Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-22
Little Time Lost in Reaching
Verdict, Following Charge
by the Court.
PHYSICIANS NOT AGREED
AS TO HER CONDITION
Justice Gould Tells Jurors Laws
Definition of Insanity Must
Be Their Guide,

Mrs Elizabeth c. Prall is free The
jury which has been hearing testimony
for several days as to her mental con-
dtion promptly declared her to be of
sound mind shortly after the case had
been submitted to it by Justice Gould
today
When the court had directed her re-
lease from custody Mrs. Prall thanke
each of the Jurors. shaking hands with
them and expressing her delight at thd
verdict. Many friends crowded around
Mrs. Prall and showered their con-
gratulations upon her.
The return of the verdict caused no
demonstration, as the general impress
sion in the audience was that the re-
spondent would not be held.
Arguments of Counsel.
Arguments were made to the jury by
Assistant Corporation Counsel White and
Attorney Clifford C. Roberts of New
York. Attorney White urged that the
testimony showed Mrs. Prall to be a
paranoiac. He pointed out the three
stages of that disease of the mind and
claimed the evidence showed Mrs. PraIl
to be I'm the third or last stage The first
stage in the progress. he stated, was
when the delusion did not influence the
conduct of the patient.
When the patient sought to flee from
or avoid the persons whom she thought
were prosecuting her. she had reached
the second stage. The conclusive evidence
of paranOia Is shown in the attack,
whether accompanied by violence or not,
counsel stated. He claims the attack was
shown in the present case by the at
tempted removal of Justice Anderson by
Impeachment or indictment, and finally
by the threats.
Mr. White told the jurors the test to be
applied by them in determining the men,
tai condition of Mrs. Prall was what YER
dict the jurors would have returned IL
Mrs. Prall should have killed Justice An
derson. They probably would have found
even without leaving the jury box. At
torney White suggested that Mrs, Prall
was not responsible for the killing.
Attorney Roberts. on behalf of Mrs.
Prall. insisted that no evidence that she
offered. DR.. Hickling alone testified I'm
that regard. and he gave as his opinion
that she might become dangerous.
The other alienists. including DR.. Logic,
District official. denied that she is dan
gerOus. Mr.. Roberts considered the prose-
cution by Mrs. Prall OF her own case in
the Court Of Appeals as one of the most
remarkable things in his experience. He
Sdlu lie COnSiOcTeQ tndL she ndu ODIdIneQ
valuable win when she secured the
amendment of the decree of the lower
court
Counsel Scores Mrs. Knorr.
Counsel scored Mrs. Emma Prall Knorr
as the instigator of the proceedings be-
cause she is opposed to the claim of Mrs.
Prall In the real estate in controversy.
Mr.. Roberts pointed out that neither
Justice Wright nor Justice Anderson had
considered his life in danger, since neither
appeared to testify in the proceeding.
Her lawyer suggested that since Mrs.
Prall had shown no violence when placed
under the greatest possible prOvocatiOn
in being deprived of her liberty it is by
no means likely that she would ever be-
come violent.
Justice Gould. in charging the jury,
gave 1T the laws definition of insanity.
which, he pointed out, Is different from
the view entertained by doctors. The real
test under the law. the court pointed out,
is whether within the delusional field
the patient knows the nature of his act,
can distinguish whether 1t be right or
wrong, and has sufficient control of his
will.
Justice Takes a Hand.
After Assistant Corporation Counsel
White had concluded his cross-exam-
afternoon Justice Gould took a hand
granting clause in the deed by which
the elder Mr.. Prall transferred his
property for the benefit of his children
ana prospective grandchildren, and
asked the witness what she understood
1t to mean. Mrs. Prall promptly re-
sponded that the deed had been incor-
rectly interpreted by the courts, and
insisted that she is entitled to the
whole estate because her son was the
first-born grandchild and the fee SIM
pie had vested in him and by his death
! in her husband, who had transferred it
to her by his will
There's been nothing but fraud be-
fore the court right along you know
that Judge" said Mrs. Prall "You know
you can't divide fee simple
Witness was then asked by Justice
Gould If. in the event that her case were
taken TO the Supreme Court Of the United
States and it's justices should affirm the
opinions of the lower courts. she would
hoid that the decision was wrong. With.
out moments hesitation she declared
that 1t would be wrong. The justice then
asked her If all the courts in the world
We're to decide against her. according tc
her idea OF the law, would she consider
them all wrong. and she promptly de-
clared she would.
Thinks Court Friendly.
Indulgently. Justice Gould inquired II
Mrs. Prall did not consider him friendly
TO her, and X she did not have confidence
In him. When the witness had Responded
In the affirmative, the court said:
well, then. II l should decide against
you, would you say that 1 was wrong?"
II You could convince me that you had
decided according to the law, then l
would agree with you" was the answer.
But there Is no law on which you could
decide against me-"
Then You think that there is no law
that would let any court decide any way
except for your" the justice asked
Il do" she declared
DR.. II. r. Humphries the New York
alienist. who had testified that Mrs.
Prall may be deluded. but is not a para
nioac, was recalled by Justice Gould to
the witness stand and the justice
| asked II the physician after hearing
the testimony of Mrs. Prall had altered
his opinion as to her mental condition
Experts View Unchanged.
| When the physician declared his opin-
ion remained as given in his testimony
the court asked him to repeat the ex-
perience he had in treating mental dis
orders. DR.. Humphries gave the names
OF the hospitals and institutions in
New YORK state with which he has been
| connected.
| Justice Gould asked him IL a fixed de-
fusion Is not characteristic Of a para