The trial of William Freeman : for the murder of John G. Van Nest, including the evidence and the arguments of counsel, with the decision of the Supreme Court granting a new trial, and an account of the death of the prisoner, and of the post-mortem examination of his body by Amariah Brigham, M.D., and others / reported by Benjamin F. Hall.

Freeman, William, 1824-1847

Date:: 1848

Credit: The trial of William Freeman : for the murder of John G. Van Nest, including the evidence and the arguments of counsel, with the decision of the Supreme Court granting a new trial, and an account of the death of the prisoner, and of the post-mortem examination of his body by Amariah Brigham, M.D., and others / reported by Benjamin F. Hall. 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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to him to examine it and took hold of it. He did not stir. lie did not know, apparently, that I was there. I asked if his hand pained him; he made no reply. The wound was in the wrist, immediately in the joint. The tendons were cutoff; also, the main artery running to the hand. [Witness further testified in substance as upon the traverse. See trial.] Dr. Lansing ii Briggs, called and sworn, testified: I am a physician. Have been physician to State. Prison. I have known Freeman eight or ten years. Always supposed him to be a boy of common intelligence for boys of his age and condition. I saw him in the latter part of April. Dr. Fos- gate and W. T. Worden were present. My object was not then to test the condition of his mind. I went upon Dr. Fosgate's invitation; he was the physician. Dr. F<»sgate proceeded to d ress his hand. I examined the wound on his wrist, and I found he manifested very little sensibility as to pain. Seemed to be insensible to any pain or suffering. Examined his ankle, on which was a heavy chain and iron clasp. Dr. Fosgate asked him if it hurt him. He said no ; said it never had. Q. What opinion did you form as to his intellect or accountability? A. I formed no opinion as to his accountability. I came away with the impression on my mind, exceedingly strong, that the boy had become de- mented, from what I had known of him previously and had seen that day. [Witness further testified in substance as upon the traverse. See trial.] Dr. Charles Van* Epps, being called and sworn, testified: I reside in Auburn. Have practiced medicine twenty-one years; I was acquainted with prisoner since he was a nursing babe. He was as active and sprightly as boys in general. I practiced in his mother's family, but lost recollection of him from the time he was two or three years old till I saw him in prison. My opinion of the condition of his mind is, that it was dementia, or idiotic derangement. In examining him, I found that all the answers to questions we could get were yes or no. The state of his health appeared to be per- fectly good. Tried to have him read ; he read like a babe. Would say- over something like a part of a prayer, that he might have been learnt in Sabbath school. We tried to have him count. lie did once count up as far as twenty-eight, but that seemed an accident more than anyr thing else. The impression on my mind was more strong, because he had an uncle here in town that was deranged. Cross Examined.—I saw him in jail a few days after this court com- menced. I saw him two consecutive days, the middle of the first week of this court. The first time I visited him alone, the next with Dr. Pitney, the next with Captain William P. Smith. The conversations occurred at botli times. First. I asked him if he knew me. Think he smiled a little, and grunted, and made no other answer. Asked him if he felt well. Answer, Yes. Whether they used him well. Answer, Yes. Whether he was crazy. Answer, No. Q. On that conversation did vou form the opinion that he was demented V 4

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