Year: 1879

AN EXPERTS TESTIMONY BEFORE THE sURRo-


GATE ON INsANITy-LAwYERs' WITS.


The hearing in the Vanderbilt will case
sumed yesterday morning before Surrogate Calvin.
Mr.. Lord said he would go with the cross-ex-
animation of Dr. Gray although he was suffering
from severe cold. Mr.. Choate suggested that he
should remain seated they would rather have him
sit down than give out Mr.. Lord inquired of wit
ness what was meant by idiopathic and sympathetic
insanity. Mr. Clinton objected but the objection
overruled and witness red:-"From my
readings and experience don't think that either
form is established by authorities. but some writers
the term "idiopathic" for cases whore the
primary form of insanity is in the brain and sym
pathetic where i'll health begins in other organ
and finally involves the BRAIN


O. Is there no desire of the human mind which
may be indulged so long to make insane7
A. No. sir; not unless there is lesion of the brain.


@. May not man have such a strong desire or
passion as to become q madness? A. No, sir.


O. Why not? "A. Because the mind cannot over
throw itself pass from state of normal action
into that of disease; when man becomes insane he
cannot dictate his own delusions; desire cannot
become lunacy; if man becomes insane his
ruling passion may become more expansive as . de-
luded condition-more dominating or moro expan-
sive.


1ue Wltnees nero reiateo numerous cases OF III
sanity that had come under his observation. There
man in the asylum witness connected
with who believed himself to be superintendent of
the asylum. President of the United States and
Almighty God he also thought he president Of all
several banks and express lnes he thought himself
musician, the soul of all music and the centre of
all beauty; could count up many who have deluded
themselves with the idea that they were President OF
the United States.


Surrogate Calvin--some persons think they are
y~<s,s 80 Gtatn uIth th,rvn
outside Of that institution. Naughter)


Witness related the case of another insane man.
who thought also that he was President of the


Mr. Clinton-He didn't allude to tho Returning
Board certificates, did he?


The surrogate-was there any allusion to cipher
dispatches?


recess was here taken until half-past ono


DIFFERENT SPECIES OF LUNACY.


After the recess Mr.. Lord continued his cross
examination different kinds of insanity. Witness
said that if person we're insane only point
that would bring him under the category of persons
called in the books partially insane or monomaniacs
he had never known OF case where the delusons
were on only one single point and the mans mind
perfectly clear everything else; If there
such case it would properly be called monomana:
he preferred to diagnose each particular case, and
did not like to make such general distinctions
@. Is not aversion to ones kindred common in
these that called monomania A. No; that
Is quite general in all cases of insanity.


Mr. Lord said it was absolutely impossible for any
man to have had the diseases with which the Com
modore afflicted without his mind being affected
He claimed that monomania existed.
O. Is not aversion to ones kindred common? 1? A.
That is quite general in all cases OF insanity.
O. Suppose person to be Indifferent averse to
his kindred, would you take that evidence tend
ing to show unsoundness of mind A. Not in itself
certainly; that is q common experience Of life.
O. Is it not true that monomaniac frequently en-
tertains, without reason strong hatred for those
whom he should for and love A. No, sir, that


is not true; the words without might lead to
q misconception; such persons might not have
tionsl reason. but they have delusive reason for
NO ACCOUNTING FOR raErERExcEs
The Surrogate-I have not seen anything in this
supposition of absence of affection
the part of the testator except for his Cor
nelius in certain stated circumstances. Whether his
belief well grounded or not is not for to de-
termne. The fact that he thought more of one child
than another does not indicate lack Of affection in


the on Sa nad e 0eeh IN
equally divided, but fortunately the State imposes
this court no obligation to make WILL but only
to determine whether the will was made by q sane
Every discussion the part of the contestant
seems based on the theory that there is q natural
| Court must uphold it. There prejudice un-
| doubtedly against Cornelius, but It Is question
whether it could be called an absence Of any sfec-
| ton.


| Mr. Lord went on to show that this prejudice was
| not due to any Of Cornelius vices. The Commodore


had been gambler all his life, never played unless
he made two three hundred dollars at time, and
| when he found grown up men who played cards At
He offered to show that a man who had such sn in.
tense and bitter hatred was in an abnormal condition
! of mind.


~.
cause entertains intense hatred Of his son, would
| that tend to show abnormal condition Of mindl
| A. should not assume that evidence Of in
sanity; it looks like prejudice simply against an
individual; hatred 10 not evidence of abnormsity


q. Suppose that his hatred went far to claim
that his was not his own son? A. That would
depend on his being his son; he might be jealous OF
his wife.


@. Might he not think his son was not his own
without suspecting her of unfaithfulness7
Ex-Judge Comstock-K no thought his was born
without cause, that would be evidence Of his inssn
ia " he a
The question excluded aud Mr.. Clinton re
sumed the redirect examination. Witness said that
he thought autopsy would not be likely TO deter
mine the question of sanity insanity. especially
1t related to period year and half before this
Several other questions were asked the witness by


the Surrogate and counsel in the case but nothing
importance elected and the hearing ad-
journed until tomorrow morning at eleven O'Clock
WIDOW NATHAN'S WILL.
Tho late Beniamin Nathan left suryiyinR. heeidca