Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-16
DOCTORSDECLARE
WOMAN INSANE
HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION AIDS
MRS. FINN'S CASE
PRISONER BECOMES ILL IN THE
COURT ROOM
Recess Taken Until Physicians Can
Revive Her-Defendant Much
Weakened by Trying
Ordeal

Determined to have the ordeal over
as soon as possible, Mrs. Margaret
Finn, charged with the murder OF j.
u. Mahaffey,. although hardly able to
sit up, appeared in Police Justice
Chambers court at 2 o'clock yester-
day afternoon, after having gone
through a trying morning session. She
listened to her attorneys read the
hypothetical questions to experts for
the purpose of proving that she was
insane at the time of the tragedy.
Because of her condition, Mrs. Finn
was quite i'll after the morning ses-
sion. She was attended by DIR. Sum-
ner J. Quint, head of the receiving hos
pital.
DR.. H. M. Rooney testified that the
defendant is to become a mother. He
was followed by DIR. c. l.. Allen, for
merly connected with the Pennsyl-
vania State hospital at Harrisburg,
Pa, and the New Jersey State hospital
at Trenton. n. j. The hypothetical
question beginning before the birth
of Mrs. Finn, concerning the condition
of her mother just previous to that
time and on up to the time of the
shooting, in which all facts proved
leading up TO the tragedy were en-
braced, was then put to him.
Prosecution Objects
!.
Pearson interposed an objection to
certain portions of the lengthy ques-
tion. Before the court ruled on the
objection Attorney Fred Thompson for
the defense stated he would put on
witnesses to show that the objection
should not be sustained.
w. S. Lang, a brother Of Mrs. Finn,
testified that his sister brought Ma
haffey to his house during June and
i'm ftft htta
band by saying: ED and l are going
to be married. and Mahaffey added,
Yes, we are going to be married
shortly and hope you think we'll of
me-"
His testimony was to prove the re-
lationship between the two. which was
embraced in the hypothetical question
and which was objected to.
James II. Lang, another brother of
the defendant, was called to prove the
destitute circumstances of his sister.
He declared she might have had a
dollar on the day of the shooting, but
If so she had borrowed it,
Then after some argument between
counsel the question was slightly
amended and put to DR.. Allen.
Assuming all the facts to be true
in the question just put to you, doctor,
in your opinion was Mrs. Finn sane or
said Attorney Thompson.
Says She Was Insane
I'm my opinion she was insane at
the time, SIR was the reply.
When cross examined by Attorney
Pearson DIR. Allen gave his reason for
basng his opinion, beginning from the
birth of Mrs. Finn UP to the day of
the tragedy.
The same question was put to DIR
Sumner j. Quint and DR.. Fl. M. Rooney
Both testified that the woman was in
sane at the time and stated why, in
their opinion, she was irresponsible at
the time of the shooting Their eX-
plantations were clearly and accurately
given and based on the conditions eX-
listing at the time of Mrs. Finn's birth;
her nervous condition during 1er girl
hood: the stress she underwent when
her first husband was killed and other
adverse circumstances during 1er life.
Embodied in the hypothetical ques-
ton was the letter written by Mrs.
Finn to Mahaffey ten days before the
tragedy 1t is the outpouring of a
despondent soul. She tells of/the awful
ordeal she faced and begged him not
to cast her on the world She tells OF
her delicate condition and of her agony
of mind and begs him to keep his VOWS.
While this lengthy letter was being
read there was hardly a dry eye in
the court room.
Mrs. Finn became ill at 8 o'clock
and a recess was taken for a short
time while she was removed to the
matrons department of the city jail
for a short rest. When she returned
the hearing was resumed and later
court was adjourned until today.
In order that Mrs. Finn NAV be
comfortable while in the court room,
Dr. Quinr, who is attending her, will
have a cushioned chair taken into the
room this morning.