Life and trial of Dr. Abner Baker, Jr : (a monomaniac), who was executed October 3, 1845, for the alleged murder of his brother-in-law, Daniel Bates : including letters and petitions in favor of a pardon, and narrative of the circumstances attending his execution, etc. etc. / by C.W. Crozier ; trial and evidence by A.R. M'Kee.
- Crozier, C. W.
- Date:
- 1846
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Life and trial of Dr. Abner Baker, Jr : (a monomaniac), who was executed October 3, 1845, for the alleged murder of his brother-in-law, Daniel Bates : including letters and petitions in favor of a pardon, and narrative of the circumstances attending his execution, etc. etc. / by C.W. Crozier ; trial and evidence by A.R. M'Kee. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)
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![tales very strange but never thought of his derangement—thought his wife was the subject of nymphomania, and that in his trou- bled and excited state of mind he had imagined and related some things untrue. Witness was opposed to his going to Clay county for fear of a difficulty; and extorted a promise from him that be would have none. Cross Examined, states—That witness did tell Dr. A. Baker that he might take a partnership with him in the practice of medicine: to settle his business and send his medicines to Knox. Witness was doing little or nothing at the practice—he was engaged in at- tending his farm. Abner Baker rode the horse of witness to Clay. His horse was very poor and unable to go a journey. He rode wit- ness' horse most of the time he was in Knox. Could not say that Dr. Baker was deranged, or that witness thought him de- ranged until after Bates was killed. He always believed Abner a man of undoubted veracity. Never had caught him in a falsehood, and could not say that what he related to him was all false; and witness did believe most of them, upon the ground that his wife was a nymphomaniac. After Bates was killed, Witness came to Clay—found him very much excited. He told witness that Polly Bates was in danger of being poisoned—that he had written her a note to that effect. He wanted witness to go and see her. Gave witness a list of questions to ask her and get her to answer. Witness did go and found that she knew nothing about them. Wit- ness heard from every one that Susan (Abner's wife) was of good character and a virtuous woman. Witness was unable to account for his conduct. Got hold of some authorities upon the subject of derangement, and found that it was consistent for a monomaniac to reason as weH on every subject as usual, with the exception, some- times, of the subject on which they are deranged—and grant their premises, and they reasoned well upon that also. Witness came clearly to the conclusion that Abner was deranged—that he was a monomaniac—and that his actions and conduct was explicable on that ground alone. Witness, after reading various authorities upon the subject, is confirmed in the opinion that he was and is deranged.*' States that Abner Baker started to Havana before any indictment was found. That he left Charleston to go to Havana without friends. That he had been gone from the last of October, until the latter part of May. He returned home up the Tennessee river, &c. &c. That as soon as the proclamation was made, and indict- ment found, several letters were written to him urging his return. States, upon interrogation by Defendant's counsel, that when he showed Abner the letter from his father, that he said his father was ) o A A r,]A fnnl and the crrpatest enemv he ever had' on earth. / ;i * While witness was deposing, the Hon. T. Quarles, Judge of the Clay Circuit Court, asked whether such a disease as monomania was known and re- cognised in medical authority. Witness answered certainly, that monomania was well known and recognised, both in law and medicine. The Court rejoined, (in the hearing of the Jury,) that he had only made the inquiry as to medicint— he claimed to know something of the law himself.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21112058_0041.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
