The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-06-22
AL|EMSTs TESTIFY
IN BIGGERS CASE
In Answer to Hypothetical
Question Say That He
Was Insane

Charlotte, n. c., June ia ht.,
thetical question that will make tr,s-
in the Thaw trial look trivial was n--
this afternoon to an alienist in tn N
S.. Biggers murder trial in progress =,
this city. in which at least two thar-
sand words were used, covering The
entire volume Of evidence adduc4a
during the first week of the trial hl
the defense, the case Opening las
Monday. The Hypothetical quest IN
related to the defendants sanity AZ
the time Of the murder of ]. G. Hood
a prominent business man of the city.
on February eighth. In it every de-
tail of some thirty or forty witnesses.
testimony was summarized, together
with evidence Of several physicians
and in reply to this VoluminOus Qu-S-
ton DIR. j. P. Munroe. president Of
the North Carolina Medical CoIlega.
the d~efense's leading a~lienist, repl I'd
hat the defendant was insane, h. As
Stunning that the jury found all Of tn
testimony to be true on which the
lengthy question is based.
This was the strongest point Yet
scored by the d~efenSe. Several other
physicians were called On to answer
the same question, which, on account
Of its length, was not re-read to them.
the reply given being in substance
that made by the leading alienist.
The first week of the trial ended
with every evidence h a from four -
six days will sbe necessary to complete
the case. The defense has had mos
Of the week and they will probably
require another day to finish the in
PRODUCTION of their evidence so far as
their plans have been u%nfolded. TIL
prosecution required only thirty min
utes at the opening to establish their
case, not assuming insanity which
could not be taken into account until
the defense had made it the basis Of
their case.
The jury over Sunday was under
orders from the court to be kept
strictly isolated from all the outside
world, and no communication or con-
%versation from outsid ers was permit
ted.
'This may seem hard declared
Judge Council. but it is the price Of
citizenship The State has not Yet
shown it's hand in the insanity plea
development Of the case, but several
alienists are attending the trial every
the South. Therefore, when ever they
are called to the stand the greatest
fight in the entire case will begin.
The defense will undertake to tear
down this evidence and on account Of
it's vital bearing on the Ease VII haTe
to scrutinize every word said by the
~alienist for the prosecution. Although
the fight to date has been almost en-
tirely free from arguments by tn
thirteen attorneys employd in th9
hearing. it is expected that when th4
prosecution begins its efforts %
the d~efense's insanity theo-
ry, there will be long drawn debates
over every ruling Of the court.
The defense has scored another
point by showing that three members
of the defendants ancestral family
have been insane, one dying in a hos
pital. This evidence, strange TO say
was given today by an aged man VINO
is one Of the three mentioned ana
who himself spent some time in an
asylums. The interest in the case has
completely absorbed public Interest
throughout this part Of the State am
with the opening Monday the fghc
will assume far greater interest to the
thousands who are closely following
its developments day by day.
Won Founders Medal.
Wilson,. N. c.. June 19.-The MAN.