The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-09-11
WAS FOUND INSANE
MICHAEL MURPHY COMMITTED
TO THE INSANE ASYLUM.
He REFUSED TO EAT FOR DAYS
Had Spells When He Would Not Sit
at the Family Table or Take His
Clothes Ci-Admitted That
He Might Be Crazy.

Michael Murphy, man % years old,
whose home is in Dublin Gulch. was
tried for insanity before Judge McCler-
nan this morning and found to be in
sane. His mother, Mrs. john Murphy,
and his sister, Mrs. Sullivan, We're the
most material witnesses against him.
though the county physician, DR.. Sheer
in, and others testified in the matter
DR.. Sheerin testified THAT he had
known the defendant at the county Jail
since the 9TH instant, and that Murphy
was suffering from the delusion that he
was the subject of persecur ons by his
neighbors in the gulch Murphy was
Jailed on Saturday, and the doctor said
that he would melt eat till lately.
Jaitor Jellic, of the county jail, tes-
titled that Murphy was put in Jail on
Saturday but would not eat yesterday.
nor drink. and that he was always on
his feet at the Jail door asing to be let
out. When his uncIther and sister called
on him he said that he did not want to
see them. and he kicked a can Of food
over that they brought him and refused
some fruit. He said to the jailor after
they left:
"Give me all the money they leave at
the office, but I don't want anything
else"
Mrs. Sullivan stated THAT Murphy had
left home at 16 and was gone for IL
months, and that he was never just
right after he returned. His family had
never learned of any i.lJury that had
befaMen him druing this time. His
health had been bad for years. and
during that time he had not done any
work.
The chief trouble with her brother.
she said, was that he did not care to eat
at times and would not care for himself.
Every two or three weeks he would
have spells when he would sit around
modify and refuse to 81 tat the table
or change his clothes.
Once he was gone away from home for
a week and upon his return he said that
he had been in Jail and had been tried
for insanity. They had laughed at this
statement, thinking he was sane enough
then.
At this point in the investigation
Murphy, who was sitting in the court
room, broke in with the remark: i
knew that myself; why don't you tell
something new?"
Mrs. Murphy corroberated the test1-
mony of her daughter, and one of the
officers who arrested Murphy told of the
behavior of the latter whele he was
being brought to Jail. Murphy would
not at first come out Of the room in his
house when the officers called for him,
and he said that his father had left
that room to him and that he was going
to stay there. His father is dead.
Murphy was questioned by the exam
lining board of physicians, Drs. Campbell
and Mcdonald.
Where We're you born" he was asked.
mine and fourteen" the insane man
answered. Then he laughed craftily and
added, II don't know what you'll make
out of that"
what month were you born in?'
"In August, I guess. I was born in
the spring of the year." he replied.
when We're you last employed?"
II was last employed in breaking wood
for my mother"
What did you go away for?"
IT went away to do something for my
self. But they brought me back and
I'm here yet. I'm here right now. I'm
telling you all about it. I don't know
what you want to know for"
do you think you're insane?" the
doctor asked.
"Well, may be insane," Murphy re-
piled.
He would not say who it was who
was prosecuting him. The doctor found
him insane, but did not determine the
cause. Judge McClernan made an order
committing him to the insane asylum.