The Washington herald., 1913-07-19
MRS. PRALL Sane,
ALIENIST CLAIMS
Dr.. H. H. Humphries Declares
Woman Is Not Suffering
from Delusions.
DANGER NOT APPARENT
Dr.. B. G. Logic and Representative
Graham Of Illinois Also Give :
Testimony.

Denying every contention of the gov
eminent that Mrs. Elizabeth c. Pran is
Of unsound mind and disputing every
theory and argument advanced by Dr.
d. Percy Hickling. expert alienist. te
prove this fact. DR.. H. H. Humphries. a
noted alienist, formerly Of the New York
State Hospital for the Insane. yesterday
declared before a jury in Justice Gould 8
court that Mrs. Prall is not suffering
from delusion and Is a sane woman.
DR. B. R. Logic, alienist of the Dis
trict, testified that Mrs. Prall is a par
anoiac, but that she Is not dangerous
and that the lives Of Justice Anderson
and Wright. whom she Is alleged to have
threatened. were in no danger in his
opinion.
No Direct Threats.
Mrs Emma Prall Knorr, at whose
instance the arrest Of Mrs. Prall on a
that no direct threats against ser life
had been made by her sister-in-law, but
claimed to be afraid OF her.
Being cross-examined by Attorney Hay
den johnson, counsel for Mrs Knorr,
DIR. HUMPHREYS said that If Mrs. Prall
had uttered any threats she had no in
tention Of hurting anybody. He denied
emphatically. however, that she made
threats. and also denied that she was
suffering from delusion, and was. there
fore. 4 paranoiac. DR.. HUMPHREYS admit
ted that Mrs. Prall may have made an
error of judgment in the views and opin-
ions she had formed of certain matters
and people connected with her litigation.
Witness did not think it unusual to con-
suit Congressman or Senators, and even
the President, on matters Of private in
terest. and said it was done almost
every day.
The court proceedings, as carried on by
Mrs. Prall in connection with the prose-
cution of her suit, were sane. according
TO Dr. HUMPHREYS. who. however. admit
ted that they may not have been Alto
gether proper.
DIR. HUMPHREYS said his expenses in
connection with his presence in Wash
ington to appear for Mrs. PraI had not
been guaranteed or paid; that he came
here because of the interest he was TAX
ing in her case, and that he did not
know whether he would ever be paid for
his services.
Il cannot see that this women is
source of danger to any one" said DR..
B. r. Logic. alienist for the District,
but I cannot conclude otherwise than
that she is a paranoiac" He comment
ed on the language contained in her court
briefs and records and said they de-
noted mental-trouble.
Mrs. knorr. a sister-in-law Of Mrs.
Pral. told of the family feud on the
witness stand. She told how Mrs Prall
always had "a look of hatred and fire.
quently "a wild expression in her eyes"
when they met. and declared that she
was afraid of her. IF she is insane I
feel sorry for her and pity her. but II
She is not. then / cannot feel kindly
toward her." said the witness.
LocIs-mith Wa. Used.
Mrs. Knorr alleged that Mrs. Prall had
taken locksmith to her house. 9lS Ave
nue. of the Presidents, and had key
made to fit the lock on the front door
She said she then had a heavy bolt
placed on the inside of the door to pro-
tect herself, but that on one occasion
she found the door had been forced and
had suspected Mrs. Prall She admitted
that she had never heard Mrs. Prall
make any threats against her.
Representative James NJ. Graham Of
Illinois, who testified in behalf of Mrs
Prall. related how she came to him and
asked for legal advice abou. the Iitiga-
ton and how he had referred her to
certain law books. He said he was "ab-
solutely amazed at the -:ay she learned
the law. DO you mean to pass as a
legal authority" queried Attorney White.
assistant corporation counsel. well.
practiced law thirty years. and was a
member of the House Judiciary Commit |
tee he replied. Witness said he be-
lieved that Mrs. Prall was sane and |
had never even thought of questioning |
her mental condition. although he said |
she showed some mental intensity in |
a number of conversations she had with |
him.
Miss Gladys Knorr testified to the fact |
that her two aunts were still alive. !
The ring will he continued Monday