The Washington times., 1908-09-23
Coroner Holds Lightfoot Not
Mentally Responsible for
Double Crime.
TO BE CONFINED
AT THE ASYLUM
Mulatto Will Be Placed With
Criminal Insane, and Closely
Guarded in Future.


maniac. Andrew Lghtfoot."
This was the finding of the Coroner's
jury today at the inquest into the
death Of Mile Follin and Patrick Ma
loney. held at the morgue by Coroner
hewitt this morning.
The jury was of the opinion that
Lightfoot could not be held for the
crime, and it Is probable he will be
confined for the rest of HIS life in
Howard Hall. the building at the hos
pital where are housed the criminal
insane. The jury accepted the fact that
LiEhtfoot was insane and not response
BE for his act.
Coroner hewitt informed the jury Of
his investigation. and several wit
resses. attendants, and employees tes-
tiied TO seeing the killing. The jury
quickly reached its verdict
Won't Be Tried.
Lightfoot was not held for the grand
jury as usually is the case, and he
consequently never Will be brought up
for trial as the mind Of the jury was
clear that at the time of the double
murder he was insane. as he is now.
Coroner hewitt did not perform an au-
topsy. He made an examination Of
animation Of Miss Follin's injuries to-
day.
Moody Jones, Of 1928 Ward place
northwest. testified to the killing Of
Miss FOllin. saying ne was an eye
witness. He Was followed by several
other attendants and employees who
were near the scene Of the tragedy
and who saw LiEhtfOOt strike the fatal
blows. All Of the testimony was to
the same effect as that Of Jones.
Asylum Quiet Today,
II is quiet at St. Elizabeth's today,
and in strong contrast 70 the excitement
Of yesterday. Everything bespeaks
peace. and the wanton bIoodshed Of
yesterday soon will be forgotten. eX-
cept by those burdened with the death
Of one near 70 their hearts.
Patients al the asylum have entirely
recovered from the excitement. and are
quietly living ont their routine today IN
the beautiful grounds
Far apart, in widely separated build
iugs. the maniac Of yesterday and one
Of his victims. Miss Elizabeth Robert
son. are rapidly regaining their physical
strength. Both are doing well, and viii
RAPIDLY recover. Again docile and quiet.
with the sUbmissiveness that for eight
years lulled doctors and attendants,
Ligh foot gazes into space as though
his mind was absolutely blank on what
occurred yesterday.
lie is confined in Howard Hall the
building wherein are housed the crimi-
nal insane.
The body Of Patrick MaIoney. the first
victim OF the maniac. was taken home
this morning, and win lie in the parlor
Of the cottage until the funeral tOmOr-
row.
Services will he couducted in St.
Theresa's Catholic Church, Anacostis,
al 10 o'clock in the morning, by the Rev.
Father Martin +. Egdn. The iuterment
will be made I'm Mt OIivet Cemetery.
The body Of Miss FOllin was brought
to the District mOrEue early this morn
ing. An inquest was held by Coroner
hewitt at 1870 O'Clock Several wit
nesses Of the double murder testified to
the manner in which MalOney and Miss
FOllin met their death.
All the witnesses were employees Of
the institution. They were Moody
Jones. l2E Ward place northwest; Rob
ert Lane, 2ll0 Eleventh street northwest:
William Shankline. 1924 DeSales street
northwest, DR.. Lawrence brennan, DR..
Downing. Dabney Fleming, Samuel But
Ter Frank Simpson, and Julia Wood.
Twenty-Seven Escapes.
Approximately twenty-seven patients
have escaped from the Government Hos
pital for the Insane in the past year
This includes a number Of probation
patients who walked of. The exact
number of escapes depends. say the
physicians, upon the definition and in
depreciation TO be put upon the word.
The police have been asked 10 assist
in the location Of twcntv-seven patients,
but # The opinion OF the doctors. all
OF these could not very we'll be called
escapes.
The exact figures on escapes arc
buried in a mass Of daily reports that it
would take two days TO so through. Il
patient takes French leave, or violent
y breaks from HIS guard. the fact IS
entered on his or her individual daiir
record, and no other entry or list or
such occurrences is kept
There are always hundreds of pat{ents
on probation AT the hospital. and some
OF them are prone to take sudden leave
for a visit 20 Washington Most Of
them go right back but some do not
upon.
These patients all have the liberty Of
the grounds, and 10 leave IS easy. The
escape Of violent patients is rare so
rare, IL seems that the doctor in charge
could net remember the list one.
Tells of Capture.
Lucullus F. Gibson and Harvey F.
Belt. the employees Of the aInshouse
who brought the negro marIac 10 hay
WIN 'lS4A 9LoIb guns dLleI long chase
through the woods and swamps. related
the story Of their experience to Times
reporter.
He was the most desperate man 7
ever saw" said Gibson Mr.. Fahey had
Just come from town and told me that
a mailman was loose and to look out
for HIM I remembered at once having
seen fellow with a big iron bar walk
Ing through the field near here. He had
come along the railroad track from Con
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