The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-11-18

condition OF Alexander X. Ch1Sol1n, former
paying teller in the First National bank
of Birmingham. whose trial. under a
series of indictments charging him with
embezzling the funds of the bank while
employed there, was suspended during the
inquiry was resumed yesterday MORN
ing.
A recess had been taken Friday after
noon until 10 o'clock yesterday morning.
Judge Jones entered the court and took
his seat on the bench a few moments
after the hour appointed. .he doctors who
had been summoned by the government
were not in attendance and caused a little
delay.
Judge Jones Explains.
Taking advantage of the interval Judge
Jones said there was a little matter in
connection with the report of the previous
days proceedings in the morning paper to
which he wished to refer. He said that it
was stated that among the visitors in
court the previous day were Chief Justice
Samuel ID. Weakey of the supreme court
of Alabama and Judge A. A. Coleman of
the circuit court of Jefferson county, and
that he had invited Judge Coleman TO a
seat on the bench without mentioning the
fact that Judge Wea<ley had also been
invited to take seat on the bench.
Judge Jones said the omission to men
ton the fact might create the impression
in the mind of the public that he had
treated Judge Weakley with discourtesy.
whereas there was no man for whom he
had a greater respect and, as a matter
of fact, he had invited Judge Weakley to
thu a
saying he intended to remain in court
only few minutes
The proceeding IN court yesterday began
with the examination by the government
of DR.. Cunningham Wilson, as a medical
expert on Chisolms physical and mental
condition. The defendant followed with
the testimony of Mrs. Chisolm defend
ants mother, and also the testimony of
John Chisolm. brother of the defendant.
DR.. Dabney was introduced to prove that
he had treated the defendant during an
attack of typhoid fever
The government followed by Offering the
testimony of the deputy marshals who had
Chisolm in charge after lis arrest, and
also w. p. G. Harding. president, and
John II. Barr, vice president of the First
assistant cashier of the First National
bank.
At the conclusion of the testimony a re-
cess was taken until 10 o'clock on Mon
day morning.
DR.. Cunningham Wilson.
DR.. Cunningham Wilson, the first wit
ness examined by the government yes
terday morning In the federal court in
the investigation being made into the
present mental condition of Alexander r.
Chisolm in answer to questions by At
torney Lee Bradley. said; That he was
a practcng physician in Birmingham for
the past twenty-four years: that he went
to the county Jail that morning and ex-
amined Chsolm, who was very glad to
see him; that Chisolm said there was not
anything the matter with him. and that
he knew that witness would be honest
in what he said of him. Witness said
Chisolm was nervous and restless and
kept constantly moving about in his chair,
but that he found his memory good that
he asked him several simple questions,
all of which were answered intelgently.
Witness said that Chisolm complained of
the way the doctors testified about him
the day before when speaking of his
memory; that he could remember things
generally, but that he might be mistaken
or forget some things; that Chisolm
said he would have been out of his
troubles now if he had not been inter-
fered with, and If the bank had let him
alone; that he said he could have made
enough money to buy the bank and start
m.
could not discover any symptoms of pa
resis or organic brain trouble; that there
was neurasthenia. which is highly ner-
vous condition; that neurasthenIa Is not
attended with ideas or decisions of gran
deur, but ON the contrary a feeling of
depression. Witness said that he did not
claim to be an expert on insanity. but
from his examination he had come to the
opinion that the symptoms were too ex-
aggerated to be genuine.
Cross-examined by Captain White, the
witness said he had never studied in
sanity except as it might occur In the
treatment of common diseases; that
man may have paresis and not show
it; that he knew DR.. Searcy and would
not say he was one of the best authorities
on the subject of insanity
Judge Jones: What is DIR. Searcy's
reputation"
witness: lie is very highly thought
Of"
Continuing. the witness said that CHS
ohm Is exceedingly nervous; that among
patients so affected they are sometimes
worse than at other times; that the MEM
DRY changes with the patients condition.
Witness said he went to see Chisolm
at Mr. Bradley's direction and that the
government would pay him for the SER
vices; that he spent a half hour with
Chlsolm. examining his physical cond-
ton and did not think he was insane The
witness said that Dir. Wyman was better
posted on insanity than he was, but
didn't think he knew more about il;
that there are many diseases of the
brain which cannot be understood; that
the knowledge of these diseases Is gained
from the symptoms and symptoms change
with conditions Witness said that CHS
olm went ON talking about cotton and
said that he understood the market, said
the bank was afraid he would make so
much money that he would buy them
out and run 1t himself.
Redirect examination.
Mr. Bradley: Are Doctors Grace, Whe-
Ian, Rosser and McAdory experts on in
sanity"
Witness: NO. They are docto doing
a general practice and men of high
character
This closed the expert test imonv in