The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1921-06-10
EXPERTS DECLARE
PEACOCK SUFFERS
FORM OF INSANITY
DIR. ANDERSON TESTIFIES
Defense Declares Hereditary
Insanity Runs Through
Peacock Family. State
: Brings Out Fact While Rel
atives Were Feebleminded
Peacock Was Brilliant.

Lexington, June 9.-Dr. Alber
Anderson, superintendent of thu
state hospital for the insane, Raleigh
testifying here yesterday afternoon
declared that in his opinion DR.. ]
W. Peacock, now on trial charged
with the murder of Chief of Police
J. E. Taylor, of Thomasville, Apri
Is, is at present an insane mana
paranoiac. While there we're g
number of medical men called during
the day, DR.. Anderson was the first
to equality as an expert. Clyde Hoey
for the state, put the alienist through
a gruelling cross-examination, draw.
ing from him the admission that he
has in his life time sworn at least
four men, charged with murder, in
sane. Heated debates broke out be-
tween opposing attorneys from time
to time whilo 49, c'-,lhv lawyer was
popping question after question in
rapidfire fashion at the evpert. Two
more experts, DR.. James X. Hall, of
Westbrook sanitarium at Richmond,
Va, and DR.. Isaac Taylor, of Nor
canton. will testify upon the conven-
ing of court tomorrow morning at
$3.50 o'clock.
The days session was featured by
the testimony of medical men an
swering hypothetical questions
principally. DR.. Anderson thought
that in the event the jury should find
that Peacock, in bad health and Ia
boring under the impression that
Chief Taylor had threatened to de-
stroy his home, did on April 16 in a
brutal manner and without outward
provocation kill Chief Taylor, was
insane and that he was not capable
Of distinguishing between right and
wrong.
The defense, in addition to the
foundation already constructed for
temporary insanity, erected another
foundation-that of hereditary in
sanity in the form of paranpia. Ca
barrus county witnesses, living near
the Peacock family, testified that DR..
PeacOck's mother and aunt were Of
weak mentality, while his grand
mother and great-grandmother de-
veloped mental trouble sometime
prior to their demise. In cross-ex-
amining the Cabarrus witnesses the
state brought out the fact that while
Peacock's relatives were weak and
feeble minded, yet he was man of
extraordinary mentality man
with a brilliant mind.
One Of the startling admissions dis
closed since the trial begun was one
by J. T. Long Of Thomasville, who,
upon cross-examination said that he
approved Of the murder Of Chief
Taylor under the circumstances.
Upon redirect examination Long said
that he made the assertion because
Chief Taylor had beaten r. B. Vim
son, a Thomasville attorney, and,
moreover the chief had made threats
against DR.. Peacock and because Of
the disclosures made after the Win
stop-Salem investigation. This in
vestigation dealt with Chief Taylor's
work in the Twin City.
Describes Paranoia.
DR.. Anderson described paranoia
something about as follows: It is a
form of insanity which is character
ICED by systematized delusions. or
by the tendency to form such delu-
sions. Systematized delusions are so
characteristic Of paranoia 1t is nec-
essary to know what is meant by the
term. A delusion Is systematized
when 1t has a logical construction in
all Of its parts. It Is a belief which
proceeds from an erroneous premi-
ses, by q process of ratiocination, to-
insane conclusions. Therefore It
has marked influence on conduct
and character, the more so that such
delusions are also, AZ q rule, fixed.
When speaking Of fixed delusions,
!, however. II y not meant that such
fsiusions can never change, but only