Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-02


'They are
"And do you call them emotional in
sanity?''
Witness responded by telling of the con-
ditions in the case before the court, say
ing the painful experiences of the de-
PENDANTS caused depression, and his conclu-
sion was that they were acting upon an
impulse which he characterized as i'm
pulsive insanity.
Witness in May Case.
Doctor said Capt. Woods, what was
the last case in which you appeared as a
witness for the defense?"
In the case of Mrs May in Washing
ton"
Counsel started to question him as to
what he had said in the May case, but
Attorney Moore entered an objection before
the question was completed. His objection
was stated, and he added that he thought
the jury should not hear what was said
by counsel.
Il agree with you,' said Capt. Woods
1T would rot be fair to the defendants
and should not, therefore, be stated in the
presence of the jurors"
Nor would 1t be fair to the people of the
commonwealth" added Attorney Moore. A
lowed and the question upon the May case
was not pressed.
Commonwealth Attorney Keith took
part in the cross-examination of the wit
ness having him define insanity. Witness
was asked if it were not true that persons
who suffer emotional insanity rarely have
but one attack.
That depends upon the amount of stress
W ha
trouble should be repeated and the stress
should be as great there would be a recur-
renee of the emotional insanity
rs 1t true that every man has in his
mind condition which under certain con-
ditions would cause him to become emo
tionally insane?"
Witness replied in the affirmative.
Counsel then asked a number of uues-
lions respecting emotional or impulsive in
sanity, and asked about the battle Of Bull
Run, wanting to know if the men who ran
were acting under an insane impulse and
adding:
We often wondered why they ran and
m glad it has now been explained"
Objection Sustained.
Mr.. Moore asked witness if, in all his
experience, he ever knew a case where
there was greater stress. Objection was
made and sustained.
Doctor said the commemorative at
torney, do you expect to get a fee in this
case?"
Yes"
Any amount agreed upon?"
No"
Who saw you first?'
witness explained that Mr. Moore per-
hod
compensation had been agreed upon.
Mr. Moore remarked that everybody con-;
nected with the case will get compensation.
Even the attorney for the common
wealth and his assistant will receive com.
said counsel.
You have no opinion to SELL counse,
asked, turning to witness.
No sir" the latter resnonded 1T y.l,,a
my reputation too highly for that"
Evidence in RebuttaI.
When DR. Clark had been excused Attor-
heS JeHrles said the defense would close its
case with the understanding the, they
might want to examine one or ~.yo addi-
uonai witnesses who could not b. ieached
at this time. This was agreed to- and after
a short recess the state called for DR.. w
F. Dewry, superintendent of the Central
State Hospital for the Treatment Of Insane
Colored Persons, at Petersburg as the first
witness in rebuttal, the court having been
informed that the state could not close it's
case today.
DIR. Drewry said he had been a practicing
physician for twenty years, and that during
all of this period he had been at the hos
pital in Petersburg.
How many patients have you in the hos
pital?'
About twelve hundred"
How many insane persons have you
treated?"
Il should say about four thousand. as
hospital
commemorative Attorney Keith read to
witness the hypothetical question that had
been asked DIR. Clark, and concluded by
asking: How would you characterize the
mental condition of the brothers at the time
they committed the homicide?"
Taking those to be all the facts" re-
sponded witness. Il should say they indi-
Gated violent anger.
Almost to the Last Degree.
Counsel followed this question by recit-
ing that part of the testimony which told
of what occurred Immediately preceding the
shooting and asked: What would you say
then of the mental condition OF the menu
Anger he responded, almost to the
last degree"
From the conditions have stated" said
eff the defendants were sane i'm
mitted and Immediately thereafter, what
would you say of their mental condition
during the time they were firing?"
II would have to know something about
the time consumed and of their conduct dur
ing that time said DIR. Drewry.
1.-The testimony" explained Attorney
Moore, shows that the time consumed was
forty five seconds at the most"
Attorney Keith changed the form of his
question, added the circumstances con-
nected directly with the shooting and tell
ing of the defendants actions subsequent
to the shooting.
Were the parties quiet and rational be-
fore and after the shooting?" the doctor
wanted to know.
He was told they were. and he then
answered the question by saying: Il don't
think I'd say the parties were insane
Witness Cross-Examined.
Attorney Lee started the cross-examina-
ion by asking DIR. Drewry If his practice
had not been confined almost exclusively
to negroes and he answered in the affirma-
tive, adding that he had had some expert
ence outside the hospital.
rs there any difference between the SEN
sibility of the races? Is 1t not true that
the sensibility of the white race Is far
more acute than that Of the colored racer"
1T is
rs 1t not true that what would be
terrific shock to a white gentleman would
amount to practically nothing to a negro?"