The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-08-14
THE pEFENsE oF AN INSANE
PERSON.
[Qregoa Law Journal.)

owing 70 the fact that few II an,
judges Of our courts ever came person
ally IN contact with and studied th'
ways and manners OF insan'
persons. and especially those in
clined 10 kill or do mon
stroip acts, oar courts have declares
rules OF law Eoyerning the trial o.
such cases 40 that II Is almost
n not quite impossible to make de
fense for a person who is actually In
sane. while. on the other hand. II ia
made easy for the impostor TO feign
ihnknity and be acquitted.
This state Of afairs ia brought
about booanse well informed men up.
ON ethsr subjects. vino have not made
q practical study OF Insane persons.
ssem 10 think that . person ia not IN.
ssns unless he shows outward appear
anoea of a. fr0ths at the mouth, rolls
his eyes lnyoluntarily about, screams.
yells. falnts OF tears about frantioally
without natural action While there are
a great many insane persons that do
d certain extent nioet thia popular
idea,yet very few II any OF this class OF
Insane persons commit crime for the
raaeon thai thay arc for tho time be
inw "a least, 70 dethroned Of all rea
son or are 10 idiotic that they do not
exercise nny rational control Of their
body. but their limbs. body and or
gans are given up to involuntary &C.
tiona. But the class Of insane persons
who are dangerous and kin and do
other monstropa acts do not belong 10
thls hrst class. They are apparently
quiet and harmless, they are secret
I've and appear TO be rational in every
respect no that you are sure that they
should not be confined 10 tho asylum
II one Walt an insane asylum and goes
through lls wards aud have the super
intondent or attending physician point
out Inmates who would most likely
kill a person n they had an opportuni,
tywe WIN be surprised when he points
oul inniatea who aro the most quiet
and eonteel And are 10 all outward ap
peerance the most harmless IN the
asginm. THIS clasa OF insane Is very
npArt and cunning and often tax 10,
nano oHporta % the last degree 20 dls
cover their symptoms o. Insanity. In
sane experts viii tell you that an In
sane person OF this class ia usually
canhing and amart In plotting and
plannine and that be. like the mule.
wiR be eood for a year OF more IN or
der ~ take you on your guard. The
most adroit auestioneF seldom II ever
ands them on their guard so a. 20 |
show up tue fact that they are not ra
tonai. An attonay employed 10
make a defence of Insanity for one OF |
uia claan nnds his client striving 10 |
anpeAr sane and usually the defense
falls; whlla. on the other hand, an at |
sorney who has client Who ls per |
teeily NATIONAL and who Is a moder,
Aiely Eood actor can feign insanity
and mako a auecesafal defense. be
cause. the Insane person eonceals his
acts, uhila tho impostor parades his
aniiee' 20 good effsct before the court
and inry.
Some q our courts declare Il TO be
o. lNr that lf = person IA conaclous
og thai wAloh is righ, and wrong. then
20 lnatlsr what illaalon that person
may 20 laborlpS under, that perOon Is
responsible for tho crime he has com.
mlsted. Under gneh a ruls deienne
iW a. Insane person cannot be made.
while our laws have provided that In.
sanity shall be defense The ab.
'erdity Of sech a rule Ia apparent to
Ayn one who understands the subject
e insanity. The only human being
Who h not conscious Of that which ls
'iShi and wrong h the pure and CON
pleie idiot, and such a person a. that
seldom u ever commits crime.
Browne Ia MS excellent work. Medical
l1rlspFudence Of Inaanity. qaotlne
Vim approval from I.AnsermAn. says,