Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-30

Thomas Lowry, who brutally muir
dered William Travis on the night OF
May 26th, is on trial for his life in the
Criminal Court.
Insanity is the plea which his at
torneys have entered in his behalf. and
the court is now making an inquiry into
that subject, large number OF wit
nesses having testified yesterday. The
The case hangs upon the determine
ton of the question of sanity. II Lowry
was insane, he was irresponsible, and
will be committed TO an asylum III ne
was not he must suffer the consequences
Of his crime.
Lowry was very pale, and trembled
perceptibly when he was brought into
the court room yesterday morning. He
has fallen away during his incarcera-
ton in jail, and his chin is covered
with an unkempt beard. The case Is
being conducted for the State by Pros
ecuting Attorney f. w. Nesbitt and w.
e. Meyer. A. G. Fickersin and J. J. +.
O'Brien appear for the defendant.
The following jury was sworn Rob
ert Cornish, w. T. Burkle, c A. Scham-
bra, Theodore w. Fink. Frank Higgs,
w. E. Cress, l.. Zarnitz, ]. J. early
vein, George Miller, Walter Miller, J.
b Neal and John Linden.
When the case was called the defense
asked Tor a continuance, on account
of The absence of a witness named Mer-
Ger, who was a guard at the ONO penl-
tertiary while Lowry was conhned
there. 1t was not allowed, but the
court decided to make an inquiry into
Lowry's sanity. the question to be de-
termined by the jury.
Tailor Testihes.
The first witness was the county
jailor, Charles Daller, who described
the peculiar conduct of Lowry; his oc-
casional outbreaks when it was next to
impossible to control him; his threats
against other prisoners, etc. At times
Lowry was perfectly rational The wit
ness thought Lowry was insane.
Capt w. IL. Travis testified that
Lowry worked for him at the La Belle
mill He acted in such peculiar man
ner that they discharged him. One
night Lowry told witness the hobos
were going to kill him, but he after
ward apologized, and said he had sill
yer plate in his head which caused him
to act uueerly at times. Capt Travis
thought the defendant was insane. He
was glad TO get rid of him at the La
Belle as he was afraid Lowry might in
jure some of the men.
Fred williams, manager OF the River
side furnace, testified that Lowry was
employed there as a laborer. He told
of peculiar conduct which led him to
believe that Lowry was insane and dan
gerous. and to discharge him for that
reason. On one occasion Lowry said
they were trying to make an engine out
of him. To Mt. NeSbitt witness said he
first thought Lowry simply had an ugly
disposition, but later reached the con-
clusion that he was insane.
Tom Larnhart, police lieutenant, told
of hearing Lowry raying and curslng in
Jail.
George Curtis Said Lowry could not
control his muscles, and went into fits,
when he used abusive language and
raved like a maniac. Curtis was cross
questioned, and the fact was brought
OUT unat the use of the hose on Lowry
Quieted Him Down.
He said he bumped his head against
the bars, but always the round bars.
lie never injured himself during his
rawlings. When Lowry was brought in
after shooting Travis, he was shivering
from the cold, and said he had jumped
into the river to commit suicide. de
never tried suicide in the Jail Wit
ness had felt the plate in Lowry's
head.
DR.. w. P. Megrail gave expert testi-
mony. He said that incoherent talk
ing heavy respiration, acute nervous
ness and general Violence were not con-
sistent with soundness of mind.
DR.. Megrail was Intercepted as to
methods of trephining the skull. Ii the
work were properly done. it would not
cause injury to the brain. The symp-
toms mentioned, if following an injury
to the head. would probably indicate
insanity. DR.. Megrail said he knew of
no such thing as a silver plate in the
head. Trephining is done to relieve
pressure on the brain, and would not
cause insanity. Several other hypo-