The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-07
LAWYER LEWIS OBJECTS.
CRrTICgsEs INSANITY COMMISSION
~ S0RDsTasuM CASE.
eeusaon Untn We1aes1ay-An-
Dsunees = Fixed Differentiation

The date ~ Murderer Charles W. Eorc-
ssrom's farewell appearance before the ss-
attic public was net named by Judge ia
cobz In fiss superior court yesterday morn
Ing. The fixing Of the fatal Friday was
only postponed unfit "Wednesday, however.
when az the court remarked. unpleasant
- e may be, the court will do its duty"
Nofdstrouss lawyer Janice Hamilton
Lewis was INSTRUMENTAL In bringing about
the delay, making a characteristic o5jec-
ton % the request OF Assistant Prosecut-
ing Attorney Hart that. the question OF
Nordssrom's sanity being Satisfactorily Ge-
fefmined. the court proceed a. once TO
carry out the death sentence imposed In
January. 1857
Mr.. Lewis flied q lengthy protes. In writ
ing. and elaborated upon II In a speech
half an hour long. He told the court that
the question Of Ncrdstroms sanity was by
no means satisfactorily determined. and
proceeded. metaphoriealiy speaking, TO
make legal punching bag Of the courts
late insanity commission and its report
He referred 10 the commission as In no
sense q body legally authorized to inquire
into the question OF the condemned man.
mental condition. and declared that Jury
Of twelve men should have been impaneied
for the purpose. He criticised the action OF
the commissioners In excluding counsel for
the state and for the prisoner from the
ed. thereby denying the prisoner the RICH,
OF crns< examining the witnesses against
him and producing witnesses in his own
behalf
And finally Mr.. Lewis made the bod an
nouncemens that he and his colleague had
neyer been officially informed OF the ap-
polnfmsni OF the commission or the time
OF Hs meeting. or Of it's proceedings, and
were stiil without notice Of these important
matters except through the newspapers
Judge Jacobs listened but did not appear
greatly pleased with the argument. He
referred to the fact that the mode of pro-
cedure had been fully discussed prior to
the appointment Of the commission, and
said fecisiyeiy that In appointing the com
mission he had acted for the purpose OF
satisfying his own mind. The commission.
eomposed Of eminentiy well qualified prac-
titioners. had reported. and the court be-
Ing sAtnned with ffs report had but one
duty 10 perform. and would proceed TO per
FORM y. unpleasaHt though Ii might be
Mr.. Lewis asked time 10 be heard furth-
er and the court granted him until Wed
nesay. saying. however. that his mind
u uss tgI!y made up Then turning TO Mr..
mart Judge Jacobs directed that formal
order be prepared recisine thd facts OF the
commissions appointment OF its praceeff-
ings and OF fts report. and sugsested that
warrant alo.
II IL practically certain that Judge
Jacobs viii set the day for Nords,rom's
execution on Wednesday. no matter what
objections the fatter;s lawyers may ra,ss
IN fact he SAID from the bench yesterday
that only the mandate Of the supreme
court would b. allowed To interfere with
the execution Of this sentence Tie aues
tion In. what Will Noristrom,s lawyers do.
Those who know Mr.. lewis fertility of
feeource In that regard are OF the opinion
that ne win apply 10 the supreme court
for writ Of prohibition. or something OF
that nature, To prevent Judge Jacobs from
goinx further In the ease baetng the an
piicAfion upon the altered Informality In
the appointment and proceedings OF the In
sanity commission
Fur once Judge Jacobs and the prosecut-
ing attorneys Office are I'm thorough ac.
cord. Both are anxious that there shall
b no more delay in carving on. az
the doubiy affirmed sentence OF death ia
Norlssrom's case.