New-York tribune., 1921-01-08
Mott Slain by
Defective, Says
Thaw Alienist
DIR. Diefendorf Agrees With
YalePsychologistWadeW
Insane at Time He Killed
Husband of His Paramour
Henry Ford's Case Cited
Expert Declines to State the
Mental Rating He Would
Give Auto Manufacturer
Special Dispatch to The rrIos~e


Bird GEPORT, Conn, Jan. 7.-When
the trial Of Elwood B. Wade for the
murder Of George B. Mott adjourned
tonight until Tuesday morning the
score stood about even for state and
defense in the effort Of the latter to
prove Wade insane.
One alienst, DR.. John C. Lynch, Of
tn consulting staff Of Bellevue Hospi-
tai, New York, testified for tho state
that Wade ought to have been able at
the time OF the Staying to distinguish
between right and wrong. He did ad-
nit that Wade has the mentality of
tn, average boy of ten.
Wade, according to the testimony Of
Dr. Arnold L. Gessell, Of Yale Uni
v 'sity. psychologist and professor in
medical science, wa$f insane at the time
of the killing.
Dr.. Allen r. Diefendorf, alienist,
who testified in the Harry Thaw case, I
also pronounced Wade insane.
Homer S. Cummings, former Demo-
cratic national chairman, who ia lead
ing the prosecution of Wade, sought to
Veal do"n lIoleS5OE GeS6eII3 teStl-
mony.
Tests which DR.. Gessell made to de-
terminc the intelligence of the accused
milk peddler we're admitted by the Yale
man to be the tests used in the army
during the war. Dr. Gessell in his
examination of Wade gave him men
tai rating of twelve years.
Ford Case Is Cited
! stTcptt tr1n Io~to~ tI,oA
cant for enlistment in tho army during
the war was accepted if he could OBJ
tain rating equivalent to the so-called
mental level Of an eight-year-old boy?"
asked Mr. Cummings
Yes. that is So" admitted tho
psych hologist.
Isn't 1t true they were accepted If
they could get rating as seven
year-old?" ?" continued the prosecutor.
Judging from Henry Fords replies
to questions put to him in a suit re-
Gently, what rating do you think he
would have received on his so-called
mental age?" Attorney Cummings
asked.
DR.. Gessell said he could say, but
would not do SO voluntarily.
1t took DR.. Gessell two and half
"You would get pretty low rating
! yourself If YOU took this long to an
swer the questions, wouldn't you, doc
tor" asked Attorney Cummings.
1t took the alienist an additional
thirty seconds to frame q reply to this
sally and again Mr.. Cummings called
attention of the court to this fact
Poor at Arithmetic
DR.. Gessell told of rating Wade from
6 statistical viewpoint with other per-
sons. The test was the one given
school children much younger than the
accused. The score which Wade made
was fourteen out Of thirty-four pos
gible points.
He could not add onc-third plus one
third, could not subtract where any,
figures had to be carried and failed in
the doctor said. He fell short OF the
score expected OF an average thifd
grade American school child and on
other simple arthmetical problems
Of intelligence OF an eight-year-old
child, the alienist said.
Attorney William H. Corney jr. put
Hypothetical question asking whether
a boy who could not learn the simplest
prayer, could not read without help
ettels written by his wife, or read
newspaper or simple bill, could be
sane. Every phase of the youths ac-
lIohs up 10 ana includlng the staying
were covered in the long query. The
question was whether such youth
could be sane
DR.. Gessell Is Upheld
DR.. Gessell gave it as his opinion
that Wade was insane and at the time
Of the CRIME was overcome by an ire
slstible impu Sc to kill the husband O..
the woman with whom he was infat
uated.
Tie alicnist, on cross examination
said there vas no question in his mind
but that Wade was medically and legal
j. insane at the time Mott was killed
"Wade | would classify as mental
def' ~tlve Of tie constitutionally in
ferlJr Type sald Dr.. Ce5sell.
DR. Diefcndorf. former supe-intend-
ent of the Middlcrown Asylum, in an
swer to questions from Judge Com
ley, counsel for Wade. agreed with Dr.
Gessell that Wade was insane and an
unfit person to be at large. At the
tme Of Motifs death, DR.. Diefendorf
declared, Wade was not in full pos
session Of his mental faculties and was
insanc
He classified him as mental de-
liclent who is incapable Of adapting
himself to normal family or community
life.