Evening star., 1922-09-21
Witnesses Say Accused Ply
sician Made Wrong dag
nosis in Several Cases.
MOTHER OF DEAD WOMAN
WROTE WARNING LETTER
Mrs. Kirby Told Defendant That
Haines Was Planning
Vengeance.
From a Staff Correspondent. :

september IA portrait OF an alleged
mentally unbalanced man practicing
medicine in a small Pennsylvania town
and making weird diagnoses of cases
was constructed for the jury today in
the murder trial of DIR. Herbert J.
Bryson, accused of killing Mrs. Helen
Irene Haines, wife of a Washington
chauffeur, and with whom he lived.
DR.. Bryson still sits motionless while
witnesses few feet from him are plac-
ing data in the record, which ultimately
will mean freedom or death for him
He is like a statue.
When DR.. F. A. DIETRICH Of Roberts
dale was testifying regarding strange
methods which DR.. Bryson, his assocl-
ate practitioner, used, Bryson did not
even look up.
Strange Acts Of Bryson.
DR.. DIETRICH testified that DR.. Bryson.
in one case diagnosed a skin disease as
measles, and quarantined the patient
for almost the limit Of time before the
mistake was discovered. He followed
with the statement that in another case
Dr. Bryson diagnosed an internal hem
orrhage accompanied by discharge Of
blood, as valvular heart trouble. and that
he had diagnosed lobar pneumonia as
neuritis. Cross-examination by the
prosecution attempted to make these
diagnoses appear as exceptional mis-
takes.
Amos Evans told of peculiar actions
Of Dr.. Bryson at a funeral of witnesses
daughter. one of Bryson's patients
Evans said that DR.. Bryson vas par
ticularly agitated during a thunder
storm at the Evans home following
the funeral and that he would not be
had steel roof and lightning rods.
During still another thunderstorm.
he declared. Bryson shuddered and
said. This sounds like the Argonne."
| testified that he wanted to find out
what kind Of a doctor Bryson was,
| before calling him in for any cases
and that he went to Bryson with an
| imaginary ailnent. asking for treat
ment.
He told Bryson of a pain in the
chest and of feeling kinder knocked
out" DIR. Bryson, he said. bandaged
his chest and mixed some vinegar
with able salt and water, giving it
he did this witness replied he wanted
to know what kind of a doctor Bryson
| was before giving him a real case.
To Call Mental Experts.
Alex Clement, a Washington chauf-
feur. testified that Bryson had en-
ployed him and engaged his car sew
| eral tipes. and that he had been
| struck by the doctors eccentric
mannerisms. Seven or eight times
| after summoning him, witness testi-
| fed. Bryson denied ever having
called him. All this took place while
Bryson was at Walter Reed Hospital
in Washington after the war.
Defense announced these items of
the final goal of establishing the
fact that Bryson was mentally ir-
responsible both before and after
the night of April 8. when the
tragedy took place. This is regarded
as the backbone of the defense, to-
gether with statements OF experts in
mental diseases. yet to be introduced.
The following letter, written on a
correspondence card. was shown to
Mrs. Helen Kathleen Kirby y~ster-
identified the handwriting as her
own. The letter was introduced as
direct evidence today, together with
other communications. They now are
part Of the record.
"125 Post avenue. New York.
September 3. 1921.
Dear DIR. Bryson:
"You will be surprised. no doubt. to
hear from me. and i am sorry that
my first letter or note will not be
pleasant. Haines wrote me a very
threatening letter. telling me he had
Department of Justice. and that he
| would put the man who stole his
wife behind the bars for five years.
HE said she could come back. as he
loved her Gndeed. he does). He loves
his sense of possession.
We'll, / wrote him a good, sharp
letter, and told him Helen had gone
to California. There is some one
behind him. working against Helen
Il can feel it. Mrs. Larson wrote
| he made an awful fuss when he found
Helen had gone. and he denounced
her and blamed her for helping poor
| Helen. He Immediately left and did
not pay his board or room rent to
! her.
NOW, Dr. Bryson. will your mother
remain firm and not divulge your
| whereabouts? II she should find you.
| let me know at once. Please keep
this from my Helen. She has had
enough Hoping .Vs-s you are s,~caI.,r well am
! KATHLEEN KIRBY
! Mrs. Kirby also Identified as her
written by DIR. Bryson.
RFyson In Dase.
Mrs. Annie Trout. the housekeeper
for DR.. Bryson and Mrs. Haines. testi-
fed as to the character OF DR.. Bryson
in his home. On cross-examination
the prosecution failed to shake amy
part Of her recital. Questioned as to
the accused's proclivity, for, liquor.
she denied that she had ever seen him
drink liquor or intoxicated.
| Frank Pheasant. Of cassvills testi-
Ned that DR.. Bryson soon after his
arrival in this section seemed TO be.
affected in the use Of one leg. He
said also that DR.. Bryson at times,
appeared In sort OF daxe. =
James r. Curtin Of Washington
| testified to having seen Rryson In
Washington after the war. He told
Of a visit TO q Chinese restaurant and