The record-union., 1899-07-27
HARRISON DECLARED INSANE
RESULT OF THE INQUIRY BY A
SPECIAL JURY.
The Wife-Slayer Will Now Go to
An Asylum Instead Of
Prison.

the ID Of October last murdered his
Wl1e at their home mile east OF Oak
Fark, has been pronounced insane.
Such was the verdict of the jury I'M
paneiled to examine into the question
OF Harrison's sanity. AS matter OF
fact, the jury had little to do in the
matter. After the evidence was all IN
Judge Hughes instructed the jury to
choose foreman and bring in ver-
dict of insanity without leaving the
box, and the jury followed these in
Structions.
1t will be remembered that on Tues
day afternoon, after the evidence Tor
the prosecution was all in, Judge
Hughes made an order eXcuSing the
trial jurors until 10 o'clock this morn
ing, and instructed the Sheriff to have
special venire Of thirty on hand when
court opened yesterday morning. The
Sheriff needed instructions, and the
special jury was on hand as per sub
pena.
Out of the thirty jurors assembled
the following We're selected to act: L
A. Miller, John Lafferty, Gus Lavenson,
A. Caselli George Eagan, H. F. G.
Wulff, H. Kimbrough, j. l.. Huntoon,
Thomas Coulter, H. S. Beals, c. Dit
mar and w. H. Luther.
Drs F. w. Hatch, President of the
State Commission in Lunacy, and DR..
w A. Briggs examined the prisoner in
his cell during the forenoon in the
presence of his attorneys, Grove l..
johnson and P. S. Driver, and Con-
stable Henry Alter, who a year ago
was employed by Harrison to shadow
his wife. DR.. Hatch, it is Said re-
quested Alter, who was familiar with
the subject, to give him an account of
the homicide, and as Alter began his
statement District Attorney Baker
came in and told DIR. Hatch not to
listen to Alter, as any statement he
would make might be colored, mas
much as he had taken a great interest
in the case.
Alter retaliated by attempting to
strike the District Attorney, and the
latter being nothing loath to protect
ing himself, there might have been a
lively time had not a Deputy Sheriff
interposed. 1t was stated that Alter
made a motion toward his rear trous-
ers pocket, but this the latter fatty
ried a gun for the past month, and
that had he had one he would not
have gone for it, The physicians fin
ished their examination.
After the jury had been selected,
Drs. Atkinson and Dixon testified that
in their opinion Harrison was insane.
and DR.. Hatch, being sworn, requested
a little more time to investigate wheth
er or not there had been insanity in
Harrison's family.
Mr. Johnson placed a number of wit
nesses on the stand who had worked
with Harrison prior to the homicide,
and they gave it as their opinion that
the latter was insane on the matter of
his wife's unfaithfulness to him. Mr..
Johnson also presented number of
affidavits from parties living in the
vicinity of Harrison's old home in
Pennsylvania to the effect that one
of his sisters is confined in an asylum
in that State, and that his father, while
he had never been adjudged insane,
had acted peculiarly.
At the afternoon session DR.. Briggs
testified that in his opinion Harrison
was undoubtedly insane.
Dr. Hatch was none the less en-
phatic in his testimony. He is an ex-
pert on insanity, and his opinion was
considered conclusive by the court. He
said that Harrison's mind was un-
doubtedly diseased. and that the fam
cied infidelity of his wife was the
center around which all of his thoughts
revolved He further stated that in
his opinion Harrison would not only
never get well. but that he would grad
ually get worse until his mind would
be entirely dethroned.
Upon the conclusion of DR.. Hatch's
testimony Mr.. Johnson rested. and the
District Attorney offered to submit the
matter without argument. Mr.. john
son said he had no desire to argue the
matter. but he did desire the Judge TO
instruct the jury.
It was then that Judge Hughes in
structed the jury to return verdict
of insane. without leaving the box.
and the instruction was complied with.
Both attorneys agreed that under the
circumstances the court would be justi-
fled in discharging the trial jury. and
that will be the procedure at 10 O'Clock
this morning. 1t is usual in cases OF
criminal insanity to excuse the jury
until some specified future date in or
der that in case the subject should re-
cover that the trial of the case might
be continued. but in the face of DR..
Hatch's statement that Harrison would
never recover such a precaution was
deemed unnecessary.