The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-05-08
PUZZLES
SCIENTISTS.
John Garrabrandt, the Muir
derer Of Young Hayes,
Is a Freak.
MEASUREMENTS TELL THE TALE
Some Say He Is an Idiot
and Others Abnormally
Vicious.


nineteen year old murderer of Harry
Mas, fifteen years old, puzzles students
of human nature and of criminology. A
number of scientists have visited him and
have carefully studied his face, manner,
actions and general bearing. Some con-
tend that the boy is an idiot and mentally
irresponsible, and others that he is a
brute without conscience and with an abb
normally developed thirst for blood
William Robinson, of Police Headquar-
ters, measured Garrabrandt by the Ber-
tillon system yesterday afternoon. Mr..
Robinson says the boy is freak. He is
much smaller than an average boy of his
years and weak in body. His face is the
narrowest Mr.. Robinson has ever meas
ured His forehead is very narrow and
that portion behind the ears very large.
His chest is what is commonly known as
chicken breast or pigeon breast. There
are two convex curves to his abdomen,
one below the other, just as if he had two
abdomens.
The boy has many moods. He appear
ed nervous at times and again perfectly
calm. He was serious and again frivolous
yesterday while awaiting his arraignment
in the First Criminal Court After being
led from his cell by Detective Prescott to
go to court Garrabrandt was calm and
apparently unconcerned. He seemed to
be rather heavy, showed no interest in
his new surroundings and the many
strangers who crowded around him in the
corridors of Police Headquarters.
Here was boy whose mind, if healthy,
should have been susceptible to his novel
surroundings. But not so with Cara
brandt. He passed through a large
crowd and was led into the detectives
room There were congregated a num-
ber of policemen and officials in full uni
form. The brass buttons on their coats
seemed to attract the boy for min
ute He was saluted by Captain John
F. Kelly, who went for him to Nyack,
where he made his confession of guilt.
He was seated in one corner of the room,
surrounded by the policemen and in plain
view of all who had official business
with the Court. Every one stopped and
looked at the boy and passed on. He
returned every glance without interest
and showed no fear. All about him were
the instruments used in the Bertillon
system of measuring. These appliances
would interest almost any one who had
never seen them before, but they held
no attraction for the boy who robbed a
promising youth of life in order to rob
a dead body of So. There he sat, kicking
his heels together, with his hat on his
head, a smile and a frown alternately
making their appearance. His eyes were
restless and not bright. They lacked ex-
preston. direct remark to him brought
the trace of smile and caused him to
quicken the swinging of his feet. When
answering he dropped his head like a
bashful little girl and spoke in low
but firm tone.
The general excitement caused by the
case led the officials who We're seated
about the murderer to relate incidents of
similar crimes in the past. AS quickly
as the point in any of the harmless jokes
was brought out, Garrabrandt laughed
with the rest of the party. His wits
seemed to be sharp enough.
Later when an ante-room was reached
and the boy awaited a summons to the
court he again fell back into his heavy
manner Here it was that he asked for
a cigarette and it was given to him. His
pleasure was very great With difficulty
he lit the roll of paper-incased tobacco
and inhaled a, very large quantity of the
smoke. Old cigarette smokers were sur
prised. 1t seemed that the smoke must
have permeated all his organs. Then it
came forth in a long, steady, continuous
stream. In exhaling the smoke the boy
took great pleasure. The sensation seem
ed to tickle him. His eyes frightened
and rolled about slowly dreamily. His
actions with the cigarette revealed the
secret-a fiend who is a slave to a habit
How many of those do you smoke
day?''
Eight or ten packs" said Garrabrandt.
At this point a young man passed through
'sI know, that fellow. Isn't his
Yes he was answered.
why, I used to work for his father up
to a year ago. Il left the place three times
and they always came after me. | left
year ago and haven't seen that fellow
in a year.
It was evident that his memory was not
bad. The young man the murderer recog-
nized returned and was told of the boys
remarks.
kill me for three said the son of Cara
brandt's former employer. The murderer
laughed.
Garrabrandt was then taken into the
mother and those of Mrs. Julia Coyle, who
are being held as accessories. The three
prisoners flushed as their eyes met. The
crowd in the room that was attracted by
curiosity eagerly watched for scene.
The spectators were disappointed. No
sign of recognition was exchanged and
murmur of surprise passed through the
court.
The murderer stood in the dock hat In
hand at his side beating against his leg.
The other arm rested on the rail and the
fingers drummed a tattoo. The complaint
of the State was read. 1t sounded very
terrible to the spectators, but to Cara
brandt it seemed as nothing. He did not
seem to know the purport of the words
uttered.
what have you to say?" asked Prose
cutor Erwin as the usual warning was
The room was so still the falling of a
pin could be heard. Garrabrandt's eyes
became more restless and his hat was
knocked against his leg furiously. Mrs.
Garrabrandt looked straight ahead and
did not glance at her son. A few seconds
passed, everyone breathlessly awaiting
his answer.
II don't wish to say anything,a answer
ed Garrabrandt, and he was led to
bench where his mother was seated. A
detective occupied seat between the
two. They made not the slightest effort
to address each other. In a few minutes
Mrs Garrabrandt and Mrs. Coyle were
placed in the dock They denied all the
charges brought against them. Cara
brandt seemed absolutely oblivious to
their denials. Mrs. Garrahrandt spoke
first and her son paid not the slightest att
tention to her. He did notateven look at
her
s'He that seeks Hnds.', He that takes Hood