New-York tribune., 1901-09-09
WHAT MOVED CZOLGOSZ.
DISTORTED IDEA OF FREEDOM.
SAYS DIR. HAMLL TON.
s1,AMES SENSATIONAL PAPERS MAN
TNFLAAIED AGAINST HANNA AND
MORGAN BROUGHT TO HIM
RECENTLY

DR. Allan McLane Hamilton professor Of
mental diseases at Cornell University Medical
College. was seen yesterday afternoon at HE
home, No. A East Twenty-ninth-st.. by a Trib-
me reporter and asked for his opinion as TO the
condition of President Mckinley and as TO the
probable influence which led Czolgpsz to shoot
me President DR.. Hamilton said that he
thought the chances Of the President recover
ing were good. He had formed an opinion from
What he had read Of the shooting that the act
Of Czolgosz was largely due TO the deplorable
influence Of certain sensational newspapers that
have worked upon such minds as his"
He went on to say that man whose mind
was disturbed by the reading OF such papers
was recently brought TO him. The man said
that he was going to put out OF the way several
pronirent men whom he referred to as the
oppress0rs Of the workingman. TWO of the men
whom he said he intended to kill were J. Pier
pont Morgan and Senator Hanna. It may be
remembered that DR.. Hamilton was called by
the government as one of the chief experts in
the Guiteau case and testified at that trial
DO you think that President Mckinley win
recovery" asked the reporter.
Il have thought from the first that his
chances" replied DR.. Hamilton, were good, al
though I am not q surgeon. To begin with, he
fell into the hands Of some good men. More
over there was little or no shock he possessed
wonderful vitality. and the bullet which passed
through the stomach did not perforate the in
testines IS well. The ball which has not been
discovered is apparently doing mischief now,
and 1t Is not likely TO do so. It is very hard
10 see how any infection OF the abdominal cavity
could have occurred from the escape Of any
large mass Of food from the stomach If such
had been the case he would have manifested
serious symptoms before this. It looks to me
very much If Mr. Mckinley would be
in a state Of convalescence within two three
weeks although at best this is only an opinion
based upon evidence Of which every one is in
possession.
UNDER ABLE SURGICAL CARE.
The physicians have undoubtedly made a
careful examination Of the clothing by
President Mckinley when he shot and the
har dkerchief used by the would-be assassin, for
it is conceivable how parts of either of them
might have found their way into his body. later
doing possible mischief It is great pleasure
TO me 10 know that he is attended by such men
Mynter, Parke and Mann, all of whom are
skilled, especially in abdominal surgery
Dr. Hamilton, when asked if he had been called
10 examine CzoIgosz said he had not He added
that while he could not express an opinion to
the exact mental condition OF Czogosz at the
time Of The assault on President Mckinley, he
had no doubt that insanity would be thought of
as a desperate defence. as it was in the case of
Guiteau.
Continuing. Dr Hamilton said:
There would be some who would consider
the behavior Of the prisoner as representative of
z group which included many sem-insane people
who are more or less irresponsible, for the ranks
Of anarchists are largely recruited from this
class Of persons. But IN the present state of
public feeling II is quite probable that he viii
receive his deserts, and that hereafter much of
allo
such creatures TO escape punishment will be
Gone away with, and stern example Will be set
"a Would-be nurderers and other disturbers of
the public peace.
From what I have read of the case am of
The opinion that the act largely due TO the
deplorable influence of certain sensational news
papers that have worked upon such minds
his
DISTORTED PUBLIC SENSE OF DECENCY.
NO one except a physician who sees much of
insanity or persons whose mental condition is
doubted can appreciate the influence of the
present distorted public sense Of decency. This
is manifested by a lawlessness which finds ex-
preston in some of the public prints and in the
deliberations OF societies instituted for the
LIEF Of the oppressed. This literature and these
societies are usually a menace to law and order
in putting INTO the heads of half cracked people
peruc.ous ideas which they almost Immediately
20 interference has been excited as has been the
case In other parts Of the civilized world, and
distorted idea Of freedom in action and speech
has been cultivated by a TOO liberal government
and press
As lar as my own experience goes. have of
late seen numerous cases of disturbed mental
states which were directly due 10 these infu-
erces. only the other day man was brought
10 me who drew from his pocket numerous care
fully preserved clippings. which turned out 10 be
nCe1dafy in character, and he announced his
Intention of putting out OF the way several prom
inert men whose names have been before the
public as the heads Of trusts, and VINO were
alleged 10 be the Oppressors Of the worklngInah'
One ri these was j. PierpOnt Morgan, ano an
other was Senator Hanna
Persons actually insane have had new ano
oargerOus delusiOns started in this way anu
lnciViduals who are harmless and who betofe
had exercised self-control were put in such con-
oiton that they needed restraint"
GUITEAU NOT INSANE.
Doctor. is it not generally considered that
Guiteau was insane2" the reporter asked.
Yes. il was. and 1 have read in the morning
papers comparison OF the assassins Of Lincoln
and Garfield and the assailant Of President
Mckinley. While I have said that I cannot
express opinion of the last case I am quite
positive that the popular opinion in regard 10
Guteau is erroneous. and is held by the public
who know nothing about the subject except the
information obtained from the newspapers at
ne time. Guiteau in court and Guiteau in
pfison were different people. In the latter case
~ was cool, logical, and persistently declined
70 talk about his crime his trial, while in
court his whole idea to impress people by
hls conduct that he was insane.
secretary Blaine told me some years after
me trial Of several things that led me TO believe