The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-08
STATE WEAKEN
POINTS Of HAMS
AL|EN|ST
Or. MANSON CONTENDS THAT
CAPT. HAMS WAS SUFFERING
FROM IMPULsIvE INSANITY
THIS WOULDN'T EXCUSE CRIME

FLUSHING. N. Y. Jan. s.-Thorn-
ton jenkins Hams arrived early In
court today and chatted with Maj.
Hams and the reporters before DR..
Samuel Manson, the first OF the de-
lenses trio of experts, was called for
cross-examination.
Mrs. Helen Annis, the widow of the
murdered man, accompanied by Mrs.
Hill and Mrs. Rockwell. walked to the
chairs reserved within the rail. They
were the only women in the court
room.
DR.. Manson outlined his previous
experience as a witness In homicide
unteered information on points, purely
technical, bearing on disorders or the
brain.
Mrs. Virginia c. Hams, the aged
mother OF the defendant. DR.. Manson
declared. showed signs OF mental dis
order In the attacks Of fits OF hysteria
from which she suffered.
The district attorney tried TO make
DR.. Manson say that Capt. Hams men
tai complaint was similar to Thaw's,
but the witness insisted that there
was a marked distinction.
"A patient so affected may be cur
able" replied DR.. Manson.
Justice Crane asked the expert II
Capt. Hams might have been affected
with only bad temper when he broke
into his brothers home early on Sun-
day, May 81. but the witness insisted
1t was acute mania.
Capt. Hams, he said, suffered from
impulsive insanity. shown In the be-
ginning by an attack OF acute mania,
followed by mental depression, and
then impulsive insanity followed by
,melancholia.
According to the new classification
Capt Haines is suffering from mania,
Oppressive insanity. but l call 1t I'm
pulsive insanity" the expert volun-
teered.
Then ne is suffering from circular
Insanity" asked Darrin. remembering
that Dr. Manson had so described the
later form.
II wouldn't say So" replied the wit
ness.
Justice Cautions DarrIn.
Justice Crane broke In to caution
the prosecutor not to take up too
much time.
You know even II the captain was
suffering from this forming of insan-
tty It doesn't excuse him for commit
ting the shooting" announced the
court, land shall SO charge"
Peter c. Hams was suffering from
acute mania on Aug. 49, volunteered
the witness.
Under Darrin's probing the expert
said man suffering from mania-de-
pressive insanity-would know wheth-
er he had weapon, but would not be
able to recognize an enemy on sight.
In acute mania or impulsive insanity,
he declared, the victim would not rec
ognize an enemy's name by sound and
would be Just as likely to shoot child
as his enemy: nor would he be able
to plan or devise.
With this salient point established.
Darrin suddenly halted.
That's ALL" he declared.
On the redirect, Mcintyre set out to
repair the break and succeeded In
making the expert say that previous
TO the period OF exaltation-the shoot
|ing-Capt. Hams could not distinguish
the name of Annis.
Again Darrin went at the alienist,
with a question prepared by the states
experts. He asked DR.. Manson II the
actions Of Capt. Hams in recognizing
his victim, and his quiet demeanor
subsequent to the shooting did not
show him to be suffering from any
thing but impulsive insanity.
After reiterating his belief I'm the
term adopted. DR.. Manson was excus-
ed. Under the guidance Of DR.. Flint
and DR.. Foster, who is District Attor-
ney Jerome's private physician, Mr..
Darrin had succeeded in tearing down
the most important points in the ex-
perts story.