Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-24
c, JONES R|XEY
MUCH INF PROVED
DR.. De Jarnette, of Stanton, Says
He May Soon be Able to
Stand Trial.
APPEARS IN COURT TODAY.
Long Argument Made by Attorneys Oh
Motion 10 send Rixey to Hospital for
Criminal Insane at Marion.

That c. Jones RiXey. former presi'
dent and treasurer of the Virginia
Safe Deposit and Trust Corporation
is improving rapidly, both mental!
and physically, as TO warrant the as
sertion that he will shortly be able
10 stand trial on he indictments iT
alexandria against him. was the
statement made this morning by DR.
J. S. DeJarnette, superintendent OF
the Western State Asylum for the In
sane at Stanton, Va. where Mr.. RiN-
ey is now confined.
The statement was made in the
corporation court this morning when
Judge Louis c. Barley heard argn'
ments on the motion OF the Common
wealth Attorney Samuel G. Brent tc
have Mr.. RiXey removed from Staun'
ION to The hospital for the Criminal
Insane at Marion.
Mr.. RiXey appeared in court. hav'
ing been brought from Staunton thi!
morning by order Of Judge Barley
His physical condition does not seem
to have changed materially since he
was here last September. He still
drags one foot, and is compelled &c
use a cane. During the proceedings
he sat with bowed head and did not
seem at all interested in what was
going on in the court room, although
at times it rererberaLed with the elo-
Quence OF the attorneys who were
pleading his cause.
DR.. DeJarnette was the only wit
ness examined and during the cues
tioning by Judge Barleyta number OF
interesting facts We're brought out.
In answer 70 a question as to the
condition of the patient. DR.. DeJar-
nette said:
Since Mr.. Rixey has been confined
al Stanton he has shown great i'm
provemenl. both mentally and physi-
cally. He has gained u pounds in
weight. Most OF the time he has been
working on the farm. shocking corn
and engaged in other pursuits. He
has been given number Of privi-
leges. but has not abused them.
Judge Barley asked DR.. De.Iarnette
if in his opinion Rixey was in condi-
ton to stand trial, and the following
answer was made:
II do not think that he has re-
covered sufficiently 10 stand trial at
the present time and give his attor-
neys any assistance, but | do not
think il will be a long time before he
will be able TO stand trial
Dr.. DeJarnette was questioned as
to the privileges given Mr. RiXey and
was asked concerning the newspa-
per reports which had been published,
as 10 his appearance on the streets OF
Staunton. He replied:
We gave him the privilege Of 60
ing TO and from the hospital on a
pass. such as given 10 other prisoners
in the same mental condition. He
spent night in town with his wife
on four different occasions bttra al
ways returned promptly. We did this
10 encourage him. and try to effect
a cure. We have no prisoners at
Staunton. and give all Of our inmates
the maximum amount Of liberty if
their mental condition justities it,
and in Mr. RiXey's case. the wisdom
of our course has been shown by his
splendid improvement. He has had
no more privileges than any other pa
tient in the same mental condition
Mr.. .Jeffries, leading counsel for
Riyey, asked Dr. DeJarnette if in his
opinion RiXey would continue to i'm.
prove if sent to Marion, to which the
doctor replied that he did not know
what his environments at Marion
would be, and that he might improve
or might deteriorate. but that he was
improving under his care at Staun
ton, and that if his advice was asked
he would suggest that he remain
where he is at present.
In reply to questions as to the pro
gress being made in the erection o
the necessary buildings at Marion
the witness said that only the foun
dation had been completed, and tina
if the legislature at the present ses
sion made an appropriation for tn
completion Of the building, it could b.
finished in years time. He sail
that there was some provision beini
made at Marion for the care of tn
criminal insane. but that he did no