The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-11-16

statements made by Chisolm, and also
upon his appearance and general manner;
also from conversations with parties who
knew Chisolm that in his CDR. Wymans)
opinion. Chisolm was not mentally Ca
pable of conducting his defense
Upon cross examination. the witness
said that he did not think Chisolm COM
petent to instruct his counsel; that his
mind runs on money. or some money
making scheme; that otherwise his mind
is unimpaired and his memory good. be-
ing able to give an accurate account Of
past transactions; that the predominant
ing thought i'm his (Chisoms) mind is his
ability to make vast sums of money ON
cotton, which he said he would have
done If certain parties in New York had
not thwarted him. Witness said he could
not discover any trace of organic or
brain disease; that with the exception Of
his ideas about cotton. he was perfectly
rational.
DR.. Wyman dwelt at considerable
length upon organic and functional dis
eases of the brain and gave illustrations
OF the acts of persons afflicted WIN par
esis. but he would not say that Chisolm
was so affected. In answer to a ques-
ton from the judge, witness said: My
best judgment is that he (Chisolm) is
mentally defective"
Witness said that while ne symptoms
Indicated paresis, he would not say pos
lively that Chsolm suffered from rqre-
sis; that he was suffering from neuras-
thenia or nerve exhaustion: that neuras-
thenia may be caused by a feeling Of
modification, brooding over troubles, or
anxiety: that severe mental strain will
cause paresis, but that there are many
other causes, such as Mood poisoning.
Witness said that the fact of a man.
whose life had been exemplary, commit
ting such an act is to n certain extent,
indicative of a defective mental conalton
Witness said that persons so ffected gem
orally deny or conceal the fact. In an
swer TO the COW .s.-- - he knew
nothing about Chisom beyond what ha
had learned from his observations.
AT the conclusion of DIR. ,.yman's tes-
timony the court took recess to $3.50.
DR.. Grace Testlfies.
DR.. Grace testified that he saw Chisom
at the Birmingham hotel after his arrest:
that from his knowledge of his condition
he would say that he was not capable of
making a rational defense in the case.
On cross-examination the witness said
that in conversation Chisolm talked most
| ly about cotton speculations
| Or. n. NJ. Rosser.
! Dr. II. N Rosser said he was a prac-
:icing physician since 1865; had been "A
| years in Birmingham: that he had exam
ined Chisolm and in his opinion he was
entirely incapacitatcd from making u
rational defense.
Witness said on cross-examination that
lie had made one examination and three
visits in the month of August to the coun-
ty jail; that he appeared to be affected
with paresis that he asked him questions
on all sorts of subjects and that he made
rational answers except upon the subject
of cotton; that the conclusion he reached
from his conversations with Chisolm, WAS
that the indications pointed towards pare
sis
Captain White announced that the de-
PENDANT would now rest his case.
Or. C. H. Clarke.
DR., {. II. Clarke was called by the gov
eminent and was examined by Judge Roul-
hac. Dr. CLARKE said he was clinical di-
rector of the government hospital for
the insane at Washington, u. c.; that
there were about 1900 patients in the
hospital daily; that these patients came
Fl ON the army and navy and the United
States prisons; that all sorts of cases of
brain and nervous diseases came under
his observation and every known form Of
mental disease Witness said he examined
he had observed him in court. talked to
baliffs. doctors, and various parties about
him; that he had looked up his family
history and applied all known tests TO as.
certain his physical and mcrtal condition.
Dr. Clarke was asked to tell the jury
just what he did in the course of his
examination, and what was the con-
clnsion he reached from these tests
The witness began by telling Of the
test for sensibility in which very light
tuft of cotton Is touched against the
body and the patient says whether he
feels 1t or not. He described the tests
for locomoter ataXi and brain affections.
The tests for the sight and muscular
action. He said that the existence OF
paresis Is generally discovered by a
tremor about the lips and mouth, such
as a baby makes when about to cry. The
witness explained the nature of delu-
sions, and the difference between de-
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