Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-04-06
Psychiatrist Hits
Drug Theory in
5tinson Case
Failed to Discover
Poisoning Proof,
He Asserts

DR.. Winfred Overholser. super
tntendent of St. Elizabeth's Hospital,
testifying in District Court today
at the trial of the suit in which
Mrs. Lola Crounse Stinson seeks to
annual her marriage to Joseph
Whitla Stinson on September a.
1887, on the ground that she was
drugged into it, said he failed to
find, in portions of the evidence he
examined. proof of such a condition.
Called by Carroll l.. Beedy, at
torney for Mr.. Stinson, the psy-
chiatrist said he would have ex-
pected from the hypothetical evil
dence given him to study that the
sedatives admittedly administered
to Mrs. Crounse at times before her
marriage would have quoted her
nerves and made her better able to
cope with the problems of life.
DR.. Overholser did not think a
woman who had been capable OF
discussing with lawyers and bankers
in great detail deed of trust max
ing Mr.. Stinson beneficiary of
$230.00O trust after her death showed
symptoms of drug poisoning. Nor
did he consider that bride who
could try on dresses a couple of
days before the wedding, discuss
the event intelligently with various
people and then 60 through the
ceremony calmly was suffering from
such a condition. These were points
in the evidence which Mr.. Beedy
emphasized.
NeurOSis Diagnosis Discussed.
Discussing the diagnosis Of anxiety
neurosis by a Baltimore physician
who examined the then Mrs. Crounse
a few months before the marriage
DR.. Overholser said a person suffer-
ing from such a state OF nerves
usually is able to carry on business
and other ordinary affairs.
In response to the hypothetical
question that caused psychiatrists
testifying for Mrs. Stinson to say
. that under this evidence she was
suffering from drug psychoSlS at
the time of the wedding, DR.. Over
holser said he could not even form
an opinion of her mental condition
at the time from such statement
of facts. The facts assumed in the
question, the doctor explained, were
too conflicting and confusing. In
this he agreed with another psychla-
trist called by the defense at the
night session last night, Dr.. Walter
Freeman.
DR.. John Reed described the events
of the night he was called to the
Crounse home on wyoming avenue
and told that Mrs. Stinson had been
poisoned" This was late in Octo-
Der, 1887 after the marriage had
gone on the rocks and Mr.. Stinson
had moved to a downtown hotel.
Poison Complaint Made.
DR.. Reed said he found Mrs. Stin-
son quite i'll and she told him that
1.-The nurse had poisoned her" Mrs.
Stinson referred to Miss Jessica
Shoemaker, for years her nurse and
companion, who is charged in the
annulment complaint with consplr-
ing to bring about the marriage to
Mr.. Stinson. Miss Shoemaker spent
nearly three days on the witness
stand denying all the charges
against her.
DR.. Reed said he called in two
other registered nurses and instruct
ed them to take over the case and
not allow Miss Shoemaker to be
with Mrs. Stinson alone. He also
arranged, he said, to have the con-
tents of her stomach analyzed and
this analysis revealed no trace OF
poison.
Under cross examination. DR..
Reed admitted that the tests were
for metallic poisoning, such as
arsenic, and none were made for
barbituric sedatives Mrs. Stlnson
is charging that she was under the
influence of such sedatives when she
was married.
The so-called peculiar conduct
which numerous witnesses aScrlbed
to Mrs. Crounse at times during the
spring and summer of the courtshlp
suggested a psycho-neurosis of the
anxiety type more than it did drug
poisoning, DR.. Freeman said.
Emotions Rule.
A state of letting the emotions
overrule plans of intelligent pro-
cedure at times" is typical of such
a neurosis. the specialist explained.
Such patient would have no break
with reality, he added. and would
be competent to carry out business
transactions or contract a marriage.
Emotional fireworks would be ex-
pected at times, the witness said.
Capriciousness, blowing hot and
cold" and changing the mind fire.
ouently, are manifestations of a
neurotic individual, the doctor said.
Asked to review the evidence of
how the bride appeared at the we'd
ding, DR.. Freeman said it would
indicate she was more collected than
the bridegroom or any one else
present.