The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-04-15

would be proven that defendant had
oeen morose and melancholy from |
ooyhood. That he had at different |
times evinced signs of insanity.
That last September and August he
was confined as an insane person in
the asylum in Brandon, Mani. That
when discharged he was
and that the defendants him
self knew practically nothing Of the
except a dream like remem-
brance of seeing his wife on the
floor. .G51
VIM. Graves, of Kenmare,v cousin
of defendant, was first witness. He
testified to knowing the defendant
since a boy. That he knew him ct
Worthipgton, MINI. That defend
ant was always morose and melan-
choly and that this seemed to in
crease just prior to coming to North
Dakato a year ago, That he would
often sit for hours and brood over
something, which witness did not
know of. That from what the wit
ness saw Of him he thought his
mind was affected. ,-r&zssssFs,
Mrs. Fannie Barrett, housekeeper
for MI. and Mrs. Stephenson at Por-
tai had known defendant since &C.
tober last. He had boarded at the
section house when she worked
there. He would sit for hours at
time, never speaking. His eyes ap-
peared strange. Something was
the matter with his mind. He was
morose and strange. She and Mrs.
Stephenson became afraid OF him.
In her opinion he was insane.
Bert Coughlin testified that he
had known defendant since he came
from the insane asylum. He detail
ed many queer actions on the part
Of the defendant, which he said led
him at that time to believe that he
was mentally deranged.
John Coughlin, father Of the pre-
ceeding witness, then took the stand
telling about the same queerness
which his son had noticed, and stat
ed to the jury his opinion that de-
PENDANT was mentally deranged.
Witness said that defendant had
worked on his farm up to the time
of the shooting. That he had al
ways been Industrious and a first
class farm hand. That he liked de-
PENDANT very much both as a work
man and personally. e,
Mark Murphy was then put on
the stand. He testified. that from
tho actions of the defendant immed-
lately after the shooting he was OF
the opinion that at the time OF the
shooting defendant was insane. The
court however, ordered this opinion
stricken from the record on the
ground that it was not proper testi-
mony. Witness said that after the
shooting he thought the defendant
was sane. That when the prelimin-
ary hearing was had here at Minot,
though, he considered that the de-
PENDANT did act very strange. Did
not seem to understand what was
going on.
The next witness was Mrs. EN-
ma Lawrence, of Columb bus, N. d.
She had known defendant and his
wife for six years. Had always
thought of them as Children Of her
own. Mrs. Lawrence was 80 years
old and had been trained in the
Florence Nightingale school of
nurses in London, England. She
was very earnest in her testimony
and at times when she told Of her
great love for the defendant, his
wife and children, everyone in the
court room was greatly affected,
and tears were seen in the eyes of
many. This witness proved the
star witness for the defense. Her
honest expressions, coming straight
from her heart, her quaint old Eng
lish expressions, all tended to make
an impression which those who
were present in the court room will
not soon forget. She detailed many,
many instances when the defendant
appeared to be deranged, when he
would not hear when spoken to, of
his talking to himself. Of his mel
ancholy, morose acts. She thought