The Washington times., 1920-06-10
'BORNCRIMINA[
M'HENRY PLEA
Lawyer Declares Slayer Held
Up Store With Gun At
Age Of Five.
CONTINUED from First PAxe.)

CONTINUED from First Paxe.)
from him for ten years. until his ar
rest In Washington.
I'VE intend to place witnesses on
the stand to corroborate these state
ments of McHenry's strange actions.
We Will attempt to prove this boy OF
diseased mind" said Attorney Haw-
ken. "and we will ask the Jury for
verdict which will place him where
society will be protected. and where
he can receive proper medical stsn'
tion.
CosId Not Recall Deeds
'It would be cruel and inhuman TO
punish this boy with death for acts
caused by an insane brain
"All the strange deeds OF this re-
calcitrant boy could not be recalled
by him an hour after they had been
committed"
Attorney Hawken attempted to
show that the McHenry parents. be-
fore he was born were responsible
for his being an abnormal child from
birth. He declared that for severai
months before McHenry's birth his
mother lived in constant dread, ter
ror, and fear because. of the absence
from home of her husband. Austin
Rice, who was at that time In the
pugilistic arena and who was travel.
ling over the United States.
"McHenry was insane from the
cradle" declared his lawyer.
The FIRST witness for the defense
was DR.. Charles b. Jennings, Yale
graduate and for fifty-two years
n school teacher in New London. Conn.
DR.. Jennings said he had McHenry
frequently under his observation dur
ing his school days.
Did Net Like Restraint.
"I noticed that the boy was rest
less and nervous and did not like re-
straint." testified DR.. Jennings. "He
would ask to be permitted to get a
drink of water. leaving the classroom,
and would not return. He would wan
der around aimlessly for hours at a
time.
II think McHenry tried to do what
was right Once or twice 1 saw tears
In his eyes when l encouraged him to
| study and be a good boy. But l came
to the conclusion that the boy did
not have the strength to know the
right from the wrong. The boy didn't
| seem right to me. He was whipped
and otherwise punished, but 1t did no
good. After a while / ordered the
| teachers not to punish him. believing
1t useless"
DR.. Jennings told OF one occasion
' when McHenry drew a revolver in the
ella ssroom, frightening the pupils and
teacher. He said he took the pistol
from the boy.
Claim Family Insanity.
That McHenry's grandmother. Mrs.
Molly Rice, was insane and had de-
| lusions and that these same hallucina- :
1 ko1 Axytd N
in youth. were figures of the testi-
mony of Mrs. Marie Canal Rice.
| mother of the youth. when she took
| the witness stand at noon today.
George (meaning her SOM, imag-
| ined that people were chasing him.
| Mrs. Rice said. 81 remember par
| ticularly one time when I went into
his room at midnight and found him
| dressing to go out.
81 asked him what was the matter
| and he said he couldn't sleep for the
terrible pains in his head. On other
occasions l would find him getting
ready to run away and 1 would ask
him why he was going, and he would
reply that people were chasing him.
Told Of Sons Life.
Mrs. Rice reviewed the history Of
her son from birth until the time he
left home. She told of the circum-
stances Of his birth and practically
corroberated the statements made by
Attorney Hawkin in his opening ad-
dress as to the boys uncomfortable
| impulse to run away, strike children
| without provocation, carry revolyers
ride about town on horseback. and
his refusal to study or concentrate
himself on any worthy thing. She
said she had not heard of him for
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