The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-05
ROTHSCHILD SANE
Insanity Commission So De-
cides After Inquiry.
Barn Burner Will Have to Go
to Penitentiary.
HE HAS ODD WAYS.
Is Going to Run Away From
Next Match He Says.
Destroyed Mr.. Sumey'S Horses
and Property Worth $1,000.

1T ought to be wrong to burn
barn or anything else. and there amt
no lie about that was the repeated
assertion made today by William
Rothschild during an inquiry into his
sanity which was conducted in the pro-
bate court by a commission of three
physicians appointed for the purpose by
r. F. Hayden, the probate judge. This
commission consisted of Drs. L. a.
Ryder, George Dick and H. B. Hoge-
boom. At the conclusion of their ex-
animation they announced their decis-
ion that they considered Rothschild
sane. a charge of arson is pending
against him and it is likely that he will
plead guilty to it in the district court
and be sentenced to the penitentiary
for term of not less than five years.
ROthschild was arrested couple of
months ago for setting fire to and de-
stroying some barns belonging to w.
H Sumey, who has a farm near Pau
line. number of valuable horses
We're destroyed in this fire, the total
loss being estimated at $1,000. Roths-
child had been working for Mr.. Sumey
for couple of weeks and was dis
charged on the day, during the night
of which the barns were burned down.
E1othschild has always been free to adj
NIT that he fired the barns and dod so
because he had a grudge against Mr..
Sumey did not treat his cattle pro-
perly. For instance, he says that
Sumey refused to curry the burs out of
the calves tails, and this was one of
the reasons he assigns for having burn
ed the barns.
a When the time came to try Rothschild
in the district court on the arson
charge he informed the county attor-
ney that he was guilty and wanted to
plead guilty. Because of his rather odd
ways Mr.. Schenck did not like to ac-
cept plea of guilty for SO serious
crime. Neither did Judge Dana. They
thought that perhaps the mans mind
might be unbalanced and if this was
the case il would be hardly right to
send him to the penitentiary. Judge
Dana appointed John V. Abrahams as
counsel for Rothschild and the insanity
proceedings were started.
Rothschild is a diminutive chap, %
years old, with light hair and blue
eyes. He is a most mild hammered
though he would harm anyone or any
thing. He speaks in a soft voice pre-
faced all his answers to questions dur
ing the proceedings today with
The examina tfon of Rothschild was
conducted today at great length and
with thoroughness by the physicians
and County Attorney Schenck- Roths-
child said that he did not think he
was insane but perhaps he was a lit
tie different from other men. 81 think
1 am all right" he said, but there
must be something wrong with a man
who burns a barn. You bet I'll never
burn another one. I'll run away
from the next match l see."
According to Rothschild he suffered
from severe eye strain some years
ago and he thought perhaps this
might have made him a little differ
ent from other people. He said he
had a mother, two brothers and three |
sisters. some of whom live in Colorado
and others in Wisconsin. He said he
had been in Kansas for about six
months. coming from Colorado where |
he had been for a year or more, hav- |
ing gone there from his home in Wis |
consin. He said that when he reached |
Topeka six months ago he wrote to his !
ed to get out but he did not see how
he was going to. He has not written |
to his folks of the trouble he is in be- |
cause he does not want to worry them. |
He said he believed that a person who |
burned barns should be punished and |
added that he had been punished a bit |
already.
Mr.. Sumey told of the discharge of |
Rothschild because he would not do a |
chore that had been assigned to him. |
ct never noticed anything wrong |
about him." said Mr.. Sumey. land dis |
him because I thought it was |
Just cussed laziness on his part not to |
do what told him to-"
Jailer Bundy testified that Roths- |
child had acted all right during the |
two months he had been in Jail and |
that while he was a little odd he did |
not consider him crazy. Bundy said |
that Mr.. Bradbury and a Mr.. Miller |
for whom Rothschild had worked, had |
told him that Rothschild frequently |
would point out barns and haystacks |
to them and say: Wouldn't that make |
a fine fire"
RothschiId insisted that he had new
er set anything else on fire nor had |
he ever been arrested or in trouble be- |
fore. He said he was sorry for having |
burned the barn.