The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-07

HIS Noih III fiiGQlIltlG lidS bCCl liiii'IVe
to mind and nervous diseases.
In answer to question by Attorney
Harvey the witness said he had read
the testimony of Drs. Wells, Sheeran
and Lieber who performed the autopsy
on Larkin, and had also heard the tes-
timony of DR.. Warren relative to the
condition and conduct of Larkin while
in the asylum.
'Basing your opinion on that testi-
mony, what would you say was the
mental condition of Larkin from June
IS, 1894, when he entered Wells hospi-
tai, up to the time of his death?"
Il would say it was a condition of
dementia."
What is meant by dementia?"
"A failure and finally a loss of all
the faculties of the mind"
How is dementia distinguished from
other forms of insanity"
Most other forms of insanity are
durable. Dementia is practically in
durable, as it is always attended with
organic changes"
The witness was asked if there was
anything in the testimony which he
read from which he could determine,
or which would indicate when the
softening of Larkin's brain occurred.
mo- SIR" was the answer
The witness said a post norton
would not demonstrate when the brain
softening first began, because dementia
would begin when the blood supply of
the brain was cut off by a clogging or
rupture of the blood vessels, which
would at once be indicated by an apo
plectic shock, stupor or loss of mental
power.
The witness was asked if he had
read an abstract of testimony given
by Larkin in several cases on trial in
the district court during the period
of his alleged insanity. The doctor said
he had read it, and was then asked
if Larkin could give such testimony
and be demented at the same time.
1T was not" was the answer, after
Judge Mediation had made an objec-
ton to the testimony.
"On what do you base your opin-
ion?" asked Mr.. Harvey.
"On the fact that if Larkin testified
as the transcript shows he showed ar
excellent memory, especially for de-
tails and facts recently talked over, and
that his reasoning power, as evidenced
by the testimony was good, and that
he readily grasped mentally the entire
subject"
DR.. Eskrdge was asked if, prior tC
the time Larkin gave the testimony in
court referred to, had shown by con-
versations and otherwise, certain pc
culiarities of mind, what he would at
tribute such necul1arltleS to.
81 would attribute it to some tempo
rary cause. 1t certainly could not be
dementia."
Assuming that in the spring of 1899
Larkin ran a boundary line of mining
claim in controversy and directed the
work, the witness was asked to give
his opinion as to whether such work
by Larkin would indicate whether or
not Larkin was demented at that time
I,at 41,ot w
evidence that he was not demented al
that time, provided the work was well
DONE
A number of other incidents Of a sim
liar nature, which had previously beer
testified to in the case We're recounteC
to DR.. Eskridge and he was asked as tt
what such facts indicated as tc
whether Larkin was demented at the
time or not. The witness replied thai
the facts indicated that he could no
have been demented at the time, some
| incidents especially showing a goof
| memory of recent events.
In August, 1893, while discussing th'
silver question with a friend Larkil
| said the price of silver was regulated
| by the law of supply and demand. AM
| if scarce the price would be higher. n
| said he would vote for a free coinag
man, but did not believe that the pric
of silver could be kept up by legisla
| ton.
would that conversation indicat
that Larkin was demented at the tim
| or not?" asked Mr.. Larllin.
One of the attorneys suggested tina
| that was a dangerous question to asl
| an Eastern man, and Judge Mediator
| objected to the question on the groun'
! that Larkin's expressions on politics o
| political economy were immaterial an
| incompetent.
1T would indicate" said the witnes
| in answering the question, that h
was not demented, for right or wron
| it shows a reasoning power that de
mented man does not have
The doctor said the apoplectic shoe
which Larkin sustained at the asylum
was due to a blocking of the bloo
vessels of the brain and shutting OF
the blood supply, causing softening Q
the brain
The direct examination of DIR, Esll
ridge was concluded with the followin
| hypothetical questions:
"Supposing a man about So years o
age, of rather eccentric habits an
given to the free use of alcohol, bu
only exceptionally to such an eXten
| as not to be able to manage his affairs
| Is in possession of considerable prop
critics, and attends to the detail man
agement of them during the years in
| tervening from 1890 to September, 1879;
| exhibiting in 1892 a connected and de
| tailed memory with a reasoning poWe
| for logical sequences and directing hi
| affairs during this entire, enters int
| negotiations with parties for the de
velopment of claims, and in the sprn