The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-02-19


il might be necessary to iRterTogatt
certain witnesses that might not b.
present, and asking If the commits
sion had the power to summons whom
they pleased.
| The court stated that they would bt
limited to the evidence introduced by
the prosecution and the defense, and
must make their finding upon thal
Ievidence. <
Judge Reeves then stated that he
would call, on the part of the defense
| any witnesses that the commission
might ask for.
DR.. L. De M Blocker.
DIR. Louis dem. Blocker was the
first witness called. He was exam.
ined by Judge Reeves and testified
| that he was for ten years physician
to the Florida Hospital for the In
sane, and was therefore qualified to
| testify as to the mental condition of
the defendant.
DIR. Blocker then stated that he had
paid the defendant five visits during
ten days in the first part of Deem
Der or January.
what condition was Mr. Scuba
more in when you visited hem?"
Just the same as you see him
now. replied the doctor.
Judge Reeves then asked that he
give his opinion of the present men
tel condition of the defendant
| DR.. Blocker asked in return if
| Judge Reeves meant as an expert
witness.
Counsel assented, and DR.. Blocker
said he desired to know who was
, going to pay him for his opinion, and
under whose employ he was. Judge
Bellinger said that he assumed the
defense would pay him, as they had
given his name for summons.
The question was repeated by the
stenOgrapher, and Dr. Blocker replied:
i believe he was insane"
He then classified the defendants
malady as mental depression" and
gave as the symptoms upon which he
based his diagnosis the lack of sleep,
night after night, pains in the back
and head. etc.
He said he had found in his study
of insanity that about fifty per cent.
of those afflicted with mental depres-
sion recovered.
When asked if he thought Scuba
more capable of standing trial and
assisting his counsel in the defense.
he said that he did not believe his
mental condition to be such as would
warrant his being tried
When questioned by DR.. Kennedy.
the witness said this form of INSANITY
came on slowly that it was lack of
reasoning power, that while Scuba
more would meet and greet those
about him, he had lost the true power
of perception
Mr. Stillman asked if. in the wit
ness's opinion, the defendant compre-
hended what was then taking place in
~
replied: Not wholly: but, should he
recover, he would probably recall all
that has taken place.
Mr.. Reese asked if the defendant
had the power to discriminate, TO
which DR.. Blocker replied that he did
not think that he had
o. L. Bass.
Mr. o. L. Bass. ex-president of the
Pensacola Bank & Trust Co. was then
called. Mr.. Bass stated that he had
believed Scudamore to be crazy. and
that he had told him so prior TO the
irregularities being discovered. Wit.
ness said, however, that in the Hight
OIL the discoveries made later, he did
not now believe that Scudamore was
insane at all He said that his last
with Scudamore was
about Thanksgi living Day, and that he
was considerably excited. This ex-
element, witness said, was due to
Scudamore's admission that he had
Deen interfering with the New York
accounts OF the bank. ASKED if he
thought Scudamore's alleged embez-
elements were Ssystemized. witness
said that some of them were deepIv
covered, and some were so made that
they would be almost certain to he
Judge A. c. Blount for the prose
cuton stated that he thought the
BOOKS OF the bank showed that Scuba
more was apparently in collision with
Otner persons in Tampa and Ten
nessee nthe alleged falsifications. IL
II was at this junction that Scuba
more was told that Mr.. Bass wanted
10 speak with him, and sprane from
MS chair in alarm, making a strong
eHort to leave the room.
j. A. Hicks, a barber, testified that /
ne had shaved Scudamore prior to his
'everlng his connection with the bank |
ana also had called at his residence |
On North Palafox street to shave the |
defendant These visits, witness said, |
occurred twice We6A until the first |
preliminary hearing was held. and |
NICE a week thereafter. Scudamore
seemed TO him to be much depressed. /
thu WIIHeSS described the defendants
Eyes as having a CLASSY stare" He
stated that Scudamore had never
made any resistance at being shaved
Tor had he fiinched at any time the
,azor was at his throat. seemingly un-
ierstanding the process of shaving.
Ind not fearing the barber. Witness
liso said that he had heard that
'cudamore was insane Immediately
-1ter Scudamore's illness on the night
II Nov. 30, at which time, according
o the witness, it was asserted that
'cudamore tried to commit suicide
Witness called at the Pensacola Bank
Z trust Co, and asked G. B. Perkins |
Scudamore was insane. because, if |
o. ne didn't want to be left alone
Nth him to shave him Perkins. wft-
less said. replied that he didn't think
'cudamore was insane.
n. 3. PARKER.
H B. Parker. formerly of Sebree.
W. Where he had known the defend
nj .trs1mately. was the next witness.
lie testified uo ScUdamcre's affa4aIe and
eIsAal manner during the year he had
noUn him. and centrasted the ioyial
allure of that time with his present
uIien and moody disposition
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