The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-04
FRIENDS DECLARE HOLT
MUST BE UNBALANCED

Ithaca, ~. Y, July 3 utterly at a
loss to account for any motive con-
sistent with his character, habits,
mode of life and method of thought.
mbers OF the German department
at Cornell University and other pro-
fessors, who were acquainted with
him, agreed tonight that Frank Holt
the Cornell graduate student and in
structor, who shot j. p. Morgan at
Glen Cove. l. r.. today, must have
been mentally unbalanced TO commit
such crime. Hollis act is so in
consistent with the man these profess
sors knew and liked that they cannot
believe that he was in his normal
though no one can be found here who
noticed anything peculiar or IRA
tional about the man before he left
for New York city.
The one important incident that has
come to light which bears on the
question of his sanity Is that he left
rather suddenly and that he failed to
send to the registrar of the university
and to the head OF his department,
Professor A. B. Faust. the list of
marks made by the students of one
of his classes in the final examina-
lions early in June. AS Holt was a
methodieal man his failure to send in
the marks is regarded here with con-
siderable significance. Outside OF this
fact his colleagues and friends. Pro-
fessors Faust. Beesche. Pope and lin
necker, are unable to recall a single
incident showing him to be laboring
under great strain or emotion. or
any other evidence Of mental trouble.
Holt was a quiet. reserved, almost
reticent sort of man. uncommunica-
at n kxr \ Id
queer and peculiar. For instance, he
would on occasions apparently ignore
direct questions that were put to him.
paying no attention TO them, Thus
efforts on the part of his colleagues
to learn facts about his parentage of
his place of birth were ignored.
Another strange feature OF the case
Is that. though like almost all the
members of the German department.
Holt sympathized with Germany in
the European war. his discussion of
the war was far more moderate, con-
tanned and rational than that of some
of the other members of the depart
ment. and pronounced pro-ally SYM
pathizers in the faculty said tonight
that they regarded him as the most
reasonable man of all OF the teach
ers of German, Although he. earnest
ly and with force upheld the German
side. he did not create any bitter ami
mostly such as has been engendered
by other members of the German
faculty.
Holt was more or less indignant
over the expectation of arms from
this country to the Allies. and he firm
ly believed the Government of the
United States should forbid these
shipments.
Another factor that may have some
bearing on the question OF sanity is
the fact that up until three months
ago Holt had been working very
hard. subjecting himself to a great
physical and mental strain. while
completing the thesis that won for
him the degree of doctor of phiioso-
ply. awarded at the commencement
exercises two weeks ago. Not only
had Holt worked night and day on
his thesis, but he taught several
classes OF Cornell students. and at
times added to his income by tutor
ing boys In preparatory schools here.
Holt was a man of good habits and
there has been no stain on his life.
since he came to ithaca.