The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-05-27
Combined Strength of Care
taker and TRUSTEES Requir-
ed to Subdue Murderer, in
County Jail.
SHOULDERS BRUISED;
is CLOSELY WATCHED
Sheriff Bayer Declares That
Man Is Not Shamming In
sanity-Mutters Incoher-
entity.

Seth Lucas confessed wife murder
er, raved last night at the county Jail,
hurting his body against the door of
the Jail and working himself into such
a frenzied condition that it was nee
essary for Rice Miller, caretaker of
insane, and Jail TRUSTEES, to hold him
in his bed where he finally fell asleep.
Last night was the worst Lucas
has had since being confined. Pacing
back and forth, sometimes madly rush
ing about, he would tear at his hair
and mutter and rave incoherently. His
frenZied condition became so bad, ac-
cording to other prisoners, that he
hurled himself head foremost against
the iron door. When examined this
morning there were no marks ON Lu-
cas- head, but bruises on his should
er indicated he might have butted the
Jail door in that manner
This morning he arose at 9 o'clock
and said he felt better. He eats fair.
ly well and was cared for by a physi,
clan today. He talks less irrationally
than yesterday and it is evident that
his condition is somewhat improved.
Believes Lucas insane.
Sheriff Bayer has watched Lucas
closely since his confinement in the
county jail. He states he does not be-
lieve it would be possible for a man
to sham insanity as some of the po-
lice officials believe Lucas is doing.
Lucas talks incoherently and says so
many ridiculous things that, according
to the sheriff it is impossible for any
sane man to act as he does. .-sa.
p ,. Under New Law.
Lucas will be tried under a new
passed by the recent legislature He
will be the first person to be tried
under this law, which provides that
in case a defendant is thought to be
insane at the time of trial or there
is a possibility of his being insane,
any one, shall appoint two physicians
to examine the defendant, and sub
NIT their testimony to the court. He
shall then judge from the testimony
of the physicians whether or not the
defendant has the ability to under.
stand the action being brought against
him.
sufficient comprehension he shall com.
init the defendant to the Indiana Col.
ony of Criminal Insane at Michigan
City. A previous legislature passed an
appropriation for this institution. .'.-
In case the defendant becomes sane
after his confinement there, upon the
certificate of the superintendent of
the institution to that effect, the de.
fendant shall be returned for trial
Formerly there have been many
cases where defendants have pleaded
insanity and were sent to insane hos
pitfalls.
The death penalty will be insisted
upon, the authorities declare, in case
the grand jury returns an indictment
charging murder in the frst degree
An amendment to the law providing
for the death penalty was made my
the last legislature, and provides for
electrocution instead of hanging. 1t
is the belief of some of the local au
thorities that electrocution is a more
humane method.
The amendments to Sections 31O
and 314 made by the last legislature,
read as follows:
Death Penalty.
"The punishment of death prescrib-
ed by law shall be inflicted in. every
case by causing to pass through the
body of convict a current of electric
ity of sufficient intensity to cause
death, and the application and con-
tinuance of such current through the
body of such convict until
such convict is dead The
death penalty shall be inflicted before
the hour of sunrise upon such day
not less than one hundred days after
conviction as the court may adjudge.
The warden of the state prison, or in
case of his death, disability or absence,
mis- deputy, shall be the executioner.
Where Performed.
Section 2. That section 314 of the
above entitled act be amended to read
as follows: Section 314. The execu-
tion shall take place inside the walls
of the Indiana state prison in a room
arranged for that purpose. II shall
be the duty of the warden and the
board of trustees of such prison to
provide the necessary room and appii-
ances to larry out the execution as
provided in this act