Waterbury Democrat., 1901-10-25
TEARS IN COURT TO-DAY.
Senator Kennedy's Able Plea
 Moved His Hearers.
LaroIeaux Alone Seemed Not to Real ize His Position-Dr Downs of Hart ford Explained the Difference Be tween Insanity and a.Delusion.


 ford Explained the Difference Be
 tween Insanity and a.Delusion.
 When the superior court, criminal side, adjourned yesterday, counsel en- gagged were discussing Senator ken nedy's hypothetical question as 1o what a certain man would do under certain conditions, similar in every re- spect to those which appeared to have governed the accused, Peter Lamo- reaux on the evening it is charged against him that he attempted to mur- der his mother-in-law, Kate Erenetfe, and if such actions were those of sane or insane man? The question was asked Dr Downs of Hartford, an alienist. and he said he would not like to answer unless allowed to qualify It, in justice to himself. After several attempts to confine him to the ques- ton the witness said that the act of shooting of Mrs Frenette was not the product of q sound mind; that ought to be apparent to all present except the prisoner. The witness reasons for giving the above answer were that absence of Knowledge on the part of tie mythical man of having slot at someone, his peculiar manner Of sur render to the authorities, his contra triton for the deed when subsequently he learned he had done it.
 This condition of mind may have been brought, about by excessive use ot drugs or liquors. Then the ques- tion What is T delusion was taken up- In the doctors opinion a dalusion is false belief out Of which the per sons cannot be persuaded by ordinary means. A man who is jealous of his wife without foundation is laboring under delusion, said the doctor As to such a man believing that his wife is unfaithful to him, that he accuses her and sEs deies him to produce the proof; then lie complains to her moth CT and she tells him he is jealous of his wife, Whereupon he then accuses the mother law of trying to break up his home, this man is acting under mistaken idea. which does not rise to the dignity of a delusion
 Considering, then" said Senator Kennedy, .all the evidence and all that you have. said, would you say to have at larger
 HIS, luCsllOI WdS Slflck0n out ana soon after the court adjourned.
 Dr May of NaGgatuck was the next witness. The same questions as were asked the previous witness were also asked of him and about the same an swers were given. pr Defenlorf who was present watching the case fol the state, was not called upon to tes- tify.
 At noon the case was closed. All during the trial so far Lamoreaux sat at the end of the lawyers table near the jury with eyes cast down. his hands joined in his lap. apparently un- conscious of what was going on around and of so much moment to him. Even when on the witness stand he did not raise his eyes and answered each ques. tion tersely and without the slightest emotion apparently.
 The opening argument was made by Mir Kellogg and Senator Kennedy fol lowed. He drew most pathetic pie ture. of the home life of the accused dwelling as the speaker claimed him to be under the terrible delusions which have been mentioned during the trial So powerfully did MT Kenne- dy illustrate this scene that all of the women ill the court burst into tears and for the time the accused appeared to feel his position