The Pensacola journal., 1908-02-16

The secret leaked out, as most Sc
erets do. and it is now known that
the lunacy commission which will
inquire into the sanity OF Geo. c.
Scudamore, former cashier of the
Pensacola Bank & Trust Co, who is
at liberty under bond charged with
embezzlement and other offenses, will
hold its first session on Tuesday
morning at 10 o'clock at the court
house.
THE COMM ISSIoNERS.
The personel of the commission is:
DR.. D. w. Mcmillan. DR.. Mallory Ken
nedy, DIR. J. H. Bickerstaff, c. w. La
mar aud J. S. Reese.
There was decided unwillingness
on the part of any one connected with
the inquiry TO talk on the subject.
There was cofsidera BILE curbstone
gossip yesterday afternoon and when
representative of The Journal felt
that all the facts had been obtained
he asked Judge Henry Bellinger. who
appointed the commission and is
sued the summons for their presence,
to confirm the facts.
JUDGE PROMISED SECRECY.
Judge Bellinger. ] have obtained
the personeI OF the lunacy commits
sion which it 10 inquire into the san
ity of Geo. G. Scudamore. VIII you
confirm the names of the members,
and tell me the date OF the hearing"
Il don't care to give the names"
replied the county Judge. The par
ties asked that this information not
be made public and, of course, / must
hot I
not give out the information. | don't
see how it became known. at all
We'll, | have all the details, ] only
wish to confirm them. VIII you tell
ME, therefore when the summons
were issued on the commissioners
and when served
Il really wouldn't like to give any
information at ALL replied Judge
Bellinger ~It was my understanding
that the whole matter was to be
kept secret.
'The hearing will be held on Mon
day, will it," was asked.
Yes" replied the judge.
A little later, upon hearing a ru-
NOR that the hearing would be post
poned until "Wednesday, Judge Bellin-
ger was again asked regarding St.
the report current being that one OF
the physicians had been i'll and might
not be able TO attend
Judge Bellinger said that he had
heard that the physician had been
sick, but that the doctor had stated
that he would be able TO serve on
Monday, however
Still later. another rumor had il,
(and this time rumor was cOrrect),
that the hearing would be postponed
until Tuesday the reason being that
one member of the commission would
leave the city Saturday night and not
return until Monday night.
SCOPE OF POWER.
IL is stated that the commissions
ers were selected and summons is
sued on Friday. the council having
nominated two members each of the
commission and Judge Bellinger ap-
pointing the fifth member.
The commission, ii is understood.
will have full power o. a court. WIT
nesses will be summoned. and the
investigation will include. it is as
serted. thorough inquiry into Scud-
amore's past acts as well as his con-
dition at present.
Upon the decision of the comnis-
sion viii depend the trial of Scuba
more on the charges now standing
against him. If he be declared TO t1
insane then he will be committed 70
an asylum, and it is said. that should
this be done, he will. by his next
friend. be able to make bond for bic
appearance for trial. should he at
some future time be pronounced
cured his mental arrangement.
However, should this commissions
indicate in its report or should the
evidence adduced show that he was
iocana ri the time of committing the
alleged criminal acts. that testimons
will doubtless prevent his ever beini
sentenced to prison for the alleged
criminal OffenSe.