The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-23
DENNISON DECLARED INSANE
COMMISSION BELIEVES HE
KILLED BOYS.

! nepoga scores g.ax Methods - state In
stitutlsa Whlrh Permitted . Danger
sus I.unatIc to Ne &C Large DsanisSn
May Be sent 60 SiatteaWan Asylum.
Herbert Jerome Dsnnisoc, who shot
and wounded John Fredsricks on the
viaduct at ISSd street on tho night OF
January 9. was declared insane yesterday
! by the commission that has been exam
lining him. District Attorney Whitman
said last night in regard 10 WHISTLER Denni-
son killed Robbie Tomas and Arthur
shibley in High Bridge Park on Janu-
AIRY -:
i am convinced from the evidence
that has been presented that he is the
man who killed those two boys and ! am
perfectly willing 20 say So
The commission backs mp the District
Attorneys opinion In recommending
changes in tho rules OF State institutions
for the insane the commissions report
says: From facts that were developed
on this examination the commission IL
unanimous in arriving at the conclusion
that at least two hvea have been sacri-
siced by reason Of the laH methods that
were allowed 60 bc adopted in the case Of
this defendant
Although most Of the authorities have
been convinced from the start that Den
nison was guilty of killing the two boys
it was his behavior st ono OF the commits
siOn's examinations that removed any
doubt from their minds. A. q private
hearing held few days ago the revolver
which was found. Drowned with rust. in
the park near the spot where Arthur Shib-
ley and Robbie Tomas were fired upon
was produced. Dennison was asked IL
that was his gun. without looking at il
he replied. Yes. IL is
How do you know il isf' was the next
question.
That's nv Hopkins a Alien he
answered referring 10 the make Of the
pistol.
But why do you saw IL j. your Hopkins
1 h Allen, asked his lawyer. Abe Levy.
The detectives told me 30. said DENIM
son. He was told tn describe something
about the revolver that would show his
familiarity with 10. Dpnnison thought a
moment and then mentioned some
scratches near the top Of the butt. They
were there. although tho letter n
standing for Herbert. had not been put
on by Dennison. That was the identifsca-
ton mark scratched by the policeman
who found the weapon. But his descrip-
ton Of the other marks was complete
enough To convince the commission that
the gun was his. DennisOn said that he
had seen the revolver last when he used
to shoot at the trees near tho asylum at
Westport. Conn. lie couldn't recall hav-
ing seen IL since.
Judge O'Sullivan. who appointed the
commission. with whom the report was
filed yesterday. approved the findings.
To-day the Court will probably sign an
order committing Dennison 20 Mattaawan.
! One phase oi the commissions sxAmina-
ton Judge O'Sullivan did not think was
properly restricted 60 the cas0 Of Denni-
son This applied 20 ths rlIlss % State
institutions permitting patients 20 he
withdrawn when. in tho opinion Of the
commission. they are menace 70 tho
I public IL was act forth In a supple
sent BY Judge o'suliivSn to DR.. Albert
I ". Ferris. president OF ehs State Lunacy
Commission. The report states that Dem
nison In suffering from the paranoic
/ Type ot deTnentta preoox and that he has
/ been in this condition for the last ten
years, during which he hAR been in SiN
different institutions. The medical super
intsndent Of ,hs MiddletOwn Asylum tssti-
ned that when Dennisons mother re-
moved him from that institution in 1913
without any order % the Court and with
out a physicians certificate he was dis
charged unimproved and not cured. The
comInissICn also says that Dennison WAS
not under any special restraint In the
private sanitartums and that he was al
lowed by the persons In charge To 60
INTO the woods and shoot &C targets.
The evidence clearly shows that when
ever his mother or he became disAafis-
ned with any institution IN which hs was
confined.' the report CONTINUES. his
mother was allowed TO take hmm 10 another
| private institution. This Was done with
out any recourse whatever TO the legal
authorities or any restraint whatever
/ by the management 81 any ~ the Aay-
l,im@. permitting the patient az large
without any qualified surveillance in the
I interim. The easy manner in which the
: insane, 40 evidenced in thus case, are
turned over to tbs care of parents or rela-
ttves for an indefinite period has made
such an impr essiOn upon thu members
81 this commission that they deem II
their duty to call the attention % thia
court and leave t 90 this court whether
the attention o. the state authorities
should 10 called 70 tho lax way in which
,hs insane. and IN this case a dangerous
and violently insane person. may be taken
out OF q pulic ineane asylum. after having
been dsllv committed 10 the same on the
certificate 81 two physicians and by order
troll Of q parent or relative 90 do with such
insane person a. he or she pleasee.
The report then refers 10 the result ~
DennisOn's freedom and declares that
II there are sufficient laws OF the present
time they are being laNlv enforced. and
II thsre are not IL recommends that such
laws he enacted
The commission was headed by George
J.. Lewis, a lawyer 81 ~ Broadway Or
Heinrich stern Of $50 West Seventy-third
street and Or. james }. Walsh 81 the fac
ulty ~ Fordham University were the other
members.