The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-04
Impression Strong That
Youth Will Be Ad-
judged Insane Late
This Afternoon
STATES LAST
WITNESS HEARD
II Lad Is Declared of Unsound MI.
He Probably Will Be Sent to Far.
view Hospital and Escape Trial on
Murder Charge

whether Edward G. Smith now is
sane and able to make rational do.
tense to the charge of murdering his
grandfather, John Z. Bush. at Inole.
NOOK on December II, last-a crims
tor which he stands indicted-u,;u h.,
decided late to-day by the special
criminal court jury which for five dovs
mas conducted an inquiry before .Judgs
McCarrell. 'uoSo
Inc state s last witness. DIR. Tbomos
o. bialr, an alienist, who said tho a.'
cused now is sane, left the stand 81
.ne Glose OF the morning session and
the County Prosecutor. as well as com
sci Tor The accused both said the case
would ilkely y be turned over to the mrv
late this afternoon. ''
rms morning court attaches and
spectators who have heard nroct;caliy,
al OF the testimony were nredict;n,
the probable decision of the iurv. Tho
OPINION was almost unanimons that
smith will be declared insane and that
MS counsel thereupon would make a
motion to have hir, sent to the Stata
Hospital for the Insane in Farview pa
Sueh decision would remove the
posslolhty of a trial for the murder of
the grandfather, Bush. so LONG as
Smiths s mental condition remains the
same as now. However, if he is held
10 be insane, is placed in an institution
ior such untortanates and his reason is
restored through treatment. he then
VIII be compelled to stand trial for the
alleged murder.
Scott Trial to Ho,,o K~..4
Upon the decision of the jury in this
present special inquiry, court attaches
say, hangs the probable length of the
present continued term of criminal
court. District Attorney Stroup il
planning to go right ahead with ali un.
trled cases, plan which, it is be-
heved, Will mean continuing the court
term for at least one more week and
probably two.
II Smith is found TO be sane and
able to make a rational defense to the
murder change it is not believed that
his trial on that issue will be begun at
once. The case of Robert f. Scott. the
city patrolman charged with numbering
eolored man in the Eighth ward. it is
said, will be opened Immediately after
the present hearing
Judge McCarrel who has ofliciated
in the present Smith inquiry, will in all
probability take charge of the Scott
trial. Judge Albert w. johnson. of
the Union-Snyder judicial circuit, who
has been holding court here this week,
will not be here next week, so he an.
nouneed from the bench this morning.
and the District Attorney at noon to-
day said he is unable to say whether
another visiting Judge will be called
in.
DR.. McKinniss Cross Examined
DR.. c. r. McKinniss, one of the
alienists who had testified in behalf Of
the accused, was this morning called to
the stand on cross examination. In his
original testimony he said Smith is suf-
fering from dementia precox, a form Of
insanity. To-day he declared positively
that it would be impossible for the ac-
eused to feign that particular type of
insanity without being informed before
hand just how such subjects act.
DIR. Blair the State s alienist. this
morning said that Smith is suffering
from a mental inaccessibility-7a form
of dementia precoX-and that affiiction
makes it difficult for him to confer in
telligently with his counsel; but, DR..
Blair added, Smith is able to make a
defense to a criminal charge.
The District Attorney and John Fox
Weiss, of counsel for the accused, had
verbal tilts that frequently caused the
spectators to laugh. Mr.. Weiss many
times interrupted the witness, DIR. Blair,
objecting to what he considered Cir
relevant testimony The remarks
passed between counsel undoubtedly
were friendly but they did not al
ways lack touch of ridcule.