The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-15
SAY CRIB is SANE
TESTIMONY BEFORE COMMISSION
WAS To THAT EFFECT.
DECISION NOT GIVEN OUT.
LUNACY COMMISSION REPORTED
TO THE GOVERNOR.

investigation of Cribb's Mental
Condition Lasted Nearly Four
Hours and IA Dozen witnesses
Were Examined-COndem Mans
Answers to Physicians Questions
Were Rambling and DiscOnnect-
ed-FrOm the Testimony the De-
cisiOn Will Probably BE That
Cribb Is same. and If So, He Will
Hang Friday.
The lunacy commission, composed of
DIR. Elton S. Osborne of Savannah, DR..
James B. Baird of Atlanta and DR.. j.
L. Walker of Waycross. appointed by
Gov. Terrell, made an examination of
Lee Crib, the Coffee county muir
derer, at the county Jail yesterday aft
ernoon.
The investigation began at 3 o'clock,
and lasted nearly four hours. The
report, which will decide wheth-
er the condemned mans exc
cution will take place Friday or
whether he will be committed to the
state asylum at Milledgeville, was
forwarded to the Governor last night.
1t is believed that it is to the effect
that Crib is sane. This conclusion is
drawn from interviews with several of
the witnesses who appeared to testify
at the investigation. Most of those
who had come in contact with the con-
demned man since his incarceration
here testified that they had observed
nothing either in the conversation or
manner of the prisoner to denote that
he is mentally deranged.
Over a Dozen Witnesses.
During the investigation the COM
mission examined a dozen or more
| persons who have either been confined
in cells adjoining Cribs or who have
in their official capacities come in con-
tact with him. A physical examina-
! ton of the prisoner followed. Among
those who appeared before the COM
mission were DR.. L. r. Corson, Chief
Deputy Sheriff T. ]. Sweeny, Jailer
| Arnold Seyden, County Physician DR..
j. G. Keller, Rev. j. A. Smith, Henry
| G. Greene, w. E. Duncan and several
prisoners, turkeys and watchmen.
One or two of the prisoners testified
that they had observed in Cribbs
his cell a number of strange things
which have led them to believe he is
mentally deranged, and Mr.. Green,
| who for two days was confined in a
| cell next to CRIBS, testified to having
| talked with him and that his CONVEX
| saton had been that of man whose
mind was affected. DIR. Corson testi-
| fed to having examined the prisoner
and pronounced him insane and that
he had become insane subsequent to
his confinement in Jail here.
Answered at Random.
When Crib was examined he did not
| appear to realize the Importance of
what was going on, and was rambling
in his answers to the physicians ques-
| tions. During the examination he did
| not volunteer any information and only
| spoke, when he was addressed by DR..
| Baird who was the spokesman during
| the entire investigation.
| Others of the witnesses testified to
| having talked with the prisoner, exam
| ined him, and to have watched his
| actions, but they had failed to detect
anything either in his conversation or
| manner, which led them to believe that
he was insane or that his mind was
in anyway deranged.
First Case Under SIatOn Law.
From the fact that this is the first
| case of the kind under the new Slaton
| bill, which was passed last August, and
which provides for a lunacy commits
sion, which may be appointed in the
] discretion of the Governor, it has at
| tIacted considerable interest. 1t is
virtually left with the commission to
| decide whether Crib is to hang for his
crimes Friday. This action will be TAX
en- by the authorities if the report of
the commission is to the effect that
| Crib is a sane man, and in this event
| he will be taken to Douglas Thursday
night. If, however, he is declared to
be insane he will be sent at once to
Milledgeville, where he will be kept
! in the asylum, until his mind has been
restored, when he will be executed.
DR.. Baird, who is a trustee of the
! State Sanitarium, left last night for
| Mflledgeville, where he will remain
for a few days before returning to his
home in Atlanta. DR.. Walker return
| ed to WaycrosS.