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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A. Very likely I may have said so. I think there is no doubt on that point. Q. Was it asserted, that those who neglected his education were as much to blame as himself? A. I am not aware, of having made such an assertion. Q. Was it asserted that they were in some degree accountable for his crime ? A. I may have inquired if community were not accountable for the crimes of those brought up in their midst. Q. Was there a suggestion that the crime was the legitimate effect of the indifference of the community to the colored population ? A. I think there was, for I do think so, in some measure. Q. Then you think the community responsible for the crime of Freeman '? A. My opinion is, that one of the legithnate causes that led to this tragical event, is the utter neglect shown to the moral, intellectual and religious in- struction of the colored people. [Witness continued in substance as upon the traverse. Sec post.] Horace Hotchkiss, called and sworn, testified as follows : I know the prisoner. I first knew him in the State Prison something over a year ago. I had a class in the Sabbath school in the prison, and he was in my class. I did not have much success in attempting to teach him ; so far as I remember he knew some letters; but his knowledge was very slight. There seemed to be a want of intelligence and comprehension. I tried to learn him to read, lie did not appear' to show any indications of learning any thing. He was very dull and stupid. Have seen him since, but have seen no advance in capacity. It was my conviction that he possessed a low intellect, [Witness further testified in substance as upon the traverse.] AMAEIAH BrighaM, called and sworn, testified as follows : I am the Su- perintendent of the State Lunatic Asylum at Utica, I have had a laro-e number of insane persons under my observation and charge at different times. I -aw the accused several weeks ago. I think I saw him the first week of the trial of Henry Wyatt, at this place. I have seen him six or seven times since; once alone, when I spent considerable time with him. I then went through an examination similar to that which other witnesses have testified they went through with, in order to ascertain the-extent of his capacity and the condition of his mental powers. I observed his motions, actions and pe- culiarities whilst trying to ascertain whether he could read or render any account of the transaction for which he is indicted. I tried him in various nays, and by all the means at command, for the purpose of ascertaining the condition of his mental faculties, in respect to sanity. There are circumstances attending this case that render it somewhat re- markable. He has some mind—some intelligence; and yet the former is very weak, and the latter very trifling in amount. I asked him about the court, the counsel, the jury, and the trial, to ascertain if lie knew what he

Licence and re-use

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