The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-09-27

| ''ONiN yOd say CdillCl =,
when judge condemned to death a
man for witchcraft that that Judge
was insane?" The answer was equiv
ocal.
Q.-(Referring to defendant)-
What do you think was the cause
of this homicide?" Al think the
homicide itself was prompted by a
desire to be rid of an imaginary
character"
| OF he was acting on the sup
position that his well had been plug
ged up, which was a fact, he was
acting on the motives of revenge,
was he not?" Al think So"
Q.-"That was a fact, and not a
delusion. There was not any insan-
ity in that, was there?" A.-"No not
in that particular case"
| Dwell, take the case of his
wagon rack being hacked, of his
sheep being shot, ETC., they were
facts, and was he not acting on mo-
tives of revenge? there were 10
decisions or insanity there, were
there?" Witness admitted, perhaps
with some doubt, that there was not.
Court convened Tuesday morning
and, Dr. Terflinger of Logansport
continues his evidence on cross ex-
animation.
If party with whom he is sup
posed to be at emnity gets a fixed
belief and attributes to the person
certain acts, this constitutes, in my
belief, a delusion. Admitted this
might be false belief. Decisions
differ in different men.
Any man who has a fixed belief
and refuses to consider evidence sat-
isfactory to normal man, refusing
to accept such evidences as conclus-
lively contradictory to the belief pos
sessed-this is then an insane delu-
sion. Said he had no authority for
this belief-that it was his own con-
clusion, and that he did not recollect
any authorities whatever that led
him to arrive at that conclusion. Any
man who did not believe the world
was round, that it did not revolve on
its axis, was on the verge of inssn-
lily.
Nelson Rettinger on the stand.
Am brother of Fred Rettinger and 4
jeweler at Bourbon. Was warned
by dream that Fred was going ID
be insane Believed him to be in
sane; advised him to not get into
any trouble with Bates; sold him a
revolver. did you sell Fred Retting-
er this revolver" exhibiting weap-
on). Yes" And you sold him this
revolver knowing that he was an in
sane man?" We'll, didn't want to
let him have it, ut he said he would
| go to Plymouth and get it." Know
a lady named Mrs. Towne; she ask
| ed me If it was my brother that did
the shooting; did not say to her that
it was premeditated murder; do not
follow clhirvoyance as business;
tell fortunes to the boys and girls;
do not charge for it, "Why?" BE
cause do not always tell the truth >
Soon as / heard the shot fired
thought mebbe it was Fred; Did not
learn through the. powers of clair
voyance that Fred carried gun;
claim that | have the power of sec
ond sight, can take lock of mans
hair or letter and tell him what is
the matter with him; can trace lost
horse or stolen property.
Peter Swoverland testified. Mrs.
John Rettinger is my sister; had
brother named Michael, who died in
the insane asylum.
| Fred Rettinger on the stand. Am
the man charged with the shooting
of William Bates; first trouble began
with Bates in cutting corn; made me
an offer to cut some corn, which was
not satisfactory, and | made him a
proposition which was fair but he
rejected it. The corn remained in
the field, and the season was wet, and
learned he lost the better part of
his corn Had matter with Bates
about bull that kept getting into
L he h,,11
told him he had better keep him shut
up, as the animal kept Jumping the
fence. Bates claimed my stock had
damaged his crops, as we'll land got
mad and swore at me. As to the
trouble with Frank Bates witness
said: Had been threshing at Frank
Bates; it rained and left the hay
rack, drawing it up into barn; when
returned to Frank Bates's | saw it
had been mutilated; large initials had
been cut a quarter of an inch deep
on the side boards and end gate; the
bolts and nuts had been screwed up
unreasonably tight; SO that it strain
ed the woodwork; when saw the
damage | said it was a d. S. of a
b. of dirty trick; whoever done it.
Fred Ellinger came up to me and
said IF you say that was me you're
a d. S. of b. and I'll whip h.
out of you He followed me up, and
cautioned him to not follow me
too far; when / got to the gate | told
him not to come any further or
would be ready for him he called me
a vile name and said he would get
me before the day was over. Had
further trouble at threshing with
William Ellinger. He tried to pull
me off my wagon, tore my coat off
me; drew my revolver and he call
ed on others to disarm me; said
it was proper for them to see that
Ellinger was not following me; that
was ready to make peace, but