The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-28
SAYS HE'S SANE
ThOs. Lamb Fights for Free.
dom From Asylum.
Wife and Supt. Biddle Against
and Two Doctors for Him.

A desperate battle over the state OF
q mans mind is being fought in the
probate court. Thomas ]. Lamb, ex-
mayor of Michigan City, N. D., and
former confidential man to United
States Senator Roach, is pleading for
his rights of citizenship. He has been
confined in the state hospital for the
insane since last October. Lamb is the
son of a sea captain who left fortune
of $4,000 to his wife in Lawrence.
A written opinion filed by DR.. T. c.
Biddle. superintendent Of the hospital.
states that Lamb is a paranoiac of the
incurable type. A communication
ent of the government hospital at
Washington, declares, I'VE saw no evil
dence of insanity in Lamb, and drop
ped him not insane"
According to the prosecuting coun-
sci, evidence will be introduced to
show that Lamb was dangerous at
large; that he was a menace to the
safety of his wife and sons, with whom
he lived on his mothers farm in Doug
las county; that his wife was obliged
to use a code OF telephone signals to
protect herself: when she called
town friend and said. II haven't the
magazine you promised to send me"
the friend understood that officers
deputies were dispatched at once. Evil
dence. the attorney declared, would
further show that Lamb had hurled
an axe, a pitchfork and lighted lamp
at his two young sons.
Doctors Say He Is Sane.
Lamb was adjudged insane at the
probate court in Douglas county. and
sent to. the hospital in Topeka on
October II. 1913. According to DR..
Biddle the man is suffering from
mental ahnormality accentuated py
excessive alcoholic indulgence" Ad-
R-v@ hut
emphatically denying the charge of
insanity. Lamb filed in the probate
court petition to be declared of sound
mind. hearing to take place with jury
The trial began today
DIR. Mills ard DIR. Van Horn. the
first witnesses for Lamb. took the
stand this morning and declared, hav-
ing made private examination of an
hours duration. that, in their opinion,
Lamb was not insane.
History of Case.
An interesting history of the case,
in the possession of j. B. Larimer.
Lambs attorney, states that he was
the son of a Great Lake sea captain.
who left $4,000 to his widow. with
Instructions to provide for the four
younger of his IS children, of which
the patient was one. Among them are
banker. lawyer, and two Catholic
nuns who have taken the veil. When
he was 90 years old. Lamb was elected
mayor of Michigan City. n. D., re-
signing to become confidential man to
Senator Roach in Washington. He
acted in this capacity for IL years.
When he was 26 he married and has
two sons. IA and 16 years old, attend
ing the Lawrence high school. At the
time he was committed to the asylum.
the information states. he was 43
years old and earning $500 year
on his mothers farm
he ,, 10 hot I'M
tanned by his brothers, who were an
gered at his marriage with a Catholic
and at his political work against the
Democrats. he declares.
Lamb was committed to the North
Dakota state hospital for IS days in
March. 1912. his brothers. E. A. Lamb
and G. F. Lamb acting as complain
ants. He has been in two private hos
pitfalls, once voluntarily and once at
the instigation of his brother and three
officers. He was Immediately re-
leased.
Mrs. Lamb Thinks He's insane
Counsel for Mrs. Thomas Lamb,
who swore out the warrant charging
her husband with insanity. declared
to the jury that Lambs lack Of men
tality was emphatically demonstrated
before his trial in Lawrence by the
fact that he would sell stock, or get
money in any way, to sign bonds for
unknown prisoners in the police sta
ton Counsel then told of Lambs al
legged mistreatment of his wife.
A crowd of witnesses has been sub
poenaed to the probate court. T. F.
Doran, of the firm of Ferry, Doran and
Dean. and Henry Asher Of Lawrence
are handling the prosecution. Lamb
is represented by J. B. Larimer and
8. p. Mold. The jury is composed of
A. A. Rodgers, w. s. Stevenson, Carl
Nellis and DIR. Pettyjohn.
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