The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-08
WQNFNFA|NT
AT WADE TRIAL
Mrs. Mott Overcome by Childish
kisses-Prisoner's Mother
Collapses in Crowd.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn, Jan. s.
Three women broke down yester-
day under the strain of waiting for
the end Of the legal battle being
waged around Elwood b. wade on
trial for the murder OF George b
Mott, for the result Of the battle
will determine whether young wade
goes TO the hangman's scafold or
to an insane asylum.
MRS. MOTT COLLAPsEs.
Mrs. Mott, for love OF whom, 1t Is
alleged, Wade slew her husband, was
one OF the women who collapsed
The others were his mother. Mrs. Ell
bert Wade, and his girl wife. only
The wife collapsed in the court room.
The others broke down OUTSIDE the
chamber.
The younger Mrs. Wade grew faint
as she listened to States Attorney
Cummings. once Democratic National
Chairman, propounding to DR.. a. II:
Diefendorf, alienist, questions framed
to break down the latter's testimony
that young Wade is insane now ana
was insane when the murder was
committed. Her sister-in-laW ana a
friend helped her to walk toward the
door, and she tainted as she reacneo
the portal. Wade's mother produced
ammonia salts TO restore her to con-
seriousness.
CRUSHED IN MORBID CROWD.
The elder Mrs. Wade tainted as she
was crushed in the mob OF curiosity
seekers which gathered in front oil the
court house at the opening OF the
afternoon session. The crowd dcfied
police reserves and rushed the doors
OF the court house. Three thousand
persons crushed forward in an EFFORT
to get into the building, in which they
knew were young Wade. Mrs. MOTT
and young Johnston, the trio accused
OF murder. 1t was necessary to call
police reserves. as on the first day or
the trial, to break passageWay
through the crowd.
Mrs. Wade was caught as the mob
advanced up the steps of the court
house. She tainted dead away. Deputy
sheriffs saw her plight, forced their
way to her. lifted her bodily and car
ried her into the building. She was
restored In the office of Sheriff Simon
Tease.
GREETED BY CHILDREN.
While Wade's mother was being
restored in the sheriffs outer office.
Mrs. Mott was being treated in his
inner office. Her collapse was brought
about by the affectionate greeting OF
her children, who were brought from
school to see her before she was
taken back to her cell in the county
Jail. Thirteen-year-old Ruth Mott
and eleven-year-old George Mott, jr.
or Sonny" as he is known to his
mother, were brought to the court
house by their godmother. who is
caring for them while their mother is
iokI
their arms about her neck and kissed
her pallid cheeks. She could not
stand the meeting and went into
Mysteries.
Testimony yesterday took a decided
turn in the young prisoners favor
and brought relief to the overtaxed
nerves of his mother. Little. hys-
tcrical sobs escaped her lips often in
the morning.
1t was a day of scientific terms, anG
involved definitions from the witness
stand. But throughout the maze OF
technical phrasing these conclusions
were reached definitely by both alien
lists for the State and those called foi
tie defense.
Wade, at twenty-three. has not the
mentality commonly found in the
boy of twelve.
The character of feeble-mindedness
with which he is afflicted is recog-
nized by authorities as insanity, 80
far as it is held as an excuse for
crime
There is more than reasonable
doubt that the slayer was not fully
cognizant of the significance Of his
act.
DR.. John C. Lynch. Bridgeport
alienist, called by the state. himself
h,,o
ing the way for Conley's cross-eXam-
nation, The attorney seized the OPP
portunity.
WHAT A MORON is.
1t was at this time that the wit
ness was led to testify:
II should say that he tWade) has
an undeveloped mind. 1t is true
that the line between sanity and in
sanity is not definitely drawn. He
Is a moron
Are not moron persons commonly
regarded as insane?"
"They may be insane. They often
are"
rs not the term moron applied by
psychologists to mean a degree II
Feeble m ndedncss amounting to in
sanity"
1.-THE moron sometimes has suffi-
Client mentality to know, but because
OF weak will they commit crime
"Tf after this man lay dead upon
the floor, the moron stood over him
stabbing that lifeless body again. and
again with "A butcher knife, would
that influence your opinion as to his
sanity
Not necessarily. 1T might have
been the result of morbidity."
"Ulsterism and nationalism will not
mix"