Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-04
EXPERTS TESTIFY.
They All Agree That Geo.
Brainerd Is Insane.
Has Been so for Years and Is in An
lncurabIe Condition.
So Unanimous That State Will Probably MT
! Use Experts

trd for murder.
Dr.. Addison 8. Thayer of Portland
was first called. He was educated at
tn" Eowcoin Medical school. Harvard
Medical school and in GERMANY. and
has practiccd in Portland Il years. For
year he was connected with the Nc
Lean Insane hospital in Wellesley.
Mass. The court ruled that DR.. Thayei'
was sufficiently qualified to testify as
an expert.
DR.. Thayer said he first saw George
Ii. Rraincrd in the lodging room Of the
police station. the evening following
the day of the shooting. He made a
preliminary examination of the man.
and after returning home made a mem
orandum of the conversation between
hun and i:raincrd. Prof. MearS ard
Deputy Marshal FIRTH We're present at
the examination. At first Prof Mears
asked The questions. First an en-
deavor was made to draw out informa-
ton rs to Hrainerd's state of mind and
what led up to the shooting. Brainerd
looked in Il fixed sort Of way. but for
One time no satisfactory idea was oh
one entered the room and brought some
papers for Deputy Marshal Firth to
sign. While the officer was devoting
his attention to the papers Brainerd
whispered to Prof MearS and then,
getting closer to him. whispered di-
rectly into his ear in an excited man
ncr.
Brainerd said in substance: Green
leat is in 1t and Foster is in it, The
New england Telephone 90. and all
the world are cOnspiring to do me-
harm. They are trying to ruin me.
They are an immense power. and my
only hope was''-at this point Deputy
Marshal Firth said he could not per
mt whispered conversation.
DR. Thayer sand he WAS in the room
about half an hour. Much of Brain
erd's whispered conversatio was in
coherent.
Did YOU prescribe anything for him.
ana if 50. what" asked Judge Foster.
II did prescribe something to cause
him to sleep. | think | prescribe
choral and bromide
What was your conclusion after
that interview as to the sanity Of the
respondents
II was very firmly convinC ed that he
was suffering from at least one we'll
defined delusion of a very dangerous
| character.
What is the medical term applied
to such a delusion?''
1T is known as delusion of perse-
cution''
Dr. Thayer described in detail the
different interviews he had had with
Drainerd. all strengthening his opinion
that Brainerd was laborng under a de-
fusion of persecution.
Dr. Thayer testified that Brainerd
was suffering from at least one we'll
defined delusion of very dangerous
character. the medical term of which
is a delusion of persecution. DR.. Thay-
err described in detail the different in
terviews he had had with Brainerd all
strengthening his opinion that Brain
erd was laboring under a delusion Of
persecution.
The last interview DR.. Thayer had
with Brainerd was on yesterday, when
he declared that he did not remember
of killing anybody and all the testi-
lrony in court was q part OF plot to
harm him.
Asked if it sometimes happens that
a person entertaining decisions of per-
secution is able to perform his regular
work, Dr. Thayer replied that such is
usually the case He further stated.
| in response to inquiry, that medica!
authority recognizes persecutory para :
| nCia or decisions of prosecutions as a
very dangerous form of insanity.
Judge Foster, counsel for Brainerd'
asked if a person who had FOR several
wears believed himself to be consplfe
against by a society of avengers a
| Malta. what would be likely to be ms
conduct DR. Thayer replied. 1 shouid
expect such person to defend NM
| self
When asked if Brainerd might not
have been feigninS insanity durliis IN
| interviews. Dr. Thayer replied: Il don
believe it would be possible for the peS'
actor living to present such Pic'oi :
of insanity as this man preseh'e" '"''
| not he himself insane
Or. Thayer said that when ne eA-
amined Brainerd his decisions had pc
come systemized ard fixed in ms mihu-
Nnar decisions become fixed as facts
| in the mird of Il patient ne may ~"
cone dangerous at any time. ferse'uo
| tory paranoia may exist ior ~ or 'o
years before a patient becomes danger
Gus. 1t is i progressive disease ana Is
| lncurable.
| The attorney general at the begin
| p;,o of his cross-cXamination asked
| Thayer numerous questions as TO oe-
! fnitions of medical terms ana concern
ing the various symptoms OF INSANITY
| known to medical science
The witness defined the terms deiu.
i sion hallucinatiOn" and Illusion
going into a treatise that was instruc-
tive TO both the jury and the audience.
| Asked if delusions are not common
| to all of u.s. DIR. Thayer replied,
hone not" but the question peins
pressed, he said. Il guess l Will take
that back; we may all be SUBJECT 10
n