Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-07
PROBABLY INSANE
WILLIAM MATCHETT MAY NOT
BE TRIED FOR MURDER.
Prima Facie Evidence Presented to the
Effect That He is Of I'm
sound Mind.

The indications are that William H.
Matchett a printer, who Is under ind1ct-
ment for murder, will not be tried on that
charge. Justice Barnard Of the Supreme
Court of the District Of Columbia, has di-
rected that an inquiry be held before a
jury, BEGINNING at 10 o'clock next Friday
morning, to determine the mental condition
Of the accused Prima facie evidence has
been presented to the effect that he is Of
unsound mind and, therefore, shold not be
held legally responsible for the killing Of
Joseph Cato, an Italian barber, whom
Matchett shot three times while near the
latter's shop, $50 Pennsylvania avenue, the
evening of October last.
Pedestrians along Pennsylvania avenue
about 8 o'clock the evening in question
noticed that the deceased and Emma
Matchett, daughter of the accused, were en-
gagged in dispute. Emma was holding an
infant in her arms, and, from the converse
ton, it was inferred that Cato wanted the
child. although he seemed to be willing that
the mother should leave. While the quar-
rel was in progress Cato and the woman
reached the sidewalk. Emma was crying
when her father and her sister, Rachel ap-
peared upon the scene. Cato, 1t is stated,
was trying to take the child whereupon
Matchett fired three shots at him. Two of
the bullets took effect in the victims abdo-
men and resulted in his death at the Emer-
gency Hospital an hour later.
Believed to Be Insane.
The understanding is that DR.. A. B. Rich
ardson, superintendent Of the Government
Hospital for the Insane, is Of the opinion
that Matchett is of unsound mind, and will
so testify at the lunacy hearing. to be held
Friday. The defendant was formerly an
inmate of the Government Hospital for the
Insane, but was discharged therefrom as
cured.
The case is of spe cal interest for the rea-
son that it is the first to fall within the
provisions of section, 927 of the new code
of law for the District of Columbia relating
to inquiries to determine the mental status
of criminals alleged to be insane. Section
92I of the code follows:
Insane CriminalS-When any person tried
upon an Indictment for offense is acquit-
ted on the sole ground that he was insane
at the time of it's commission. that fact
shall be set forth by the jury in their YER
dict; and whenever a person is indicted
for an offense and before trial or after a
verdict of guilty prima facie evidence is
submitted to the court that the accused is
then insane, the court may cause jury to
be impaneled from the jurors then in at
tendance on the court, or, if the regular
jurors have been discharged, may cause
sufficient number of jurors to be drawn to
inquire into the insanity of the accused,
and said inquiry shall be conducted in the
presence and under the direction of the
court If the jury shall find the accused
to be then insane Cor if an accused person
shall be acquitted by the jury solely on the
ground Of insanity the court may certify
the fact to the Secretary of the Interior,
who may order such person to be confined
in the hospital for the insane, and said per-
son and his estate shall be charged with
the expenses of his support in the said hos
pital. The person whose sanity is in ques-
ton shall be entitled to his bill of excep-
lions and an appeal, as in other cases"