The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-01
BAD BREAK OF
ATTORNEY BELL
Said Buchanan Was In
sane at SiSSOnS.
MAY RUIN HIS CHANCES
CONFLICTS WITH STATEMENTS
OF WITNESSES.
District Attorney Mcdaniel Thinks
MAY RUIN HIS CHANCES
District Attorney Mcdaniel Thinks
Buchanan Was Always Sane,
but Does Not Care What
Happens Him.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NAPA, Nov. 30.-Hugh Buchanan's men
TAI condition appears TO be absorbing the
attention Of the people of Napa as much
as II does that Of the court and those i'm
mediately engaged in the habeas corpus
proceedings in his behalf. Few persons
can be found who believe that the pc
utioner is insane. None who have seen
or spoken with him since the beginning of
the pending proceedings have any doubt
OF his sanity.
No one is more confident of the grant
Ing Of the prayer contained in the haOsas
corpus writ than Buchanan himself. He
mas declared TO The Call correspondent
mat before the proceedings are concluded
II will be shown that: 1T is a far cry
from snakes in the boots 10 rats in the
garrett Buchanan has always consist
entity admitted his addiction 10 convivial
habits and the testimony of some OF the
medical experts who appeared during the
trial for murder at Marysville held that
Buchanan was simply suffering from dip
somania.
Comment to-day was largely devoted to
what is viewed as a serious technical mis-
take made by District Attorney Bell when
he admitted yesterday that Buchanan was
insane al the time ne was al Sissons.
Cal, during 1928. Even Bells friends
ana co-workcrs in Buchanan cause admit
that he came as near To throwing away
his case as he could without deliberately
doing so. Bells or rather BUCHANAN
witnesses have invariably testified that
Buchanan's mental condition is I'M
changed to-day from what 1t was at the
time of his commitment TO the asylum.
Gardeners friends are now arguing on
these facts as follows: II Buchanan's
condition is unchanged, then. according to
Bells admission made in court he must
still be insane.
Why Bell made such a sensational adj
mission is a mystery 10 friend and foe.
He had nothing 10 gain and 1t may be the
means of losing his case. II II should be
lost IL will be on technicality, however,
and not on its merits, and will then be
carried 10 the Supreme Court on habeas
corpus. The full significance OF Bell 5
break as IT is being termed, only be
came apparent when IL had been
thoroughly discussed and analysed.
District Attorney Mcdaniel of Marys-
Vile will remain here until the proceed
ings are concluded. He Is firmly of the
opinion that Buchanan has always been
sane, but says he would not care II
Buchanan were not transferred TO tho
custody OF the Yuba authorities, provided
he We're kept under restraint for the rest
of his life. He looks upon Buchanan as
a dangerous person to be at large, and
states that he does not care whether
Buchanan is confined in an asylum or 4
jail.
Among the witnesses who have been
subpenaed on behalf of DR.. Gardner from
Marysville are Drs. :. J. 5. Rogers, J. II.
Barr and E. T.. Stone and Attorneys Car
lin. Forbes and Belcher Drs. Rogers and
Barr were members OF the lunacy COM
mission which found Buchanan insane.
DIR. Stone testified in line with DR.. Gard
ner'S opinion and the attorneys named
represented Buchanan In the murder trial
More than usually interesting develop
ments are confidently expected at the pro-
ceedings Tomorrow when DR.. Gardner
will probably take the stand.