenforth and E. B. Hoy.
In the diplomatic corps were the Russian
German, French and Mexican ambassadors
with attaches of the embassies.
Jail officials as Witnesses.
John Hawkins, Thomas ]. Mitchell and
James Woodward officials connected with
the District jail, testified in substance that
from their observation of Horton since he
has been confined in jail they consider him
sane
Warden Harrisf Of the, Jail, Charles R.
H.