The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-18
ALIENIST TELLS
JURY MRS. PRALL
IS PARANOIAC
Dr.. D. Percy Kicking Says
She b Suffering from
Exaggerated Ego.
QUESTIONED By LAWYER
Csart Clerk Says Wsnan, b Csssss
# ceavsssates, 1hrsatsasd b
XIII Justice Andssssa.
QUESTIONED BY LAWYER

That Mrs Elisabeth C.. Prall 10 the
possessor Of an exaggerated ego likely At
any time to render her dangerous and .
menace to society was declared ysstsr-
day by DR.. d. Percy Hickling. expert
alienist. before jury in Justice oouid's
court which 10 to decide whether Mrs.
Prall is Of sound or unsound mind.
DR.. Hickling based his conclusions on
various statements and actions OF Mrs.
Prall, and expressed the opinion that
had the means been at hand, she would
have carried out her threat some time
ago to shoot Justice Anderson. The
physician explained that Mrs. Prall was
obsessed with q single idea-that of Sc
curing the property she had been fighting
for-and declared that the centering OF
all her thought upon this one thing was
likely to cause her at any moment to
do violence to those opposing her In the
struggle.
DR.. Hickling technically termed the
afiiction 'paranoia and delusion."
Mrs. Prall was arrested several
weeks ago at the instance of Mrs.
Emma Prall Knorr. her sister in-law.
on q charge Of disorderly conduct. In
connection with a demand for rent
money Mrs. Prall alleged was due her
from Mrs. Knorr. Subsequently Mrs.
Prall was committed to the Washing
ton Asylum Hospital because Of alleged
threats against the litiganta and Jus
tice Anderson, and was later removed
to the Government Hospital for the In
sane.
Paranoia. according to the diction-
AIRY, means mental arrangement espe-
cially when marked by delusions OF
grandeur" and delusion is diagnosed
as meaning false impression or opinion
especially as symptom or form Of mad
ness.
Read. fro.: Her writings.
Having read to the court and jury
some Of the writings and legal papers
drawn up by Mrs. Prall. DR.. Hickling
pointed out the various words and pas
sages denoting paranoia and delusion.
Mrs. Prall. who sat in front of the
jury, directly facing Mr.. Hickling. ap-
peared calm throughout the hearing.
and frequently displayed amusement
at the statements of DR.. Hickling. Mrs.
Knorr and her daughter Gladys occu-
pied seats among the audience. In the
rear part of the courtroom. which was
crowded.
Basing his opinion on the observations
he made of Mrs. PralL DR.. Hicklins
said he thought that in her condition OF
mind she would in time become danger
Gus. He said her attitude Is one Of az
gressive action. He admitted that Mrs,
Prall is an extremely bright woman. but
| insisted that In this one idea she ID un-
questionably insane, and that she IL suf-
| fering from paranoia.
Attorney Clifford c. Roberts. OF New
York. representing Mrs. Prali. wanted
to know what idea that was, and DR.
| Kicking said Mrs. Prall had an ides
she had a right to the property In dues
ton and that the court should give Il
| to her. and the fact that the court hat
not done so makes her think the cour'
Is conspiring against her.
| Because Mrs. Pran took the case Il
| court herself and felt confident that sh'
could handle 1t herself. and because sh'
thought her opinion was as good. OF
better. than the judges. and because sh'
| believed she was absolutely right ih th'
premises, DR.. Hickling told the jury tha
she Is suffering from an exaggcratef
self-esteem, and because Mrs. Pral sa.t
she would be her own lawyer. DR.. Hick
| ling said she was suffering from an ex
| age .rsted ego and was therefore IT I'm
sound mind. Continuing to describe he
case, DR.. Hickling said he was convinced
that she was suffering from an exagger
ated ego when he considered her abnor
4 maj fudnntIt anu ochoNiobo. oS"Ae eS0S>
| by DR.. Roberts to specify or illustrate
her abnormal behaviour and manner, DR.
Hickling said it was his general impres
sion. but he failed to specify single IN
stances.
Dcmandc Rent in Person.
! Another fact which impressed DR.. Hick
ling as a sure sign that Mrs. Prall wal
Of unsound mind. was the fact that sh'
made her demand for the rent alleged 4
be due from Mrs. Knorr In person. In
stead Of intrusting her business to law
yer DR.. Hickling said he never heart
of such q thing; that It was unusual
showing a deranged mind.
It was admitted by DR.. Hickling thai
| the proceedings were instituted agains
Mrs Prall by those who are opposed t.
her in the litigation Of the property. ant
he said he had made no examination Of
her since June Is. He admitted that HI
never heard her making any threats. bu
added that she would be dangerous II
time, as her mental attitude toward hei
delusion would make her SO. Referring
back to the general statement that para
noiacs are dangerous. DR.. Hickling, upor
close questioning by Attorney Roberts
admitted that all paranoiacs are not dan
gerous, and that. In fact. there IL clas'
| Of paranoics who shun danger and wan
to get away from those who they imagine