Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-31
INSANITY PLEA
IN CLARKSBURG
CASE SET BACK

HARRISBURG. w. Va, Aug. 81.
dip The insanity defense, for
which police claim Harry F. Powers,
matrimonial agent accused of STAY
ing two women and three children
and his counsel were preparing, was
believed shattered with a pSychia-
triSt's announcement today that
Powers knew right from wrong
As the state prepared to bring
the former soldier and eX-salesman
+ TO trial for the quintet of killings
belief grew stronger that at least
one more body lay at the bottom
of a well 80 feet from the garage
where the others were believed "ex-
ecuted" on an improyised gallows.
Elk Creek, which flows near the
garage. was being dragged in search
for bodies of others of the 1l5
women who police said were in
fatuated with the pudgy but dap
per mail order Romeo.
DIR. Edwin L. Mayer, univer-
sity of Pittsburgh psychiatrist,
who served in the Harry h.
Thaw case when the Pittsburgh
SLAYER of Stanford White sought
his freedom, announced after
long conference with Powers
that he "was on the border
line of insanity, but knew right
from wrong
Powers refused to discuss the five
slayings with which he is accused,
apparently sensing he might be III
eliminated, DR.. Mayer said, but
showed no reticence in discussing
other matters.
Powers admitted today, police
said. that the fifth victim, whose
body was recovered Saturday night.
was Mrs. Dorothy A. Pressler Lem
Ike. AS. Worcester, Mass. The other
victims were Mrs. Asia Buick Elch-
er and her three children
Gretna, IA Harry -, and Anabel, 9.
Born on Farm
Powers told me he was born and
reared on a farm and went through
public and high schools" DR.. Mayer
said. He said he was good stu
dent.
He told me he attended Arnes
College and studied
engineering in a Kansas
CITY school. He worked for the
Harvester Co, in Mis-
souri,. Minnesota and Iowa. He held
numerous other jobs. construction
work in Ohio, steel mills in Penn
sylvania.
Il asked him about sadism and
explained that people sometimes
enjoy seeing others bleed and in
pain. He said he had no such tend
encies.
"I went over him physically to see
if he might have diseases liable
to cause violent outbursts. Hes
perfectly normal as to physical brain
diseases.
"Powers is q psychopathic per-
sonality as shown by his seclusiVe
nature, wanderings, extreme rest
lessness, inability to understand
and sex life.
This type is not insane but near
er insanity than normal people.
Panic can strike in a situation like
this. There may be a secret lust |
for blood. Powers is of the hyo-
pituitary type-squat, short built,
paunchy, with weakened |
sexual powers.
He is not insane but he has
been a border line case all his !
life" DR.. Mayer said, adding, when
questioned by police that Powers !
S capable of knowing right from
wrong
Powers complained of hearing
strange noises, Of receiving in
ward commands" and uncontroll-
able impulses, police said. They
believed he was thus attempting to
lay the groundwork for an insanity
plea.
His attorney, j. Edward Law, in
dicated that insanity would be the
defense at his clients
trial. date for which still was un-
determined today.
Although police had said they
were convinced no more bodies
were buried in the same area where
five already have been recovered,
near the garage, they said strong
odor emanating from the well
caused them TO believe at least one
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