The Wichita daily eagle., 1900-10-17
IS found INSANE
G. w. Carroll Tried Yesterday
in Probate Court.
SEVENTY YEARS OF AGE
Mind Nearly Blank, Yet Be-
members Mrs. Carroll.

! Yesterday afternoon in the probate
court G. W. Carroll was adiudged insane.
He is an old man residing on North Hy-
drauljc avenue. His mind has been in
a blank condition for some time, but it
has not been necessary to have him TAX
! en- charge Of by the state until yesterday.
The affidavit certifying to the mans
unbalanced mental condition was made
out yesterday by Mr.. John Goodwin A
/ jury was called by Probate Judge Hay
NAKED and trial was had, resulting in
| the above mentioned verdict
When Mr. Carroll was taken in the
probate court room he walked very hes
itatingly. He seemed to want to inquire
into everything. He would closely scru-
tinize everyone but he did not have much
to say. He would walk step or so and
stop to look around. Seemingly he was
trying TO understand his surroundings.
While he was slow to make a step for
ward at the same time he showed no
physical resistance.
Before ali OF the jury had arrived the
old gentleman kept mumbling to him
self that he must go. He said the 'old
lady would be uneasy about him He
/ said she had several children to take
care Of and she needed him. Then he
| tried to open an unused door, but he was
persuaded to sit down. He told the
crowd that from what he had seen of
them he would just as soon be in their
company as anybody's, but that he must
get back to the old lady. During all the
time that his mind has been falling him,
his wife has impressed upon his mind
that he must not wander away. It seems
he had gone away two or three times
and his wife impressed the one thought
on his mind that it worried her for him
to be away. So t seemed to be the
one thing that troubled him yesterday.
When the jury stood up to be sworn
the old gentleman also stood and held up
his hand as they did. Judge Haymaker
then asked the question: ''Mr. Carroll,
how old are you?" He made an effort
to answer, but he was unable to make
any statement He could understand a
question and realize what was wanted,
but his memory was blank
Judge Haymaker asked him a few more
questions, as follows:
'Mr. Carroll, where were you born?"
He tried to answer but he could not
formulate sentence Finally by ges-
turing and stammering he managed to
say, down east"
Question-"Do you know what place
this. is-do you know where you live?"
Answer-"Yes.''
Question-"What's the name of this
town."
Answer-'T - ah - forget"
Question-"What is your first name?"
Answer-"Sam.''
Question-'what does G. W. stand
for?"
To this he could not answer. He did
not seem to realize that his first name is
G. W. He said again that It was
Samuel.
Mr.. Carroll is about 70 years old. He
was born in Tennessee and lived the
greater part Of his life near New Mar
ket in Jefferson county, He was mar
ried twice. BY his first wife there were
six children and by his present wife four.
He came to Kansas five years ago with
his family and took up residence here in
Wichita.
He has been failing in his mind for
eleven years. In the summer of 1889
he had a sunstroke The winter before
he worked very hard and was exposed
to severe weather so that his physical
condition was the poorest when he re-
time he has showed signs of mental de-
rangement with the condition growing
worse all the time.
Under ordinary circumstances the old
gentleman is not violent but when irri-
tated he is hard to control. He is not
able to wait on himself. In that re-
spect is like a child. However, he
sometimes takes queer notions like other
insane people and It is difficult to per
suade him differently.
About four years ago an affidavit was
sworn out certifying to Mr.. CAROLS in
sanity. At that time Mrs Carroll come
in and said she did not want to part with
him Accordingly the court granted her
the privilege Of keeping him at home
The old people always had great affection
for each other and Mrs. Carroll could
control her husband better than anyone
else. In fact for several years he has
Just followed her around everywhere she
went. II she went down TO a store he
had to go If she went 10 get a bucket
of water he generally followed He al
wavs wanted her in sight
But Mrs. Carroll IS sick and has been
for some time. She is no longer able to
care for the old gentleman. Arrange
ments have been made TO care for him.
It is evident that on account OF his age
re Is incurable and from the way he
was worrying about the old lady yes
terday it is very likely that his mental
condition will rapidly become worse mas