Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-10-05
THE BRAiNERD TRIAL.
Experts Insist He Is Insane States Evidence
in Rebuttal.

Portland, Me. Oct. I'm the Brain
erd murder case, DR.. b. 7. Sanborn of
the Augusta Insane hospital, Thursday.
said:
Il believe that Brainerd is insane :
said DR.. Sanborn. II believe his acts
and statements are those of an insane
mind. His case is like that of others
who had been adjudged insane. Suffer-
ing from the delusiOn that he was the
victim of a conspiracy. violence might
come unexpectedly. Often in such
cases the deluded person may be driven
To murder and in numbering may think
eh is doing right
on cross xamination DR. Sanborn
said that llalong Brainerd has claimed
that the shooting was all a blank TO
him.
Are YOU clear in your own mind that
he is not feignins in this denial OF all
knowledge of the shooting" Il think
he is feigning to a certain extent and
that he exaggerates il all 1t would
not be natural to the disease from
which he is suffering to have forgotten
all he did"
Has lie ever attempted to justify
what he did, He said that what he
did was in self-deience.'
Had you not known of his mental
disturbance would you have called him
Il sound man. physically?" No, 1
should say he was suffering from brain
starva ton"
Dr. Sanborn was called to the wit
ness stand at the opening of the ses-
sion, this morning. and questioned very
briefly. He was asked his opinion as
To the probable length Of life of the re-
spOndent. Witness replied: Il don't
think he will live many years Brain
erd stared at DR.. Sanborn when this
question was answered. and his eyes
followed the witness to his seat
DT. Edward B. Lane, superintendent
of the Boston Insane hospital, and in
structor in mental diseases at the Har
ward Medical school. and DR. Geo. r.
Jelly of Boston, former superintendent
Of the Mclean Insane hospital at
Waverly. Mass. both testified that
they consider Brainerd a very insane
man. going into his case in detail.
At the conclusion of DR.. Jelly's testl-
mony the defence rested. The state
proceeded to put in testimony in re-
buttal.
George II. Faxon had known Brain
erd since last January and worked WITH
him up 10 April "a. He noticed moth
ing peculiar about his actions or con-
yersation. Brainerd always conNerSed
in an intelligent manner. He was OF
nervous temperament and frequently
paced the floor. Witness talked with
Rrainerd on the morning of the shoot
ing when he appeared as sane as usual.
Walter D. X. Taylor had known
Brainerd for some months. He work
ed with him at Lowell, then came 10
Portland. Brainerd seemed TO nave
suspicious disposition. but never said
anything about a conspiracy against
himself. Brainerd drank more OF less
of intoxicating liquors while in Loweii,
but he was not known to drink any
thing in Portland. He did not know
that Brainerd had any deluslohs.
When the hammer fell upon Brainerd
in the terminal room at the telephone
exchange Brainerd swore ana salu IL
il happened again there Wouid pe
vacancy in some family
Theodore F. Davis of this city. hau
known Brainerd for eight years lie
saw him almost every day from Jan:
% to April "a. Brainerd always talked
sensibly and intelligently, but was or
a very jealous disposition
Arthur f. McGill had known Bran
ord for three years and had worked
with him a great deal. He was WITH
Rrainerd in Lowell and came to for'-
land three weeks prior to the shooting
IIo had never noticed anything pecu-
liar in Brainerd's conversation or ac-
,;ons few days before the shooting
prainerd told him that he was sore
Iane wadsworth and Buxton. He
did not say why he was sore on
tbem. Brainerd had complained to
McGin about his treatment by the
home office. He said things, were not