Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-26
CRABTREE IN VIOLENT FIT
ConHnued from Tirst -

tional I'm his conversation.
Private Durack was next called. He had
also been on guard over the accused the
day after the killing. Crabtree had re-
p~eatedly asked IL witness had seen the
papers and seemed anxious to know the
condition OF Captain Raymond. lie said
to witness, Don't ever drink. especially
whisky, for it always makes me crazy"
He seemed rational In his conversation, but
was restless.
Crnbtree once Injured.
James f. Moore OF Tyrone, Pa. was
called. He stated tina he had knc VT
Crabtree since 1894. In 1895 the accused had
been employed by the witness in a candy
establishment at Tyrone. December l he
had been caught In an elevator. loaded
with candy Weighing about 400 pounds,
The bar across the top of the lift had
caught him while he was sitting on the
second floor landing. He was taken out
unconscious and had been taken home in
this condition. II was some three or four
months before he was out again and for
several years thereafter he complained OF
his back. The witness was a sergeant in
the Sheridan troop of the Pennsylvania
National Guard. to which the accused be-
longed in 1904. Crabtree had been examined
physically and accepted. They went to the
state camp and while there Crabtree had
famed in the ranks one day, after which
time he was not allowed to drill. He was
discharged to allow him to enlist in the
marine corps, which he did. Witness next
saw Crabtree in 1905. after his service in
the marine corps, and thought him much
improved physically. He testified that he
would not recognise Crabtree on the street
now.
James M. Laporte Of Tyrone, Pa, a cou-
sin of Mrs. Boyer, the mother Of the ac-
cused, was. called and testified to having
known the accused all his life. He told
Of the relatives who had been in the insane
asylum In Pennsylvania. Mr.. Laporte
said that he was shocked at the present
appearance Of the accused. and said that
he would not know him.
Sergeant Washburn was called and told
of the fine character Of Captain Ray.
mond, who, he said, believed In controlling
his men by persuasion at all times. He
had never heard Of any trouble between
the captain and the accused or between
the accused and anyone else.
Mother on the stand.
Mrs. w. Boyer, mother of the prisoner,
then took the stand. The council for
Crabtree asked her how she was, when
Crabtree jumped to his feet and said:
Don't tell your name or age. Don't
tell them anything. DON tell them any
thing at all. Don't do it. You nave al
ready told too much. They are all against
us and WIN ruin the whole family. l am
sane"
Colonel Gardener, the president of the
court, had to repeatedly admonish the
prisoner to keep quiet and finally had him
taken to the rear OF the room. He was
kept quiet here and his mother was al
lowed to continue She told OF her mar
rlsge to Crabtree's father in 1873; of the
birth Of the boy in 1882 and of his Ill
health as a small child. She had had
fever a few months before his birth, and
her head had subsequently given her great
trouble. Her husband, had always been
weak and sickIy, anddnad died of consump-
ton in 1889. When 2eyears old Crabtree
had severe commissions, When { years
old he had a severe attack OF scarlet
fever from which he had never fully re-
covered until we'll along in his teens. She
told Of the injury at the candy shop and
Of his weak condition thereafter, Up to
the age OF II he had been backward and
sick and had complained of his back.
When he wanted to enlist in 1904 for the
Marine corps he had said to his mothers:
Mother, l am a weakling and II 1 go
into the Marine corps 1t will build me up"
He had been in Pittsburg for a time at
work. His habits about home had always
been of the best. He went to ohurcht reg
ularly and never drank. Was not fond Of
society. When he same home after his first
service and before e~nlistinR for the cav
airy, she had seen a revolver In his trunk
which looked like the one with which he
had shot Captain Raymond. After again
enlisting he wrote home constantly. After
he arrived at Des Moines he seemed dis
satisfied for the first time in all his alb
sence from home. June II she had read an
account in the papers OF the shooting Of
Captain Raymond, and had at once gone
to Fort Des Moines with her other son. She
arrived there June 16, and went to the
guard house to see Crabtree at once. She
had said to him: "son, why did you do
this9" He had replied. II don't know any
more than you, unless I was crazy. You
know I would not do anything like this
unless crazy She saw him again a week
ago. He seemed still more unnatural and
said to her: Mother, what is the matter
with youi you don't seem like you used
to-" He also said the same thing about
his brother. Monday afternoon, after the
first day of the trial was over, she had
again seen Crabtree. and he had said
There is nothing in all this, They are all
against me-" He lsssmed to follow his
mothers story intently.
AHenist ON stand.
DR. Gershom H. Hill, an alienist of Des
Molnes, was called. He stated that he had
been at the head OF various institutions for
the treatment of the insane and now had
a private hospital rat Des Moines for such
cases. The counsel for Crabtree read a
long hypothetical question, which was a
history Of his entire life to date, and asked
DR.. Hill II all these facts as stated were
true, what his opinion was as to the men
tai condition OF the accused. The doctor re-
piled:
It believe that he was demented." Asked
to aoalify this. he said the form OF menta
) trouble was known as "dementla precox'
and that It was both progressive and per.
! manent. He had examined the accused al
5 Des Moines and had observed him durinl
? the trial and considered MIN u nervous
I invalid and believed that he was insane al
the present time. The points on which HI
: based this were the fact that no depravitS
D had been shown. There was no record o.
3 vicious habits. No intoxication at time o.
3 crime. No examples of violent temper
The criua revealed no definite purpose II