The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-14
Oliver u flkerson's Pathetic Ap
peal to Father.
Acted as Own Attorney in In
sanity Hearing.
APPEARED RATIONAL.
Tried to Prove That His Mind
Is Clear.
Objected to Going to Asylum
Because of Stigma.

Acting as his own attorney. conduct
ing the cross-examination Of witnesses
with cleverness and every indication of
sanity. oliver Wilkerson, son Of John
NJ WiIkerson. was tried this morning
before Judge Hayden of the probate
court and adjudged insane by a jury
composed of G. F. KinlbaIl. A. M. Kent.
]. A. Myers and DR.. L. A. Ryder.
The trial took place at 1906 North
Kansas. avenue.
The trial extended over a period Of
several hours but through 1t all there
was no action on the part of the man
on trial to show that he was suffering
from a haIlueination.
A number of witnesses were exam
med, the majority being attendant
physicians of Oliver who had been con-
suited at various times during mis- ill-
ness.
Among these were DR.. Albert Dawson,
DR.. NJ r. Mitchell and DR.. w. S. Lind
say. Charles Thompson, the North To-
peka grocer, Mrs. Thompson, his wife.
and John NJ. Wilkerson were also called
to the witness stand c. A Magaw, an
old friend of Oliver Wilkerson- had been
subpaenoed for the defense and stated
briefly that he knew of no actions on
the part of the defendant which indicat-
ed that he was suffering from mania,
though he had not met him frequently
of late.
All of the attending physicians stated
that they considered the man insane,
though not suffering from an acute
mania They stated that they consid-
cred his sedentary life as the primary
cause for his disturbed mental condi-
ton.
Probably nothing more pathetic has
occurred of late than when Ohver VIII
in examination said
would like to call my father to the Wit
ness stand
Father do you think I am insane p
asked the young man.
1t was a trying ordeal and Jonn
Wi1kerson, visibly affected, answered:
yes, Oliver I think that you are. II
was an answer accompanied by q sigh
Mr.. Wilkerson then related in full
the various Authorizations which ms
son was troubled with. He won't eat
at the table with us any more" said
he. He goes out and buys crackers al
the store and sausage and eats it off by
himself. It's the same when ne gets q
drink of water. He seems to be afraid
i that someone wants to poison him. He
won't take a drink of water at the
! house and goes out and by roundabout
ways goes to q well that nobody uses
and takes drink. Isn't that so2' The
last was directed at his SON OllVef
nodded his head with smile
Later, on assuming the stand him.
self. oliver claimed that he felt the
effects of food taken. on his stomach
That when he went off by himself and
ate as his father described he did not
/ feel these i'll effects. Because Of this
he felt that some enemies were prob
ably trying to take advantage Of him
by putting something in his food.
Realizing that the testimony was
against him. at the last of the proceed
ings. he protested against being put in
the Topeka state hospital for the in
sane. Il think I would be great
deal better off in some private institu-
ton" said he, protesting. There IS a
stigma attached to being put in an in
sane asylum and the effect is depress-
I ing I think I would recover more
quickly in a private institution"
He addressed each of those present
and appealed to them if they didn t
think that his argument was good. Il
am willing to go to a private institu-
ton" he said as the trial came to a
conclusion