Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-15

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was doing. He was dazed, could do
things and carry on conversation; his
wife noticed very unnatural express
sion on h S face repeatedly, he could
not answer questions satisfactorily,
was in dull and confused frame of
mind; was kneeling on cold ground
cotton between him and the ground /;
of the tragedy was in semi-consciOus
state all day. Witness believes that on
that day defendant did not realize
what he was doing and has never
since, and was therefore unaccOuntable
for his conduct and the fatal blow he
inflicted. Certainly after an insane
person has manifested a homicidal dis
position and even taken life. would
not only be very unreliable, but
be denominated case of hOmicidal
insanity for the rest of his life.
He is suffering from primary demen-
tia, the result of heredity, OverwOrk,
nervous prostration. His history and
symptoms exhibit those of epilepsy,
but witness had never seen him have a
spell or fit or attack to enable him to
determine whether he has epilepsy or
not All epileptics who are insane are
cases of dementia. Witness said the
defendant was not a case of Jackson
ian epilepsy, nor of grand NAL epilep-
sy, but that the staring spells are like
petit NAL epilepsy and that the impul-
sive act is like masked epilepsy. Most
cases of epilepsy begin before the age
of Is, and ordinary epilepsy seldom
dedvelops in old people.
Witness described at length
various forms of dementia, the symp-
toms, results, etc.
DR.. A. J. SWEZEY.
Lived in DEBORAH 8 years. Graduated
at medical college at KeOkuk, had ex-
perience with insane at state insane
hospital, Oshkosh, Wis. about 800 to
1890 patients there. Also as general
practitioner. Given insanity quite a
considerable study. Known defendant
three years Saw him Sunday after
noon after tragedy in Jail interested
in him and his family and went to
see him. Talked for time on ordin-
airy subjects, finally asked if he was
not discontinued in Jail. He said no,
he was perfectly cOntented, time
passed very fast to him said he didn' t
read much but his bible. After about
an hour asked him how it came he
killed Mr.. Bigelow He said he never
killed Mr.. Bigelow. Witness told him
he knew better, he said They said l
killed him, but L didn't" Witness
told him he came to visit him as a
friend, if he could do him any good he
would be glad to do so. He said he
didn't kill him, he had faint memory
of seeing Mr.. Bigelow on the ground.
Said "they tell me L struck him with
a hoe, L must have struck him with
the hoe, it was all had to strike him
with, said he didn't remember whether
he struck him in the back or in the
head, had no memory of striking him,
but had memory of dragging him off.
Saw defendant about a week later,
then he repeated about the same
story as before, seemed exalted, hap
ply to be in Jail, said God was on
his side, he had committed no wrong.
He went over his religious logic, and
said he had begun to recall songs he
used to sing in boyhood days, had
forgotten them but they were coming
back to his mind, that he recalled
every word, and he began to sing in
low voice, quite agitated, would
occasionally shout, then sing low,
gesture, without any material express
sion in his face had a peculiar stare,
decreased animation in expression.
Later was called by his wife to see
him. Told him l understood he did
not feel we'll He said it was a mis-
take, he felt the best in the world.
Witness asked him if he did not wake
up nights. He said "oh, yes, l wake
up nights, sing songs and pray. Wit
and left it with the iailer to give
him if restless. Saw him again with
Drs. Hill, Phillips, Daubney; Attys.
Gray and Acers. There two or three
hours. DR.. Hill questioned him. He
said to him about what DR.. Hill re-
peated in his testimony. Seemed to
know about the tragedy with the ex-
ception of the act of striking the blow.
Was quite exalted in religious views,
made lively motions, proclaimed him
self in direct communication with
God. Saw him later, he was in
about the same condition as before,
told religious stories, sang songs, etc.
Saw him in Jail last night Thursday
with DR.. Hill. He was in bed but
got up at jailer's request. He re-
peated the story of the tragedy, but
only small amount of it, unable to
tell as much of it as previously, didn't
know he had killed Mr.. Bigelow,
didn't seem to realize there had been
a tragedy, denied having told witness
he dragged him off the lot, denied tell
ing sheriff he had struck him, seemed
in exalted frame of mind, proclaiming
he was son of God, and was going
to sit ON the throne of God to judge
the people of the world. Seemed per-
fectly cuntented with his lot. happy,
said his wife and children would be
taken care of. Witness had never been
able to get any emotions from him.
Knew he was professor in mathematics
and tried to test him with simple prob
lem in geometry, unable to compare
angles, forgot all his theorems. He
seemed demented. DR.. Hill called his
attention to letters received about his
daughter in the east. Said he had re-
ceived no letters, did not write her,
God would take care of her, she would
be all right. From his examination
of defendant five or six times, in his
opinion he is insane. Witness had
heard the hypothetical question read
in full to DIR. Phillips, to which he
answered. q think he is insane. F"
Witness thinks he was insane Nov.
B. 1904. and that he was not responsible