New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-06
GREEN'S SLAYER INSANE.
II JURY SO DECIDES.
Williams to Go to Mdttea1Ua4,--
THOUGHT Devil Directed Him.

Cornelius NJ williams, the negro who killed
Andrew II. Green in cold blood at Mr.. Green's
own door on November IS. was committed by
Judge Newburger In General Sessions yesterday
10 the asylum for the criminal insane at Mat
teawan. n. Y. after jury had heard testimony
OF medical experts and had given a verdict that
the prisoner was insane District Attorney
Jerome has believed recently that Williams was
mentally irresponsible for his crime. and the
verdict yesterday was practically forced by the
testimony OF two experts in insanity who had
examined williams for the state on the District
Attorney's retainer.
1t was brought out IN the testimony that Will
Jams had admitted that he never saw Andrew
H. Green until the day Of the murder. that the
negro had included two other men with Mr..
Green as objects OF his vengeance for fancied
wrongs, and that he thought he had made
contract with the devil, selling his own soul
for the opportunity to kill the men he was
after. The names Of two other prominent men
against whom Williams held an unreasoning
grudge were not made public
DIR. Austin Flint was the first witness heard
b. the jury. He testified TO making several ex-
aminatlons Of Williams IN the Tombs and at the
District Attorneys office. in company With DR..
Carlos F. Macdonald. Asked by Joseph F. Moss.
counsel for williams. TO describe the examina-
TONS Or. Flint said:
We questioned him with regard 70 this crime that
had been committed. and asked his explanation OF
most useful lire to us in forming an opinion. Will
lains expressed no regret for the Killing or SlT.
Killed him for the reason that Mr. Green was pro-
him names Of vile character, and follow him in the
street. men, women. and even children, coored and
hin Tor several years.. four or i've years
lie told Us that he had prayed TO God TO deliver
him from this annoyance, and 70 enable him 20
punish In some way the persons who were melting
time he came 70 the GoncI1son mar God would
not help him. and he therefore prayed to the devil;
times in the form Of a snake and sometimes in the
b9H -9 To se 9ie from te9 o I0r ana 81 he made
Gargaip win ne deyii That ne %oqid sTe ms rs
be revenged upon this person mettoned. the person
killed ana two other RFomihhfent eiIzt e., In, ~ =,
his prosecutors and mat no mater b %hat = hR
the others; that the devil would stand by him In
that regard When led on by questions put 20 him
into a line of answers that were suggested IN a
way that seemed TO US that he might be felgnns
with the expression Of the wish to examine him
we examined him again on Sunday December 8.
1903. and made long examination. occupying sew
stantiaIiy the same story. amplided in some re-
gard and after that examination we hardly felt
ing the question OF shamming. and we asked for
another examination after a considerable period.
something over three months. The story which he
this killing. which he never denied. was substan-
TALLY the same but said that IN January. early in
January OF this year, in the night. he suddenly got
| region-I quoting his wordS-and turned 10
/ God for help and comfort, and abandoned the
then regret for this killing stating; however. he
penalty IL God So wed II or ready to BE- sent T f
/ the substance of this examination
AS the result of these three examinations. came
| 10 the conclusion that Williams was OF unsoune
mind, suffering from systematiZed delusionS. which
ere Characteristic with other symptoms OF the
| C-ls Ii your opinion now that he Is Incapable OF
understanding the nature OF this or any proceed,
| his disease will enable him, enables him. to
derstand the nature OF this proceeding perfectly
well. and to reason logically. but at the time OF
/ these examinations he was, and probably now Is
vice suggestions to counsel or his consultations
| with counsel of no value to him.
DR.. Macdonald's testimony corroborated thai
Of DR.. Flint in every particular, and in addition
there were the following statements:
Williams said that he was being prosecuted al
| the instigation of a woman who being pro
| tected by Mr. Green and the other two prominent
intended to KILL and he felt he would stil have ar
| opportunity do when he released from
| never seen Mr.. Green to his knowledge before hi
| killed him. but Mr.. Green had been described tC
him by others and no was satisfied that he was tho
| arch cOnspirator
There were no other witnesses, and District
Attorney Jerome let the case go TO the jury
without argument. The jury did not leave the
| box, but gave the verdict of insanity as soor
| charge
! Williams was In court, sitting with his head
bowed and appearing to be Indifferent to the
| proceedings. Since his confinement in the
Tombs he has grown full beard. His physica