The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-12
TRIES TO PROVE
HIMSELF INSANE.
UNUSUAL SPECTACLE PRESENT.
ED IN THE SHEVLIN CASE.
Edwin Shevlin, the Plaintiff, Intro
duces Experts in His Attempt to
Prove That He Was Mentally In
competent When He Sold Stock to
His Brother

The novel spectacle Of a man try
ing to prove himself insane was pre-
scented in the Hennepin county dis
tr1ct court this morning when Edwin
G. Shevlin, plaintiff in the case against
Thomas Fl. Shevlin, tried to convince
the court that he was mentally in
competent when his shares in the
Crookston and st. Hilaire Lumber
companies We're transferred to the de-
PENDANT, his brother.
The morning session was taken up
entirely by the testimony Of DR.. Wal
ter B., Kempster, an insanity expert
of Milwaukee, and in qualifying DIR.
Arthur Sweeney of St. Paul, professor
of medical Jurisprudence at the state
university. ls
examined Edwin Shevlin and had
found the man suffering from dipso-
mania. He thought that such condi-
ton had existed since late in 1899,
and in view Of DR.. Boards testimony
as to the plaintiffs condition on the
morning of Jan: 16, 1900, the morning
following the transfer of the con-
tested lumber stocks, he was positive
that Edwin Shevlin was not compe-
tent to make valid contract at that
time or at any time within a period Of
several days.
An Injury in Infancy.
l..
said that upon examination he had
found that the plaintiffs skull had
been fractured, and had been told
that this had resulted from being run
over by a cart when he was 31s years
old. This injury had cut off part Of
the nutrition of the brain and had left
it SO weakened that under the severe
strain of business cares, his mental
powers had given way.
The witness had also learned that
while the plaintiff, as child was re-
covering from the immediate effects
of the injury he had been given
whisky almost constantly from the
time he was 81 years old until his
seventh year. This he thought, had
great deal to do with the inordinate
appetite for intoxicating liquors.
When asked just what faculties
shevlin had lost at the time he made
the deal in question, DR.. Kempster
said: Judgment, will power and abil-
ity to compare. If DR.. Boards testi-
mony as to the physical condition Of
the man the day after the transfer
was made is accurate, he could not
have had these powers and his acts
could not be those of a rational
being" ,...... -.
when after Jan. IS, 1900" asked
Mr.. Jackson, do you think that Ed
win Shevlin had such possession of
HIS ldCulI1eS DIS TO enaDle MIN 10 re-
view or revise any important business
transaction? '
mot until September, 1903"
What is his present condition as
to sanity?'
Gle is now sane, and so long as his
physical health holds out and he does
not revert to the use of alcohol, there
is no reason why he should not re-
main 500 go.
Intermittent Insanity.
Judge Lancaster, for the defense,
| cross examined Dr.. Kempster, but
could not shake his testimony. DR..
Kempster- thought the first indication
of insanity shown by the plaintiff was
| the attack which terminated. in his
taking a liquor cure in 1896. From
| that time on he thought there had
been evidences of temporary insanity
but there were also times when there
| was no doubt but that he was perfectly
| ly~ sane. DR.. Kempster admitted that
for the last few years he had been an
expert witness on an average of four
times a year. He had been in Mime
| apolis since June 20 with the excep-
ton of four days and was being paid
! $50 a day. .. " -.
DR.. Sweeney's testimony took UP
most of the afternoon. 49,.
l SuSr