The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-08-01
JARRATT IS INSANE
GOES TO HOSPITAL
Evidence of Dr.. Drewry Con-
vinces Jury He Was Not Re-
sponsible for Killing Officer.
Especial to rhe Tlme,.pl,pa.ch.

1 Especial to The Times Dispatch.1
SUFFOLK, VA. July 3l.-lnother
man was added to the ranks of the
criminal insane here to-day when Cap
tain James Waverly Jarratt was or.
dered sent to a State hospital, instead
OF being tried for murder Jarratt
was accused OF shooting down Police
| man George T. Smith in cold blood on
July 4th. Owing to the feeling agains
| the prisoner, the verdict Is far from
popular one, though the jury coul.
not do otherwise without discrediting
the evidence. The jury was out lust
fourteen minutes.
The prosecutor moved that the court
order the prisoners commitment to
en- asylum. This will be done. u
The star witness of to-day was Dr.
w. r. Drewry. Superintendent of the
! Central Asylum. who declared that
Jarratt is insane. was Insane July 4th
and had had diseased mind severa'
years. DR.. Drewry, who is an expert
| on epilepsy, said epiieptic insanity Is
the most dangerous form; that four.
fifths of the assaults and crimes in
his asylum are committed by eplep
tics. though they number only 100 out
of 1850.
Witness declared that the chance for
Jarratts recovery is remote. and that
an escape from the hospital. .Jarratt
heard the verdict without any emotion
or change Of expression. Other wit
nesses testified as to .Jarratt's heredl-
lepttc fits.
Mind Long Deceased.
DR.. Drewry declared unqualifiedly
that the prisoner had been Of dis
eased mind for several years, and In his
opinion is insane now.
He said Jarratt had suffered from
epilepsy. periods of apparent dementia,
was moody. Indifferent. had defective
memory, a hazy recollection. or none
at all. This testimony. Dr.. Drewry
said, was based on two or three exam
the testimony of witnesses at the trial.
The expressions and manifesto tions Of
the prisoner In court were character
tic of his mental state. and indicated
lepsy. he said had been shown in vari-
sous ways-convulsions. foaming at the
mouth and biting the tongue. He
spoke Of the various stages of epilepsy.
Epileptics, he declared. may do things
in an apparently natural way, and yet
retain only hazy recollection, or none
at all. The fits might be accompanied
ny profound Sleeper p, dreamy trance.
went on the road and sold goods, but
remembered not thing Of the trip.
The witness, said epilepsy may be local,
GenneT only o TO me hand or foot
during which the thread Of CONVEX
sation would be lost.
Don't ask me to explain this" he
true"
Does Not Remember.
Telling of his private examination
Of the prisoner concerning the killing,
sbered OCCurrenraQ ho dct,
fairly well. He was hazy as to other
happenings and remembered not q
thing OF Others.
HE may have been feigning, but
my Impression is that he does not re-
member the killing
The witness said he never knew OF
q !, case s. exactly Ike Jarratt's, He said
ms falling falling to sleep lee soon after reach
Ing without knowing where he was or
what he had done Indicated insanity.
Prosecutor Burgess asked a long
Hypothetical question, recounting all
Now" he asked the witness, show
do you account for this: these
threats eight years ago to kill any man
who arrested him.. threats five years
ago, threats on the very day, pur-
chase Of the pistol and apparent pre-,
meditation?'
The witness reviewed the whole case,
and, taking the evidence and clrcum-
stances as whole, said they pointed
to diseased mind. lie could not iso-
late the symptoms. but said all must
be taken together.
Don't insanity experts look for
symptoms. look for proofs and keen
on looking until they find them ~
mot always DR.. Drewry declared.
He then told Of being employed by
the defense in case for the purpose
OF proving insanity, but said he had
to pronounce. the. prisoner, sane.
Mrs. Jarratt did not embrace her
husband when the case was over as
she did last night. She went out Of the
door weeping softly.
An officer led Jarratt of to jail. He
showed no emotion. There was NO |
change OF expression.
Sent On to Grand Jury,
Especial to The Times Dispatch,
FREDERICKSBURG VA, July 3D.
The case q Charles NJ MINIS. the
county charged with embezaIement Of
the sum OF $2l4 OF nost-office funds, /