Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-28
Says Judge PalnisIi, Coun-
sci for I Ter! Girl,
When Told Of Asf Examination
by Lunacy Commission.
NJ Pusf Gil suhIsslsd b Long Period
Vf1oturI II Their Hands.

New York, May 21.-Two of the men,
beers of the special lunacy commission
appointed in the Terranova case, rein
forced by a third aiienist, Saturday OK
amined the prisoner for an hour and d
half in her cell, without the knowledge
or consent of her lawyer,
Friday night Ex-Judge John Palmie-
ri said he would not agree to having
his client examined again by the ex-
perts whom Justice Scott selected Fri
day. At A. NJ, when Judge Palmieri
was sitting down to his breakfast at
home, there came to the Tombs DR..
Louis Balch and DIR. William Mabon.
the medical men on the commission. &C
companied by Dr. John f. Weeks, an
other student of mental disorders whom
they asked to join them. They were
promptly admitted and taken to the
girls cell. f...<. -
According to the matron. Josephine
Terranova had spent u miserable night
the worst since she was brought to
the big tail three months ago, two days
utter sh 9 had killed her uncle and aunt.
She had fretted for hours at the sud-
den breaking off of her trial, just when
she thought it was about to end in her
acuuittal She was hoilow-eyed ana
pale when thn three strangers entered
For. an he,ir and a half they tested
her mind and tody,' skiing her dozens
OF questions regarding the Foices which
she SAYS sfl. bears. tbs ringing in her
ears. the headaches and the epileptic
attacks.
They made her rehearse again her own
story of the tragedy. They made cx-
haustive nerlments to ascertain If she
was simul N-tipg anesthesia, pricking her
with needles and touching her flesh with
heated and chilled tubes. Her eyes.
ears, tongue and throat were also close
" examined.
Judge Talmieri was very much surprised
when a reporter told him at his house.
over the telephone. that the commission
had already toen to see his client
"It's an outrage" he said. Ito visit
her on such a mission without giving her
lawyer due notice. SO he might be pres
ent or might officially protest. 1t looks
to me like taking unfair advantage of all
ignorant, defenceless girl Although her
defence has nothing to fear. by n dozen
examinations. I objected to another be-
cause she had already undergone several
such ordeals. and because regarded the
attempt of the state to break off this
trial, when II had almost reached its con-
clusion, as improper and Illegal"
All the expert witnesses for the de-
fence, who had testified that the girl is
suffering from adoIcscent insanity. ap-
peared before the commission. and each
of them declared that the manifestations
OF insanity were limited to hallucinations
and visions, and that in other respects
the defendant is of sound mind.
1t Is said that the reason for the sud
den change of the prosecutions plan was
caused by the threatened extinction of
one of it's chief experts. DR.. Allan Nc
Lane Hamilton He testified recently in
Albany for the defence of Richard Preus-
ser. who killed Myles Mcdonnell with a
shotgun I'm the Ten Eyck hotel that the
man was insane because he was descend
ed Of family OF drunkards and epilep
tics; also that this type of insanity under
great shock Is apt to produce homicidal
mania
The commission will report to Justice
Scott Monday morning. If it reports
Josephine Terranova to be insane at this
time-which seems probable-she will be
sent directly to the state hospital for the
criminal insane at Matteawan. If the
commission pronounce her sane the trial
will proceed. but the defence cannot be
prevented from pushing its plea of emo
tonal insanity.