The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-03-28
WOMAN WAS TEMPORARILY INSANE AND is
NOW PERFECTLY NORMAL SAYS PHYSICIAN.
SAYS SHE WAS FAR FROM NORMAL WHEN SHE
MADE CONFESSION AT HOSPITAL
STATE ISSUES CALL FOR TEN OF C0UNTY'S MOST
PROMINENT MEN TO OBSERVE WOMAN.

.
nat may Be classified as confessional.
;hysterical or emotional was the state OF
mind Of Mrs. Margaret Smith Clator on
Saturday, February IS. when she killed
,he1 husband. said DR.. .. A. McGreSor.
mrs. C1a4oeS personal physician. while
ON the stand as the first witness for the
defense yesterday.
DIT. McGresor took the stand shortly
after nine O'Clock. at which hour the
state announced that the prosecution
rested He remained on an day, under
going "a lengthy technical e1au11natou
that brought forth evidence which II
VIM free Mrs C1ator Of all responsibility
for the homicide
Dr.. McGreEor said that after q
months observation Of MIS- Gator he
achieved her. san on the the day OF
She tragedy, but sane now. He said he
believed her insane on the day OF
tackled her with razor and that her
husband cut her, when she raised her
arm. He believed also her story thar
her husband e1acted from her promise
to take her own life and told the jury
that she had Informed him that she had
similarly planned suicide three years
ago.
Excited By Jealousy.
-She was emotionalry excited by jea1-
pusy- said the physician. Tier case IS a
remarkable one. Within the past month
her mind. not a we'll developed or edu-
rcated one, has changed under ooserva-
'tion. At first she appeared stupid. in
coherent and Illogical. Later she worked
az best her mind could to recall ano
reason out all details Of the tragedy and
YeUsos,ed plausfbly EenfcrSe. SorroT
and apprehension have awakened her
mind and today it is as keen as such
mentality ia capable Of being.
throughout my entire observation
sha only said one thing that was without
some foundation. She had the idea that
somebody would accuse her or ktlllnR
her two children, when as a matter OF
fact her children are alive and unharm-
ed.
Jealousy, passion and anger coupled
with tho experienced OF that day unoal-
errced her mind and caused the tragedy
She Is WOMAN Of medium or low grade
Of mentality and could not have under
the circumstances controlled herself.
As. soon as Doctor McGregor made
these accusations the state summoned
DIS. E Z. Arrnbrecht. Charles Wlnger-
ter. F. l. Hupp. Gregory Alderman.
James Schwinn ". S. Fulton. ]. T..
Marschner J. r. Caldwell. William era
craft and Carl U1fert These doctors at
tended the afternoon session and sat in
ten chairs behind Mrs. C1ator and OBJ
served her.
Tia Doctors Testimony.
= She was then moved to q ward?
Yes.
was he, mental condition then clear?
It was not.
j, Did you see her later:
!: Yes, a few minutes later in the room
Was anyone else there?
Yes. several men
How long did it take to change
clothes?
Five minutes
Was she normal and Quie2
- was Not NORMAL
She was not by any means normal.
but. on the contrary, was in stupor
or excited state.
Did you leave?
7 did The gentlemen present wished
10 talk to her.
s.. The doctor examined tho defendant In
the presence OF the jury and exhibited
her injuries. She was held up BY one
Of her counsel. Allan Garden
Self-Detense Lost
. Mr.. Handlan tried to ask the doctor
II some of her cuts. could have been in
ficted by a blow at her head with
razor. This was the first attempt TO
prove or even suggest self-defense. The
states objection was sustained.
Did you talk to her on Saturday!
, With very little success. Her CON
yersation was rambling and incohcreo'-
She was too nervous to be worried
When did you next see her:
Sunday. about noon.
What condition was she in?
Calner, but still talking incoherently.
Did you Try to talk to- her?
Yes. but not with any succesa-
When did you next sec her7
T visited her daily.
How long was It before you got a
story from herr
never got full. connected story.
Her memory was deficient Her men
Tell the jury what she told you.
She told different things at dtnEers
A debate between counsel followed
shis question and the jury was enriud'
"a from the court room. The state
ensrred that the defendan. had not
pleaded self-defcnse. and unless she
does evidence such as Is called forh
hy Mr.. Hapdlan's questions is SELF
defense and improper.
Tho court ruled that the Testimony
might go in only to establish the SANITY
Of the defendant at Inc llulc Sne le~N'H
to the doctor and 70 states attorneys
and deputy shcrifts. The defense -cS-
eeptel to tho ruling
Now doctor. tell US what she said
She said they had been quarreling
that her husband had been intoxicated
numerous times just prevtous to the
tragedy and on the night just previous
Once ne fpndled and careSsed her. An
tother time repulsed her and tauntro
her with an expression, I'll get you
He had exacted promise from her tc
suicide. that her death was the ono best
nav out Of lawsuit TO De !nSttut"c
Sxainet htrn. She had made up her minc
70 kill herself He did not oppose h"r
intentions. Saturday morning. shf
said relations wcrc extremely strained
NShe could not recall all that transptred
She set about to prepare his meal. then
she told two stories.
She said. I'm sure I cut myself first
going upstairs
Later she said her husband seized tn'
razor and made a pass 1T h"r. and ShF
threw up her hands and was cut thai
way. She told me that moro than once
and apparently forgot her oristna
statement. She forgot several points
she told earlier.
Once told her of that and she said
Maybe you know better than know II.
She had been trying TO get 4 connected
story in her mind