Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-09-24
Power OF Heredity.

Power OF HeTedity.
A young man from a good family
committed an atrocious murder and
was put on trial for his life His
grandfather had been an excessive
drinker His father and mother had
both drank moderately at meals His
life and history indicated great brain
feeblcness and degrees Of insanity for
at least two years before the murder
Public sentiment was very strong
against him at the trial The district
attorney had enjoyed an able lawyer
to assist him and lac pnblIcly an
nounced that the cause Of justice de-
manded the prisoners death Two
distinguished physicians were retain
ed to swear to the sanity of the
prisoner. | was called as an expert in
his defense. As the trial went on it
was evident that the efforts Of the
state would be directed 10 break the
force Of my testimony as to the in
sanity of the prisoner. answered
the Hypothetical question and ex.
plained it at some length for the de-
fense and then was cross-e examined by
the states attorney, who was evident
ly determined TO destroy the impress
ion which had produced on the jury
The attorney was man Of keen in
telloct aud a thorough master of the
art Of examining witnesses After
trying various methods to create con-
fusion in my statements he settled
down to scientific examination, in.
sitsing on exact answers without
qualifications. As the examination
progressed, it was evident to both Of
US that we were surprising each other
in questions and answers There was
in his questioning. unmistakable in
dications Of a very clear knowledge of
the alcoholic mind and method Of
reasoning such ps can never be de-
scribed in books.
Although two able physicians were
seated at his side, suggesting ques-
tions, It was evident that his know.
ledge of sucn cases was far superior
to theirs, and the turns and forms of
questions were revelations Of familiar
ity with the subject that was a sur
prise to me.
At the close Of the days trial,
concluded that personal acquaint-
nce with tho attorney might give me
an insight into his mentality that
would be to my advantage in the next
days examination, which after a
night of consultation and preparation
would undoubtedly be still more Sc
we're. U[on being introduced by the
judge, |, in an undertone, remarked
to the attorney that | had never be-
fore been examined by any one who
had such acute knowledge of the drink
craze and its Victims and that knew
that this knowledge did not come
from books. After moment hesita
tion he answered me with n culver
ing lip, "Yes, know of this matter
personally in my family and it has
been a skeleton to me. ~
He asked me to come to his room at
the hotel that evening, for personal
talk. The interview lasted until mid
night He then told me of his only
son who was expelled from college
for drinking, and of how he had driv-
en- him away from his home against
the advice of his wife, and that this
son was now serving life sentence
for murder in western prison. He
spoke of his bitter feelings against
the attitude his wife had taken, for
she had insisted that the boy was dis.
cnsed. This he himself cuuld not be.
licve, and he reviewed the heart
burnings and SORROWS which followed
the death OF his wife, and her stead
fast faith in the mental sickness of
the boy, aud her disapproyal of his
own hnrshness aud how nt her death
he realized that she was right, bat
his pride aud position made him fear
to think of this subject seriously. lie
spoke Of his own drinking days, aud
ot lis abstinence at his wifo's re.
quest, after tine birth of his son.
Even ON this trial he did not dare to
permit his feelings to assume the pos
,ibility of mental disease told him
frankly that hc made u mistake, that
his wife was right, that his boy was
. victim, the direct transmission of
his own drinking habits.
We shook hands aud parted with a
'ordmhty which was not apparent in
the next days examination, and yet
beneath the blum and stern etNcrior, |
could see the real man struggling to
put the question SO that my answers
would be- the least favorable to his in.
Ierest Tho case was won. My tosti.
mony prevailed and the victim was
placed in AN insane asylum, whore he
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