The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-02

| indications of simple melaneholia.'
Did you ever know person suffering
Yes, many"
when persons suffering from acute
mania write letters do they remember
them afterwards"
Sometimes"
What kind Of acute mania did he suffer
| from?s
II canot tell. If of any at ALL 1t was
Exhibit H. the doctor said, threw no
| light on the mental condition of the
| writer, but exhibit l, the last of the de-
PENDANTS letters, showed unsoundness
Now" said Mr.. Jerome, please answer
me plainly, was the writer of these let
ters sane or insane?'
Insane at Times.
when writing some he was insane.
How long the insanity lasted I am I'M
able to tell
"rhese letters were written in 1902"
| said Mr.. Jerome.
Now tell me what form of insanity
Thaw was suffering from at the time of
his marriage, April 4, 1862
IF that was the same time he executed
! the will and codicil, | would say he was
suffering from a temporary attack, due
to strain. stress or anxiety, or insanity
| of adolescence"
Remember" continued the alienist 81
had not seen him at that time. | had
not seen him for nearly year after
warl. | base my opinion on observations
since that time and the documents ex-
eeuted at that time"
Mr.. Jerome now came directly to the
! issue in the case and asked: ION the
night that he killed Stanford White was
this defendant sane or insane?"
IT am firmly Of the opinion that he
was insane
DIR. Evans answered quickly and with
| directness for almost the first time dur
ing his cross-eXamination.
AdoIescent Insanity.
What form of insanity was it, con-
tnued Mr.. Jerome.
ut was an explosive outbreak of adol-
| escent insanity"
Nov, then, he probably was insane
when he wrote those letters i'll 1897
"As matter of general opinion, he
was deranged, a degree of adolescent
insanity, perhaps"
rs the insanity of adolescence acute
or chronic?'
There are acute outbreaks of Adde'S
cent insanity, and l have known many
cases to clear up over night. There was
sudden outbreak in one case J nave
in mind at night, and the next morning
| the patient was perfectly lucid.
do you consider insanity which lasts
| from 1903 to 1906 acute or chronicT
IF the insanity continued it would be
chronic, but if there were lucid inter-
| walls 1t could not be so considered.
.,Would you keep such a man under
treatment
MOT necessarily. Pneumonia is re-
| current disease, but if person has an
| attack in July he would not be kept I'M
! der treatment for fear he might have
| another attack in September.
| intervals for three years, would you
call it acute or chronic?"
.,If he had lucid intervals l would not
| call 1t chronic"
"Persons suffering from paranoia often
remain In healthy physical condition.
do they not?"
! Eyes"
Paranola.
you know paranoia, don't YOU?
| at have had some experience with H.
How many cases OF paranoia have you
| ever treated In your llfe?"
81 don't know. 1t Is not common
disease
The report of DR.. Evans asylum
| showed, Mr.. jerome said that twenty
four patients suffering from paranoa
| were admitted in 1905. This DR.. Evans
said. was not fair estimate, as it in
cluded only those admitted and not those
| who remained.
"There are 1900 patients in the asylum
and this report shows $50 admitted and
does not account for the others, Your
assumption is like my, assuming that
! know how much Money You have because
I see some one give you So
docs a person suffering from paranoia
| have many lucid intervals
| Eyes, I have seen many or them ana
have seen them recover"
us it not true that many paranoias
disclose no indication of insanity unui
| YOU get onto the subject of their particu-
| lar delusion?"
Yes"
"Was this defendant suffering from
| acute or chronic adolescent insanity When
he shot and killed Stanford White per-
sisted the prosecutor.
AT the time of the shooting there was
an acute outbreak" replied DIR. Evans.
Recurrent Attack.
WAS IL acute or chronic adolescent in
sanity from which he suffered?
II am confident that there had been
| other outbreaks ] believe that when he
| shot and killed stanford White 1t was an
acute attack, and / believe recurrent
| attack"
rs there such difference as acute
and chronic adolescent insanity, asked
Mr.. Jerome, as he picked up medical
work from his desk and opened 1t at
| Dlafktu page
..There has been such a classification"
said DR. Evans.
And" he added, 81 can picture case
which might be called chronic during the
period of ones adclescence-that is, from
10 to 40 years of age
WAS 1t acute or chronic adolescent IN
sanity from which this defendant suf-
fered at the time he killed Stanford
White?"
Mr.. Jerome seemed determined to pin
the witness down
"The outbreaks were acute" replied Dr..
Evans.
"of course they were" interposed Mr..
Jerome.
did you ever know the outbreak of any
lunatic to be other than acute?'
NO" drawled the witness after hes-
tation.
Dr. Evans declared all the evidence In
the case was of outbreaks, and there was
nothing to show a chronic condition.
"How many outbreaks do you think this
defendant has had?" asked Mr.. Jerome
Three Outbreaks.
The witness recited of witnessing the
letters in 1908, the making of the will in
1905 and the tragedy of 1906.
IN your opinion, then, there were three
outbreaks of adolescent insanity"
"Three that | know Of" said DR..
Evans.
"There may have been others
Mr.. Jerome said he would give the doc
tor more exhibits to examine during the
luncheon recess, The witness demurred to
this