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

man was unaccountable. A man may
have commanding delusion that
would command him to do it. Exclude
the evidence of hereditary insanity and
he still would be of the opinion that
defendant was insane.
Court then adjourned to Thursday
Feb. 9th.
Court opened Thursday morning by
the continuation of the cross
examination of DR.. A. l.. Kill
bourn by defense. In his judg-
ment defendant is suffering from
masked epilepsy or petty NAL, there is
very little distinction between them.
This is not grand NAL. On the re-
direct witness descrit ed manifestations
of epilepsy. In his opinion man
could not inherit or transmit epilepsy,
but might inherit or transmit predis-
position. He thought defendant struck
the blow during an epileptic paroxysm
and was irresponsible at the time, that
defendant was laboring under an ir-
resistable impulse at the time; that
a man might be perfectly conscious
and still not be responsible.
DIR. j. H. PHILLIPS.
A common. ordinary doctor, lives
at Preston, Mimi. educated at Rush
Medical College, Chicago. graduated
1878. Had such experience with in
sane as his practice warranted, includ-
ing examination for commitment to
asylums. Insanity consists of a NOR
bid condition of mind, the result of
defOrmed formation or altered nutri-
tion of brain substance, caused by di-
sease, characterized by symptoms, such
as obliteratiOn, perversion OF mind,
etc. Saw defendant Dec. 14th in Jail,
examined him, his pulse varied from
1873 to 12O, irregular, harsh, quick.
In Jail about two hours. Tested his
memory, reasoning, etc. and made up
his mind he was partially demented,
that he was insane. Defendant told
him that he hadn't committed crime
said "they say l struck a man.
claimed that one reason for his not
committing a crime was because he
felt no condemnation, God hadn't
forgiven him, therefore he had COM
mitted no crime. His memory was
defective on dates. Saw him Jan. Sd,
he was little worse, more condition
of mania. Observed him five days in
court. From examination of defen-
dan', etc, his opinion is that defen-
dant is insane.
read to the witness, who answered
"insane.
From what witness had heard and
witnessed, he should call it form of
epileptic insanity, should say his in
sanity is permanent and that he will
go into dementia and his mind finally
be obliterated. Has been insane ever
since his first manifestations of loss
of consciousness in the corn field in
New York. Since then this form of
epilepsy has been manifested more
and more until the homicide, should
say he had seizure at that time, he
was insane. Should say he was in
sane ON that day. He is suffering
from masked epilepsy.
At this period court adjourned to
80 p. m. Thursday.
DR.. Phillips recalled. In his talk
with Clifford he said the man died,
but he didn't kill him, because God
could have saved him, also said God
would take care of him defendant
He said 1.-The people are nearly al
ways wrong. there (pOinting upward)
is my judge" Defendants mind
was not in as good condition the
second time he saw him. In his judg-
ment defendant was not capable of
understanding the difference between
right and wrong. In his Judgment an
epileptic is always dangerous to the
community at large, ON account of
violent actions. From what witness
has seen and heard and his observa-
tiOn of defendant, he is not sham
ming.
DR.. E. A. AINSWORTH.
Lived at West Union, Iowa, since
1882, practiced since 1878, graduated
at Syracuse University, N. Y, Feb.
1878, took post graduate course 1876
rs. Has had general experience as
practitioner and was on state commit
tee to visit insane asylums two years
under Gov. Boies. Visited Indepen-
dence, Mt. Pleasant and Clarinda,
nearly every month. Examined defen-
dant in Jail in December, about 8
hours, found him possessed of delu-
sion. He said he had never committed
a sin. Said he had been. told he had
killed somebody, but he didn't know
anything about it, he saw man lay
ing ON the ground; the last thing he
remembered was the whizZing OF the
cane of Mr.. Bigelow in the air, the
next he remembered was telling his
wife what had happened, he remem-
bered nothing between. He said God
would take care of him, he had no
concern about this matter. Witness
saw him next morning. From his
examination he did not then arrive
at definite opinion as to his mind.
The witness testified that he had
heard the hypothetical question read
to DIR. Phillips and in answer said she
is insane.
In his opinion the duration of the
malady of the defendant is the dura-
tion of his life. He was insane during
the summer of 1904, continuously.
Last visited him in Jail Monday morn
ing. His opinion is that defendant
was insane at the time of the tragedy.
His temperature in December was
100. 1, normal is 9S.6. Asked him if
he slept we'll, he said, ''there is no
reason why l shouldn't, God will take
care of me. :" Asked him if he slept
we'll, he said, "yes, I'm spending the
happiest days of my life" Asked if
there wasn't u great change in his
method of living, he said "God can
make things all right, we don't have
In look after onrSelyes ~ last Mon