The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1911-09-22
DIR. SENPLE SAYS
WEEMS IS FAKING
PRISONER TAKEN To MEDICAL
LAKE FOR FURTHER
OBSERVATION.

Carl Weems may be insane, but IL
he is, he is taking a greater degree
of insanity. This is the conclusion
reached by DR.. John NJ. Semple. head
OF the Eastern Washington hospital
for the insane at Medicine Lake. DR..
Semple was here all day Monday and
gave Weems a careful examination.
In the morning he spent nearly two
hours with the prisoner in private
and put him through tests known to
experts in insanity cases. In the af-
ternoon a public hearing was held
in the chambers Of Judge Thomas
Neih and the testimony OF many wit
nesses was heard in regard TO the
actions of Weems since his arrest. 1t
was not trial, simply an inquisition
10 satisfy the court of the mental con-
dition of the prisoner, and Weems
was not present.
After an examination of the pris-
Oner and testimony of witnesses, DR..
Semple summed uD his findings and
expressed his difficulty in arriving at
a definite conclusion. He stated that
II is necessary to group symptoms
and sometimes necessary to watch a
case for some time in order to arrive
at a definite and correct conclusion.
For this reason he stated that he
would take the patient back to the
hospital at Medicine Lake and OBJ
serve his actions for a few days.
Attorneys for the prosecution and
defense were perfectly willing, as all
they desired was the truth Judge
Neill issued an order sending the
prisoner to the state hospital for OBJ
servation and 10 be returned on or
before September 26. Deputy Sheriff
]. B. Eastep took the prisoner to
Medical Lake Tuesday morning and
an attendant was deputized to act as
a guard.
In reporting the finding OF his ex-
animation DT. Semple said the pris-
oner showed an accurate memory for
events and admitted that he had been
in Jail in Denver. Portland. Chicago
and st. Louis for being drunk.
Weems told the doctor that his rea-
son for shooting Cantril was self de-
fense. that Cantril had put Prussic
acid in his whiskey. The doctor fol-
lowed up this line of questioning and
Weems said the man was reaching
for gun when he srot. The doctor
said TO Weems, You are a fakir, a
man to make success of feigning in
sanity must stick TO one type. Your
eyes do not show insanity" To this
Weems made no reply except that he
wanted to go back to his cell. DR..
Semple continued, You are making
mistake, if had committed a crime
| would tell the court about it and
seek excuse because of drink"
Weems replied The court has moth
ing to do with it, Twelve men will
decide" The doctor advised him to
make a confession but Weems did
not want to talk and insisted on 60
ing back to mis- cell.
DR.. Semple said. There Is much
about that man which almost leads
me 10 believe he is taking, still insane
men sometimes fake a greater de-
gree Of insanity. J feel so much un-
certainty about his case that | would
like more time to stndy the man"
Attorneys Ettinger and Voorhees,,
who have been appointed by the court
TO defend the prisoner, introduced
several witnesses from among the
prisoners in the jail who told of
Weoms' actions since they had been
associated with him in the Jail. They
we're of the opinion that the man is
crazy. Mr.. Ettinger stated that
Weems has taken no interest in his
defense Ind has refused to have any
thing to do with his attorneys since
lie fiji st time they saw him