New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-11
Morbid Meditation

"A private who served under Colonel
Rutherford said on one occas sion the
hospital was shelled while the colonel
was operating on a case. One she'll
blew out the lights, which were relit
by the colonel, who also helped to
move all the effects. He did not stop
until the work was done. In August
1917, while the witness was dressing
the colonel's eczema Colonel Ruther-
ford made remark to him to the cf-
feet that he had several times thought
OF shooting himself while in England.
Major Barnsley Allen, V. CD. S. O..
who also served under Colonel Ruther-
ford, gave instances of prisoner get
ting into fury After these out
bursts he seemed suddenly to stop, and
would put his head In his hands and
say nothing further. Answering Mr..
Rigby Swift, he said Colonel Ruther
ford was not, in his opinion, an en-
tirely normal man.
Another military witness smoke Of a
TALL prisoner had from his horse. when
ne turned a complete somersault and
alighted on his head.
lieutenant Ma!nwaring White. of
the X. A. M. c., an old college friend of
the prisoners, and who shared rooms
with him, said he remembered that in
1870 Colonel Rutherford became en-
gagged to the lady he subsequently,
married During that engagement
there was an incident which he had al
ways remembered. Colonel Rutherford
was visited by his fancee in Edin-
ourgh, and on certain Sunday the
question was mooted of going out for
walk. Colonel Rutherford said he did
not wish to go for walk. Witness
said, oh, I will co. so he went for
walk with Colonel Rutherford's fiancee.
he supposed they were out about an
hour, and on their return Colonel
Rutherford was extremely angry with
her, and evidently had shown a most
abnormal jealousy. He was his great
est friend there, and there was abso-
luteiy no reason for that outburst or
Tor that jealousy. Afterward he was
morose and depressed.
Or Hyslop, late senior physician
at bethlem Hospital and a specialist
IN mental diseases, said he had seen
colonel rutherford some eight or nine
times since his arrest. He had coma
to the conclusion that he was of un-
sound mind and understanding, both
on January Is and to-day Giving his
reasons for this. DR.. Hyslop said there
was, first of all, evidence of mental
instability in the family, as shown
by his aunt, who had died in an asy
lum. With regard to Colonel Ruther-
lord himself, evidence had been given
that early in life he showed himself
TO be subject to subconscious activities.
many children suffered from night
terrors and bad dreams and night
mares, but only extremely nervous
people suffered from somnambulism.
There was evidence that Colonel Ruth
erford suffered from all these things.
de had obtained statement from him.
showing that he had similar occurrences
up to as late as December Of last wear
In France he had an extremely vivid
dream. with Authorizations Of so defi-
mite character that he got up and
walked in his sleep"
At this point DR.. Hyslop told Of
Colonel Rutherford's dream Of kill
ing Major Seton. The account con-
tinues:
As q Child
witness said that Colonel Ruther-
lord came to believe, in spite of re-
assurances to the contrary. that both
he and his father were SUFFERING from
acromegaly. His mind was evidently
not In condition to receive evidence
insomnia, witness agreed with counsel.
was ono OF the most common causes Of
mental instability and insanity. The
evidence showed that Immediately after