The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1907-04-25
THE FIELDING MATTER.


short time ago, had a severe siege OF
pneumonia and who, after being well
along toward the road to recovery was
taken to the Holy Family hospital to
recuperate, underwent an examination
as to his sanity last Thursday before
County Judge John Chloupek in the
probate courtroom. The examination
was conducted by four physicians--Drs.
Luhman, Kemper, Meany and Burke.
Atty. E. G. Nash appeared as Mr.. Field,
ing's attorney at the inquiry, which oc-
cupied the greater part of the day.
Fielding, through his attorney, asked
the physicians to report their findings as
to the defendants mental condition,
prior to their hearing of the testimony.
To this some of the doctors conducting
the inquiry objected, the result being
that no reports were filed by them until
they had heard the testimony of all the
witnesses in the case. A number of
suDpoenas had been issued for witnesses.
1t was understood that, in case the de-
fendant should be adiudged insane, he,
through his attorney, would ask for a
jury trial
Among those who testified in the case
were: the defendant and his WIFE the
defendants brother who, the defendant
alleges, was the cause of the trouble;
two brothers of the defendants wife,
and DR.. Burke of Wayside. who was
Fielding's physician when he was Ill
with pneumonia several weeks ago. The
application for the inquiry was made by
some of the parties above mentioned. 1t
was alleged that Fielding had threaten
ed to shoot his brother few days after
Fielding had passed the crisis of his seri-
ous illness. Fielding admitted that he
had revolver in his hand at the time
he was alleged to have threatened to kill
his brother, but he strenuously denied
that he had threatened to shoot 1t was
also stated by some of the witnesses that
Fielding had threatened to do bodily in
jury to his wife and that he had uttered
threats to shoot the physician who had
charge of him during his illness. The
defendant denied the truth of any and
all of those allegations. No one except
he himself testified in his behalf
Fielding has frequently been in i'll
health for the past year and half or
longer, and his wife testified at the hear.
ing that she and her husband had been
having considerable trouble but that, rs
rule, they had been getting along fair
ly well. However, she stated that he
would often flare up suddenly and work
himself into II passion without any real
provocation.
The trouble that led to the inquiry
was the result Of what Fielding claims
he saw take place between his wife and
his brother at the time he was i'll with
pneumonia. The testimony of those
witnesses who testified against Fielding
seemed to Indicate that the episode re
ferred to is Il persistent Illusion or
hallucination that originated in the mind
of the defendant when he was suffering
from cerebral disturbance during his
siege of illness above mentioned, and
that it is altogether improbable that the
episode has basis of actualty.
Persistent illusions do not necessarily
Indicate dementia. A very pronounced
illusion originating during state of
delirium and re enforced and supported
by a series of untoward circumstances
may become persistent in a perfectly
sane mind, the opinions of some medical
psychologists, or alienists, to the con-
trary Notwithstanding
At last Thursdays inquiry Fielding
gave indisputable proof of his sanity.
He was calm, consistent, logical, and
eminently fair and reasonable in the prop.
ositions he made with reference to the
division of the property belonging to
him and his wife When he spoke, his
smile He could look squarely in the
face of physician, judge or witness.
The commission in lunacy disagreed,
two of the physicians pronouncing Field
ing sane and two adjudgng him insane.
However, they agreed to recommend to
the judge that the defendant be taken
to the Holy Family hospital for two
months to await developments. The
recommendation has been favorably act
ed upon, and Fielding is now again being
cared for at the hospital, whittier he was
taken several weeks ago to recuperate
after his illness. Three weeks ago he
underwent his first examination rs to
his mental condition. He was then ad
judged sane, and was permitted to re-
turn to the hospital to recuperate. He
will be again examined about June Goth