Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-13
TESTIFY
MITCHELL INSANE
OFFICERS SAY SLAYER OF
THAYER WAS CALM
MUCH EVIDENCE is GIVEN AS TO
STATE OF YOUTHS MIND
Entire Day of Trial Consumed by
Opinions of Physicians and Tes-
tmony of Witnesses on
One Point

The sanity or insanity of William C.
Mitchell at the time he shot and killed
Cecil Thayer January l, for the al
legged betrayal of his sister, Ethel
Mitchell, was the issue all day yes
terday during the trial in the superior
court. Two alienists testified that the
young man was suffering from tempo
rary or emotional insanity, caused by
the effect on his mind of the story
his mother told him of his sisters
relation with Thayer. At the afternoon
session the officers who arrested Nit
chell, other officers who met him at
the city Jail, and newspaper reporters
who interviewed Mitchell shortly after
the shooting testified that the young
man was cool and collected, and APP
peared not like one laboring under
great emotion.
At the morning session Prosecutor
North propounded long hypothetical
questions to DR.. o. M. Justis and to
DR.. Ross Moore, both authorities on
mental diseases. The answers to the
hypothetical questions and the testi-
mony of both physicians indicated that
they considered Mitchell in an unbaI-
anced condition of mind at the time he
shot Thayer. Dr. Justis persisted that
Mitchell was suffering from emotional
insanity, while Dr. Moore described
Mitchell as being temporarily insane.
Neither the formidable hypothetical
question of Prosecutor North nor the
sharp cross examination shook the
opinion of the medical experts.
AT o'clock when court resumed
session in the Mitchell murder trial
the prosecution began the introduction
of evidence in rebuttal, a number of
witnesses being called to testify to the
appearance and conduct of the de-
PENDANT at the city Jail a short time
after his arrest by Patrolman SteZe-
reide, the object being to show that
the prisoner was COOL calm and col
lected and with a full realization of his
act and it's consequences and perfectly
normal in manner and action.
Say Mitchell Was Calm
Sergeant Willard E. Smith was the
first of these witnesses and he stated
that he had seen Mitchell a short time
after his arrest and thai in his opinion
he acted naturally and showed no signs
of mental disturbance.
Jail Turkeys Story, Cooke and
Sanders were also called to the stand,
until the morning following the shoot
ing of Thayer they were not permitted
to testify.
Jailer Boaz, who was on watch at
the time Mitchell was brought in UNI
der arrest, testified that the prisoner
acted naturally and did not appear dis
turbed by the situation he was in.
Is Police Court Bailiff Rosso testified to
the same facts and John NJ Beckwith,
a newspaper reporter who interviewed
Mitchell at the Jail a few minutes
after his arrest, stated on the stand
that in his opinion Mitchell was not
crazy.
Daniel w. Green, newspaper re-
porter who is expected to testify to
the same facts, did not answer when
his name was called and a deputy sheriff
was instructed to find Mr. Green and
have him in court at 10 o'clock this
morning.
The prosecution not being ready
with other witnesses to continue the
line of rebuttal an adjournment was
taken at o'clock until this morning,
when Mr.. Green will be the first witt
ness placed on the stand.