Evening star., 1899-06-24
DR.. Kenyon Discharged From Gus
tody by Justice Bradley.
CHS SANITY Was QUESTIONED
Comments Of the Court Upon the
Evidence Submitted.
KENYON HIS OWN LAWYER

A SroSSer outrage upon the nDerty ana
rights of citizen / do not recall during
my experience a judge of a criminal
court or as a citizen" Justice Bradley took
occasion to remark this afternoon in dis
posing of the case of DR.. Frederick C.
keayon, who was before the court as an
individual of alleged unsound mind. THE
whole proceeding has been an outrage upon
his rights and never should have been in
stituted.
There was no excuse. no justification for
it. He is dismissed with certificate SO far
as l can give it to him. of perfect mental
capacity"
Dr. Kenyon, it will be remembered. was
arrested several days ago at the Agricul-
tural Department, where it was charged he
had been a source of considerable annoy
ance to the officials and others After
hearing in the Police Court he was COM
mitted to Jail and thence transferred to
the St ElZabeth's Insane Asylum.
The hearing of the matter today occupied
more than three hours. Attorney Sinclair
represented the District of Columbia, while
DR.. Kenyon appeared in his own behalf
Seated by him was Attorney Randall Webb.
Before disposing of the case Justice Brad
ley reviewed the evidence of the various
witnesses as to the mental unsoundness of
Dr. Kenyon. There had been testimony Of
fered of violent and threatening language
on the part of the latter.
But when specifically interrogated, re-
marked the court, 1.-The witnesses admitted
| that the violent language consisted of the
| statement to typewriter, L want this
typewriting done, instead of If you please
| | would like you to do this typewriting.
! The threatening language was couched Ill
ness letter. There was nothing in the
world that l could detect that would indi-
| cate threatening language"
Another Indication.
| AS another indication of the insanity OF
| DIR. Kenyon. Justice Bradley went on to
say that he had claimed that he was ent1-
| tied to a certain position. This was denied
| by the chief clerk of the department. The
| court thought this indicated merely mis-
| understanding between the chief clerk and
| DIR. Kenyon. Then DIR. Kenyon presented
vouchers for FIVE days pay. THESE were
not recognized.
And yet" said the court, 'this was
treated as an insane act, although 1t ap-
| pears from the testimony that after that
| time DIR. Kenyon was in the service of the
| department and received pay Wnen he
| persisted in visiting the department after
| being requested 10 desist he was arrested.
| But at all times he conducted himseff- IN d
| quiet, gentlemanly manner.
| There was not the slightest circumstance
| that justified the charge of disorderly con-
| duct being entered against MN. rhil ne was was
! first accused of misconduct. This was
| changed to disorderly conduct and later 10
| insanity Although not found guilty of
| disoiderly conduct, of, for that matter OF
| insanity, he was sent to jail.
| After referring to what he designated as
| the improperly, to say the least, of the
Police Courts action Justice Bradley went
| on to say that throughout the hearing DR..
| Kenyon had evidenced careful, thoughtful
| considera ton of the matter at issue. The
| most carefully educated lawyer at the bar
| could not have conducted a case better
| than had Dr. Kenyon, the court thought.
l ha ba9 aShjhitP6 nprfpet GOODNESS
| and fairness and more than ordinary intel
| ligeEce.
II DR.. Kenyon had been disorderly, the
matter should have been disposed OF IN
| the Police Court. If he had had been an
neying to the officials at the Department OF
| Agriculture there was a way of prevent
| ing that.
| Chief Clerk n Witness.
| Mr. Andrew Geddes chief clerk of the De-
partment of Agriculture explained to the
court the complaint against Dr. Kenyon
| He stated that the latter was formerly a
| clerk in the department. The actions OF
the man were of such strange character
| as to cause the witness to believe him oi
unsound mind. Finally he became so an
noying to the chief of his division that last
| December he was given the opportunity tt
resign with the alternative of dismissal.
Mr.. Geddes said he ordered DR.. Kenyon
not to enter the department building be
/ cause of his annoying actions in ordering
| people around. Five or six months ago. he
witness recited, DIR. Kenyon came to hin
with an order for the Secretary of Agricul
ture to sign. appointing DR.. Kenyon a zooi
| ogist in the department at a salary of s., ON
a year. He insisted that the Secretar,
should sign the order. This was not done
! Several days later DIR. Kenyon visited th'
| witness and presented vouchers for pa,
claimed to be due him in accordance will
| the proposed order, which the Secretar!
| had not signed.
Ten Gays ago Chief Clerk Gedd7s ex
| planned, DR.. Kenyon once more visited th,
department and made himself so annoying
that the witness directed that he be placed
, | under arrest In conclusion, the witness
expressed the belief that DIR. Kenyon il
of unsound mind and is growing worse. L
| was added that the man had never been
to the knowledge of the witness, physical
ly violent.
DR.. Kenyon cross-eXamined the witness
No new facts were brought out in thi
manner. however.
| A Personal Friend.
DR.. Albert F. Woods of the Department
| of Agriculture next took the stand. Th
court was informed that the witness ant
Dr. Kenyon had been friends from boyhood
A number of incidents were related Il
bring to light alleged questionable actions
on the part of DIR. Kenyon, such refusa
to leave his boarding house when ordere,
to do
Dr. Woods went on to tell of the conduc
Of DR.. Kenyon at the department.
. | was he ever Yloient! asked Attorne,
| Sinclair.
| Il noticed no violence, except brasqu
| manner in addressing the clerks the wit
r ! ness made reply.
Have i not always been noted 70
| brusaueness has been accentuated of late.
> Yes" DR.. Woods answered, but tina
S grusquenes has been accentuated of late
a DR.. Woods told of number of friends Q
Z DR.. Kenyon having taken steps to aid hir
after he was discharged from the depart
ment. They offered to provide him wit
| transportation to California but he decline
| to accept the same.
a Il then asked him what he was going t
do said the witness, 'and he remarke
, | that suicide was good way out of tn
= difficulty
: do you make that statement oath?
: asked DR.. Kenyon.
Il do replied DIR. Woods.
1.-The statement was never uttered,
: quietly declared DIR. Kenyon.
MIR. o. F. Cooke, special agent of tn
| Department of Agriculture, referred to tn
e actions of DIR. Kenyon, detailed by tn
d preceding witnesses. Mr.. Cooke consit
: cred the conduct of DR.. Kenyon extraord