Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1919-10-09
yrand.father lost bis mind.

ed since birth.
Walter Chavis, colored, testified to
having hauled lumber with Foster,
and that when a wagon would get
stuck Foster would pull his hair
and cry. w
} Fred H. Wall, merchant of Lilies
vile, testified that Foster bought
goods from him for a small commits
sary and that he wasn't capable of
merchandising; that he would come
to the Wall store and sit by the
stove for hours without speaking;
that he couldn't carry on connect
ed conversation.
V. Dabbs, drug clerk at Lilesville,
testified that Parsons would buy at
whatever price asked; that he
trades like child" and that he
never saw anyone as peculiar as he.
A. N Gilchrist testified that Par
sons told him he had rather have
gin than good whiskey. Saw five
bottles on his person at one time.
Jay Parsons, older brother of Eos
ter, testified as to some of the de-
PENDANTS tradings. Said he rented
two pair of mules by the month to
Foster to take to Durham county.
O. E. Goodwin, who lives at Car
penter, in Wake county, just over
the Durham county line, testified
to some of Fosters mule trades. Said
he sold Foster a pair of mules for
$500 and required no security and
that he had never been paid for
them. That Foster made several
trades and was cleaned up in each
one.
Tony Prince, of Ellington, at the
&aw-mill at Carpenter, testified to
about the same effect.
Boss Little testified to Fosters in
ferior business ability; said he
couldn't figure well; was subject to
crying spells when aggravated;
treated his help o. k. but wound up
his business in Durham worse off
than when he began.
At 4:30 Tuesday afternoon the de-
Tense put DR.. ]. K. Hall on stand.
Dr.. Hall has been in Westbrook
Sanatorium, Richmond, since 1911.
He was raised 70 miles north of
Statesville, a graduate of U. N. C.
and from Jefferson College in 1904;
was connected with the Asylum at
Morganton for several years and has
been closely associated with all
forms and kinds of IDIOTS, weak
minded and insane folks. Belongs
to various medical associations. Has
written articles on mental and
nervous diseases. Was called to
Rockingham several weeks ago by
Attorney Jones, for the defense, tC
examine Parsons. Spent two days
in Jail talking and examining Par
sons. Spent morning of Sept. 18th
lin Jail with him. asked him many
Questions about his early life, ques
tons about his school days, about
current events, gave him examples
in arithmetic, questions in history
etc. Received prompt but disinter
ested replies. On Thursday after
noon he carried stenographer tt
ljail with him to take down questions
and ansWers-a Photographic re
cord of the mans mind, as it were
Answering the question whether
Parsons is crazy at the present time
he gave his opinion that he is. HI
said he judged a mans mental con
dition by his behavior.
DR.. Hall then gave number o.
the questions and answers. For in
stance: Who was Moscs?' Never
heard of him.
How old arc your" "23." "When?'
"On Aug. 25th; was put in Jail or
my birthday"
who is the Governor of this
State and who is the Secretary Of
the Navy?' Il don't know
What State is South of North
Carol ina?" South Carolina
What is East of this State?" 81
don't know"
Where is England?" In France
who was Andrew Jackson?" 81
don't know"
What is Christmas II dom
know Does it mean anything tc
80 F.. r