Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-03-21
Son S 1diosyncrasies Revealed by
Father on Witness Stand in
County Court.
SAW DEVILS IN A CLOSET
Expert from State Hospital Gives
Testimony OH Hallucinations.
Illusions, Decisions and
Deliri,lm Tremens.

Testimony ,cndius to show that the
family and friends Of Joseph Ploof.
charged with shooting CHRISTOPHER Miles
"n June lG. 1871. believed rloof to he in
sane when lie did the shooting. was in
troduccd 10y the defense in Chittenden
county court Friday.
Attorney v. A. Hullard plunced into
the insanity dctous" To It's fun extcn,
Friday. vixen, after introducing ploof :
near associates to shoV' that tho respond
cnt was irresponsible. the defense intro
duccd an insanity expert. Dr. w. l.. Mas
son, assistant superintendent nj the State
hospital in Waterbury. pr WATSON gave
some very clear and concise statements
concerning various forms of insanity.
RESPONDENT CHANGED AFTER
MARRIAGE.
Iloof's father David Ploof. IL years OF
age. was the first witness called by the
defense. The witness said he had been
married ,, wears and had had Is children,
II Of whom are living His son. Joseph
ploof. the respondent. has been married
o. years. according to the elder ploof. The
witness said rloof had never been to
school since he was a young CHILD and
could not writ" or read much.
The witness said his son was a very
tine. boy before he was married. and al
ways had money in his poke, and wore
Sood clothes. rlouf never touched liuuor
In those days said the elder Ploof. After
his marriage ploof got on we'll for Il num-
Nor Of wears but the witness said thrr"
came 4 tim. when there wa chang"
in the respondents habits and character.
lie would have spells. said the witness.
when Ploof WAS 'cra2Y as a loon and
had to be hold in bed. Proof was still liV-
ing with lis wife and family AZ hat time
and required AN attendant All the time he
wa having the queer spells
What would Ploof DO at those tines
He would see devils and snakes in a
small closet we had there We had to
put up a blanket In front of tho closet
Would YOU say that Joe was sane or
insane at that time
~ should say he was as crazy as a
loon
did he use liquor at that time"
He might have 7 don't know"
Did Your son ever tell YOU what caused
his trouble with his Wife"
Yes"
What did he say the trouble was?'
Joe would sit down at the table and
then he would go away and cry. 'Ie
would say Father ! am alone in the
world This was after he had the trouble
with his wife,
How often did You soc him crying in
this way"
some times two or three times "A week.
"What was the appearance Of your son
at those times9'
He appeared wild and lost. He Shove ed
it in his eyes and face
Describe to tho jury what he did when
he had these spells
He would walk around his room N
the middle of the night and work on
wires that were not there One night
he was going to strike through the
window at man he said was peeping
In at him
Was there any man there
mo sir"
How long was this before Miles was
shot"
About eight or ten days"
The witness laid that two days before
Miles was shot Ploof was very uneas,
| and restless
do YOU think Joe was in his right mind
when he did the shooting"
~ don't think he was in his right mind
for six months before the shooting"
on cross-eNa animation Mr.. Ploof said he
was not at home the day of the shoot.
ing
do YOU think your son is insane now"
asked Attorney General Sargent
II don't think he IL insane now
"How often have YOU seen Your sor
! since the shooting"
II saw him once in the TAIL and once in
Waterbury,"
When YOU saw Ploof AZ Waterbur,
did You think he acted insane
~ didn't think So
| The elder Ploot became much confused
| under the REORGANIZATION by tn,
| attorney general. The witness declare,
| he had never seen a policeman at hi,
| house before the shooting. although Mr.
| Sargent tri' to have him admit that tn,
! night before tho shooting he opered IN,