The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-06-21
Gill was asked.


81 don't recall"
Take your time and answer"
"Oh, don't need any time to consider.
have no recollection"
Have you ever testified that a defend
ant in a criminal trial was sane?"
''Oh, yes, lots of them
''Are YOU sure that Barker has no de-
lusions?n
He might have feigned delusion''
Now, doctor, 1 insist on a categorical
answer
After some reflection the witness said:-
s.No.''
Would not the belief that his home
had been defiled have more effect on a
neurotic man than on some person in
whom the same cause did not touch the
elemental feelings?' pursued Mr. Wall
II suppose so.''
DR.. McGill said that he had not seen
anything in Barker's conduct in the court
room that showed him to be nervous or
Of neurotic temperament
May man not have some forms of
mental disease and not be insane?' Mr..
Erwin asked on the redirect examination.
Certainly, person may, for instance,
have melancholia and be able to dis
tinguish between right and wrong
]. Leonard Corning was the next expert
called by the State. He had had eighteen
years experience in the treatment of
mental diseases. he said.
Are you chemist?' asked the Prose-
cutor
Yes
Are you quoted as an authority?'
''Yes, sir
Have you seen Barker during the
trial?''
Il have
Have you observed his actionq'
81 have
Have you heard the testimony of other
experts?"
Il have
What is insanity?"
There are several definitions of in
SANITY
What is one?''
Insanity is a practical physical evil
dence of impaired brain action
Does an insane man show evidence of
such insanity before the commission of
crime?y asked Mr.. Erwin.
Certainly
In defining mental and physical disease
resulting from insanity, LIT. Corning Sald
there might be mental symptoms and
physical symptoms also, or both, as in
general paresis.
May a man be insane and give no ply
sical indication of it2''
"Undoubtedly."
What are the mental symptoms?''
We'll conversation, for instance. 1t
could be told by the manner of the mans
talk whether he had hallucination or
not
The expert then cited the abnormality
of mind that would indicate insanity such
as incoherency, hallucination of ideas,
etc.
Did you observe any abnormality in
Barker when he was testifying?"
Il did not. saw no abnormalities Of
any kind
This question was objected to, but was
admitted.
Ibid you observe any lack of memory
when he was testifying?''
No: He showed the contrary
ibid you observe that he showed any
lack of will power?'
mo / thought he exhibited great self
possession-above the average.
Then came the crucial question of the
whole case To keep it out the defence
struggled with might and main.
Now. doctor, what was the one thing
that Impressed you With tlas,,; the sanity OF the
"From the vivid story of the shooting
and the coincident scene when he testi-
fled, AS he fell / saw blood on his face
came to me and revolted me. Then hur-
ried away for was afraid crowd might
congregate'-that is the description of a
sane man, no doubt of it,. said the alien
ist, bringing his hand down on the table
to emphasize his answer
Now, DOCTOR" said Mr. Wall impress
sively, on cross-examination, ARE you
willing to stake your reputation on the
statement that Barker Is sane?''
Certainly. The man Is sane
ssCan man recover from delusions that
have manifested themselves in a violent
act?"
"Oh, yes, in time,
DR.. Evans, superintendent of the Nor
ris Plains Asylum, was next called by the
defence. He said that any delusion was
an abnormal action of the mind.
No alienist can determine the length
OF time of delusion,' he said. SIT may
men with delusion have Ii cured up and
no expert could tell how or why
Has your experience as an aiieniss,H