The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-03
Judge Lenthers Satisfied from the
Evidence that Ross IL Vow Men
tally sound.
THE RELEASE OF LILLE PARKS
RETURNED TO HER PARENTS UPON
DEMAND or ATTORNEY GENERAL.
More Peculinrities of Lunncy Conn
missions shown by the Records
The Persons Acquitted

John Ross. who was committed 10 the in
sane hospital a few days ago. was released
by Judge feathers. of the Superior Court.
yesterday afternoon on. a writ of habeas
corpus. The petition was fled by employees
of kingan & Co. Ross's fellow-workmen.
Besides the release OF Ross. the manner in
which insanity inquests arc conducted was
aired before the court.
The feature OF the case that was looked
forward 10 with the greatest interest was
the testimony of the Dispensary physicians.
who testified in the afternoon. Drs. Ben
ham, Hicks, Young and Jacobs. OF the Dis
pensary. and Mrs. Elizabeth Cronnon. the
matron. were the important witnesses.
Their testimony was practically the same.
Mrs. Cronnon testified that many of the an
swers in the affidavit upon which the in
sanity inquest. In which Ross was adjudged
insane was based. were made from Informal
ton coming from the Dispensary physi-
clans. The physicians testimony was all
along the same line. They said that Ross
came 10 the Dispensary for medicine and
that while there they had questioned him
and this was represented to have been the
examination TO which he was subjected.
They testified that Ross said he heard
noises. could not sleep at night, had tainted
on several occasions. was respondent be-
cause he was behind with his board bill and
feared he would have 10 postpo his in
tended marriage on account OF his financial
affairs, and that he had once or twice
thought of self destruction. Upon these
facts the physicians came 10 the conclusion
that Ross had delusions and was insane.
Drs. Ryer and Winn were introduced as ex-
pert witnesses for the defense and testified
that sAAu~
been described as indicating insanity.
WHAT ROSS SAID.
Ross said in court that he did not know
at the time that the physicians were ques-
uoning him with the intention of holding
an insanity commission over him. He said
he had strained himself by lifting a heavy
box at the kingan plant and laid of one
afternoon. A friend called Miss Emma c.
Pohlmann, TO whom Ross is engaged. and
she sent for a Dispensary physician. Miss
Pohlmann told on the stand that. although
she sent for a physician in the afternoon.
one did not arrive until the next morning
at 9 O'Clock. A prescription was left for
Ross, and he went to the Dispensary TO
have 1t filled. He said that while there the
doctors asked him many questions. The
first he knew of any insanity inquest, he
said, was when he was arrested at his
workbench by a deputy sheriff.
oAN AA1ODk knt QutSllDnS asked MIN
was whether or not he had ever received
any injuries that caused him 10 become
unconscious. He said that when he was a
poy' while boxlng, he received a blow in
the stomach that put him out for a few
minutes and caused him to faint. About
ten years later he said he was struck on
unconscious for a shoA while. The next
time he received an injury was when ne
strained himself lifting a heavy box at the
kingan plant. The strain, he said. caused
him to faint. These ~fainting attacks the
doctors construed TO be epilepsy.
DR.. Waters, OF the Central Insane Hos
pital, was the last witness on the stand.
He said he had not noticed any symptoms
of insanity in Ross. but his testimony was
cut short by Judge feathers. He said IL
was not necessary TO go further. and that
the point TO be considered was whether OF
not Ross was insane at the time of his COM
mitment. He said he had allowed much
that was wholly irrelevant In the
cause 10 be given. but he did IL in order
that the methods Of declaring persons in
sane might reach the public. az the legality
OF the present system is being questioned,
and the entire community is interested in
an investigation OF the charges. He said
IL there was a violation or the law the peo-
pie should know IL and a reformation
should be accomplished The physicians Of
the Dispensary were also given an opportu-
nifty TO clear themselves IL any charges had
reflected on them He said he did not hold
that any fraud had been committed. but
that IL was a serious and g~rievous mistake.
As to any fraudulent designs or irregularity
in holding the inquest. he said that feature
was not before him IL this proceeding. and
IL Ross wished 10 have further recourse to
law he might do 60 in a suit for damages.
When Ross was released he joined his
sweetheart, who had been In the courtroom
all day. and the two left the building to-
gether. TIL other witnesses who testified
yesterday were Mrs. Kelly, living al COZ
West Maryland street. with whom Ross
boarded, and twelve or fifteen OF his fellow
| workmen. They all testified that they had
I never seen anything about Ross TO indicate
that he was not in his right mind Two
men who had known him for eight years
testified In his favor.