The times., 1899-05-23
TO ESTABLISH THE
INSANITY OF HORTON
More Witnesses Examined in
Behalf of the Defence.
The Alleged Malady of the Defend
ant Given Many Names.
4 Probability Tint the Case VIII
De Given to the Jury Before
Neon Tomorrow.


the case of George w. Horton. who is on
trial for murder in Criminal Court No.
before Justice Clabaugh. The witnesses
were called chiefly to give evidence tend
ing to establish the plea of the defence,
that the defendant is of unsound mind
and was irresponsible for his acts ut the
time he killed Mrs. Jane Nicholson in
Arm0ry Park on the afternoon of June "a
last at about O'Clock.
The testimony adduced was, whatever
else it might be, an excellent demonstra-
ton OF the saying about doctors disagree
ing. So far the physicians who have testi-
fed in the case have each specified the con-
dition of Horizons mind by differet term.
One called it love melancholia," an
other "hysterical insanity" still another
moral insanity" while others testified
that from all they had seen and heard of
the subject OF the enquiry they dill not con-
slider him insane at all. Laymen who had
an acquaintance with Horton covering
many years called him peculiar" said he
was queer and cranky"
From the announcement made by the
counsel for the defence yesterday at the
hour of adjournment it is probable that the
case will be given to the jury to-
| morrow before noon. 1t was stated that
only two or three more witnesses will be
cdlleQ lot the DetOre tHe case Is
closed. Thus far there has been no intima-
tion that the defendant Horton will be
called TO testify in his own behalf.
When the court was convened yesterday
morning Justice Clabaugh dismissed the
jurors who were not on special panel in
the Horton case until Monday next.
Cora V. Heilman was the first witness
called yesterday. She said she had known
Horton for about three years. He was in
the habit of visiting her house. She saw
him about three weeks before he killed
occasion the defendant acted very queeriy;
| talked little, gazed at the ceiling, and bit
| his lips. She concluded by saying she
thought Horton insane.
Samuel Walker said in his testimony:
Il was once employed on the Metropolitan
Police force and worked with Horton. /
knew Jane Nicholson, the woman he kill
ed. l always thought Horton insane. He
always acted queerly."
William Aver, formerly deputy sheriff
| of Fairfax county, Va, was called to tes-
| tify as to the mental condition of certain
members of Horizons family
/ J. E. Rose stated that he had known the
defendant for ten or twelve years On
occasions. he said, the defendant acted
queerly and excitedly.
Mr. Rose said from what he knew of
Horton he believed the defendant 10 be
insane.
DIR. George W. Murray. who conducts
drug store at POI b Street southeast,
said he had known Horton four or five
years Horton seemed always busy COM
posing reversible poetry, and from what
| he saw and knew of him he was satisfied
that the defendant S mind was unbalanced.
| McKensie Scott testified to many of his
| experiences with Horton, but would not
say he was insane.
Rosa Blum said that she knew Horton
| while he was on the police force. She
keeps store. One day the defendant came
in and asked her if she ever read the Bible
and knew what became of the man who
killed his brother. The witness husband,
Simon Blum, testified that Horton once
asked him: How far is it from here TO
heaven?"
George ". Donaldson believed that Hor
toms mind was unbalanced.
Robert H. Key colored, who had known
| Horton for about eleven years, said that
during the last two years he had seen the
defendant nearly every day. On the day
of the homicide Horton was in his place
and told him that he, the defendant, had
| an engagement to meet lady that after
noon in the park. II was about an hour
before Mrs. Nicholson was killed. Horton
! then left, but came back a few minutes
| later and said he did not believe he would
go to meet the lady, because he felt that
something awful was going to happen. The
witness was of the opinion that Horton
was insane.
on cross-examination the witness stated
that Horton drank frequently. Before he
| left the witness place of business to keep
| the engagement Horton drank a glass of
beer and one of whisky.
DR.. J. A. Stoutenburgh stated that be-
| fore graduating he was student at the
| Washington Asylum Hospital. He had
| great deal of experience with insane per-
sons, both before and since he was admit
ted to practice. He had visited Horton six
| or eight times at the District Jail and
talked with him. In his opinion the de-
fendants mind was unbalanced by eX-
| cesses.
On discrimination DR.. Stoutenburgh
stated that Horton was laboring under
what might be termed moral insanity"
he was morally depraved man, and
had no control over his desires.
William Langley was called and said he
| has known Horton five or six years. He
| said he met Horton about three months
before he killed Jane Nicholson, and that
he told him that he, Horton, was losing
| his mind. and ne was going TO the country.
| Sergt. John c. Daley said the defendant,
Horton, was attached to the same police
| precinct station as himself for about a
year. He said it was a habit of Horton
TO carry two hats from the stationhouse.
This the witness said, Horton accounted
for by saying when one hat got wet he
would have dry one.
Sergeant Daley said he considered Horton
eccentric" "a crank" he was peculiar. -
Il did not think him insane" the witness
said. He would do his duty and think
he was responsible for all his acts
Dr. Frederick l. Cobern, who was some
time ago convicted of violating the United
States postal laws and is now serving a
term in the penitentiary at Columbus.
| Ohio, was the next witness called for the
defence. DR.. Cobern, it will be Temem-
bered was confined in the District jail
was convicted of the offence for which
he is now serving term in the peniten-
tiary The witness said from all he had
seen and heard OF Horton he concluded
he was insane.
headquarters, was called. He said that he
was once a partner" with the defendant
on the police force. He said that on one
at random out on the commons. He also
said that Horton could not talk on d sub
ject intelIigently and connectedly.
John II. Hancock said he had known
Horton for about thirty years and that
the defendant is his uncle. He said he
often visited Horton while he was con-
fined in the District jail The witness tes-
titled that during his visits TO the jail h,
formed the opinion that Horton is insane
About twenty-five years ago he said Hor-
ton IVES struck on the head from which