The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-06-23
LUCAS IS ADJUDGED
INSANEI TO Be SENT
TO INSANE COLONY
Physicians Declare That
Murderer is Not Feign-
ing Insanity.
HE MAY BE RETURNED
To This County for Trial in
Case His Condition
Improves.
HE MAY BE RETURNED

Seth Lucas, confessed murderer of
his wife, Mary Ann Lucas. was ad-
judged insane by Judge Fox this morn
ing in the Wayne circuit court after
hearing the testimony submitted by
DR.. T. H. Davis and DR.. w. l.. Meisner,
the commission appointed to examine
the prisoner.
According to the statements of the
physicians Lucas mental condition is
such that he would be incapable of
comprehending the nature of the
charge against him. that of first de-
gree murder An indictment charg.
ing him with murder was returned by
the April term grand jury.
Condition Pitiable.
Lucas was brought into the court
room today. Previous to his cofine-
ment in the Jail he was we'll groomed.
His condition this morning was almost
pitiable. He hobbled into the court
working shirt and seemed barely able
to walk. He continually tried to raise
his left arm which is now paralyzed.
After seating himself he placed his
elbow on his knee and resting his
chin on his hand gazed blankly about
the court room. His attorney shook
hands with him and talked a few min
coherently and only a few words he
said could be understood.
The examination of the physicians
was heard in open court. The exami-
nation was conducted by Attorney Will
Bond and the witnesses cross examin-
ed by the prosecutor. A statement
was made by Mr.. Bond to the court
petitioning that Lucas be temporarily
sent to some institution where he
could be treated. I find that the de-
fendant is incapable of understanding
the nature of the charges against him
after talking with him this morning,
said Mr.. Bond.
Cannot Comprehend Charge.
The following statement was made
to the court by DR.. Davis: II have
made five visits to the county jail
seeking to ascertain the mental con-
dition of Seth Lucas. The last was
on the morning of June %, 1918.
judge him to be insane and incapable
of comprehending the nature of the
proceedings of the court and incompe-
tent to advise as to his defense.
1T is difficult to fix a standard of
sanity, but it may be said that a CO.
ordination exists between the will, in.
teuect and emotions termed sanity.
There are shades of disordered minds
fuctuating between sanity and insan-
ity creating a twilight condition where
exact comprehension is incomplete or
absent.
This represents the condition OF
Seth Lucas. He has no lucid intervals
but remission where an appeal to a
special mental weakness may meet a
response that is seemingly normal.
''In my opinion Lucas will not be
able to comprehend the charges
against him within a course of five or
six months. His condition is the re-
suit of brooding and mental agitation.
l know he is not feigning insanity.
DR. Meisner's testimony was similar
to Dr. Davis He also stated that
Lucas would be able to comprehend
the nature Of the charges against him
within a few months.
DIR. Markley also testified that the
prisoner was mentally deranged.
Judge Fox said he would probably ap-
point the Dickinson Trust company as
guardian of his estate which consists
of a bank account of less than $4,000
and a farm near Williamsburg. He
will be taken to Michigan City within
a few days and will probably be sent
Thursday The charge to the institu-
ton was drawn by the court this
afternoon. This is the first case heard
under the statute passed by the state
legislature governing prisoners who
are insane Lucas will probably be
returned to Richmond for trial as soon
as his condition improves.
Burned Her Alive.
Lucas murdered his wife on the
night OF September %, 1912. He
struck her with a billy and then pour
ed coal oil on her clothing and applied
& match to her clothing, while she was
still living. Mrs. Lucas, according TO
the uxoricide's written confession,
pleaded for her life and blew out the
first match He then struck another
match and the woman was cremated.
h,rrpa1 ra tho ground