The Topeka state journal., 1909-01-08
HAMS WAS CRAZY
All the Alienists Testifying for
the Defense
Agree That He Had Various
Forms of Insanity.
USE MANY NEW TERMS
Never Before Brought Out Un-
der Similar Circumstances.
Even HySteria Is Declared to Be
Allied to Insanity.

Flushing, n. Y, Jan. S-A blow
from an unexpected quarter was re-
ceived by the defense in the trial of
Thornton ]. Hams today when DR..
Samuel L. Manson, an alienist under
cross examination by Prosecutor Dar-
rim declared that Captain Hams suffer-
ed from maniac Oppressive insanity
last August, an ailment that would
have prevented him from recognizing
the face or name of an enemy The
aIteniSt said that in a patient suffering
from such malady all power was
practically lost. Prosecutor Darrin
taking advantage of the admission of
the defense's alieniSt asked him if his
opinion of Captain Hains' mental con-
dltion would be changed If he knew
that the army officer had conversed
intelligently before and after the
shooting of William z. Annis and that
ne recognized his victim as his boat
neared the float. The medical expert
said his opinion remained UNCHANGED.
Dr l.. Pierce Clark, another alienist
Tor the defense, testified that Captain
Rams Rams was insane on August Is, when
the shooting took place. and that he
was insane early in November when
the witness made his last examination
The declaration of the defense's
alenfst that Captain Hams had acute
mania prior to the shooting, and that
after the tragedy he suffered from
melancholia from which he slowly
recovered, opened wide the foodgates
for exhaustive medical cross examina-
DR.. Manson. telling of the reasons
that led him to his conclusions regard
ing Captain Hains's mental condition,
narsnaIed an overwhelming array of
terms in his testimony such as zone
OF aneastheSia, "stuporous meIan-
cholia" and "furore transitore.''
The result of the cross examination
Oh the detense's alienists viii deter
mine whether Prosecutor Darrfn will
call any medical experts for the state
The prosecutor believes that the cross
examination, which will be conducted
under the guidance of DR.. Austin
Flint, will show that Captain Hains
had full knowledge of the nature and
Annis.
Justice. Crane took part in the cross
examination of DIR. Manson. who de-
clared that hysteria was allied to in
sanity. The alienist was questioned at
length on his definition of the various
forms OF insanity and of nervous dis
orders and their relation to hysteria.
a hysterical man was not insane said
the alienist.
Illusions and DeIusiOns.
DR. Manson declared that Sir Will
liam Hamilton's definition of the mind
as that which perceives. acts. and
thinks, was only an apology for such
The alienist defined illusions" and de
lusions" He decribed the phases of
mental disturbances through which
Captain Hams passed. For more than
an hour the prosecutor interrogated the
witness on the various forms of mental
disturbance and their relationship to
each other.
All the phases of Captain Hafns's
mental conditions were now described
as maniac Oppressive insanity, said the
Suffering from such a malady as
you have mentioned would the patient
be able to dress himself >"
No. sir. all power is virtually gone"
suffering from such malady as you
have mentioned, would the patient
recognize the face of an enemy?''
Would the patient be able to recog-
nize the name of his enemy?''
No SIR
Would it affect your opinion that
Captains Hams had impulsive insan-
ity, If you knew that on the day of the
shooting he conversed nationally and
that he recognized his
enemy; that he talked intelligentIy and
quietly after the shooting and that at
the same time he lighted and smoked
a cirgarette?'
TT would not" said DR.. Manson.
That's all,' said the prosecutor
DR.. L. Pierce Clark, who is connected
with the Manhattan state hospital. was
called DR.. Clark said that he had
read the hypothetical question and that
in his opinion Captain Hams was in
sane at the time of the shooting. He
said he had examined Captain
Hains once, and that he was in
sane at the time. DIR. Clark said
that Captain Hams suffered from
maniac Oppressive insanity at the time
of the shooting. The doctor said that
the, captain became affected with the
mental trouble at the time of his wife's
confession