The Washington times., 1922-09-22
PHYSICIAN
MENTALLY
DISEASED
FOR YEARS
War Service, AIienists Say,
Finally Brought About
Complete Collapse.

| hONllNIDON, fa., Oept. la.
john M. Ladd, of Washington,
specialist in mental and nervous
diseases, and star witness for the
defense, took the stand this
morning and described in detail
the "organic brain disease" with
which DIR. Herbert Bryson is af-
flicted.
His testimony was that the for
mer Washington physician and
war hero was mentally diseased
before the war, and that his de-
fective mind, unduly strained by
the terrific pressure of exper-
fences in five battles, collapsed
completely, leaving him helpless
ly insane, a "moral degenerate
and a social derelict, who wor-
shipped at the shrines Of Venus
and Bacchus."
An Effective Witness.
He was an effective witness in
the case which the attorneys for
the defense are constructing to save
DIR. Bryson from the electric chair
in expiation Of the Staying OF Mrs.
Helen Irene Haines, wife of q
Washington chauffeur. with whom
he fled from the National Capital
to live in q hidden love nest In the
remote village Of Cassville, this
county.
The shooting Of Mrs. Haines took
place at Cassville on the evening
of April 8.
the United States Public Health
Service, and is connected with two
universities at Washington, took the
stand shortly after the fourth day
of the sensational trial opened.
"I have examined DIR. Bryson on
two occasions" DR.. Ladd testified,
| land as a result am convinced
he is suffering from organic brain
disease.
"Dr. Bryson was treated for this
condition several years ago.
| His disease process was insidious
in it's onset. The first symptom
manifested was a mental weakness.
This was demonstrated by tes-
timony at this trial showing his
complete failure to carry on the
simplest of medical duties.
His defective Judgment was
shown on numerous occasions. the
most important Of which concerned
his failure in making the simplest
diagnoses, his absurd treatment.
which at times even caused him to
be discharged by the families Of
his patients.
Character Also Changed.
Along with this gradual impair
ment of Judgment was noted the
character change. Having been an
upright citizen who acquired two
degrees, a man neat in his per-
sonal attire. meticulous in his
speech. he became at times gran
dose in his manner. and overesti-
mated his abilities even to such an
extent that 1t was noticed by his
fellow practitioner in Washington,
where, on one occasion, 1t was
brought out that he staged mill
tary operation
1T was also noted that he
changed from a neat and tidy in
dividual 10 one who paid no atten-
ton to his personal habits and be-
came a social derelict.
His memory defects were en-
phasized by his failure to keep ap-
pointments. a failure to remember
several camps at which he was
stationed, and at times a complete
failure to recognize his most init.
mate friends.
1T was as clearly shown by tes-
timony that simultaneously with
his mental deterioration, there was
also a complete moral degeneracy.
Where formerly he was law
abiding citizen, he began a career
during which he worshiped at the
shrines Of Venus and Bacchus, the
former impulse being so great that
he broke himself away from home
ties. intimate friends, forsook a
lucrative practice, and wasted his
substance that he had saved upon
an individual who was recognized
as being below his social status"
Disease Is Progressive.
DIR. Ladd emphasized that the
disease with which DR.. Bryson Is
suffering from is chronic and
progressive in its nature. He
brought out that at the present
time the disease had made such
progress that two seizures had
taken place, and as a result of the
brain destruction DR.. Bryson has
at the present time a semi-paralysis
OF the right side Jf his body, with
a facial paralysis on the opposite
side.
"a preponderance OF evidence"
said the mental specialist. has
shown that Dr. Bryson's great break
occurred overseas. II was shown
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