insanity twice afterward； and on both occasions killed people he had
grudges against。 And on both these occasions the circumstances of the
killing were so aggravated； and the murders so seemingly heartless and
treacherous； that if Baldwin had not been insane he would have been
hanged without the shadow of a doubt。 As it was； it required all his
political and family influence to get him clear in one of the cases； and
cost him not less than ten thousand dollars to get clear in the other。
One of these men he had notoriously been threatening to kill for twelve
years。 The poor creature happened； by the merest piece of ill fortune；
to come along a dark alley at the very moment that Baldwin's insanity
came upon him； and so he was shot in the back with a gun loaded with
slugs。
Take the case of Lynch Hackett； of Pennsylvania。 Twice； in public； he
attacked a German butcher by the name of Bemis Feldner； with a cane； and
both times Feldner whipped him with his fists。 Hackett was a vain；
wealthy； violent gentleman； who held his blood and family in high esteem；
and believed that a reverent respect was due to his great riches。 He
brooded over the shame of his chastisement for two weeks； and then； in a
momentary fit of insanity； armed himself to the teeth； rode into town；
waited a couple of hours until he saw Feldner coming down the street with
his wife on his arm； and then； as the couple passed the doorway in which
he had partially concealed himself； he drove a knife into Feldner's neck；
killing him instantly。 The widow caught the limp form and eased it to
the earth。 Both were drenched with blood。 Hackett jocosely remarked to
her that as a professional butcher's recent wife she could appreciate the
artistic neatness of the job that left her in condition to marry again；
in case she wanted to。 This remark； and another which he made to a
friend； that his position in society made the killing of an obscure
citizen simply an 〃eccentricity〃 instead of a crime； were shown to be
evidences of insanity； and so Hackett escaped punishment。 The jury were
hardly inclined to accept these as proofs at first； inasmuch as the
prisoner had never been insane before the murder； and under the
tranquilizing effect of the butchering had immediately regained his right
mind； but when the defense came to show that a third cousin of Hackett's
wife's stepfather was insane； and not only insane； but had a nose the
very counterpart of Hackett's； it was plain that insanity was hereditary
in the family； and Hackett had come by it by legitimate inheritance。
Of course the jury then acquitted him。 But it was a merciful providence
that Mrs。 H。's people had been afflicted as shown； else Hackett would
certainly have been hanged。
However； it is not possible to recount all the marvelous cases of
insanity that have come under the public notice in the last thirty or
forty years。 There was the Durgin case in New Jersey three years ago。
The servant girl； Bridget Durgin； at dead of night； invaded her
mistress's bedroom and carved the lady literally to pieces with a knife。
Then she dragged the body to the middle of the floor； and beat and banged
it with chairs and such things。 Next she opened the feather beds； and
strewed the contents around； saturated everything with kerosene； and set
fire to the general wreck。 She now took up the young child of the
murdered woman in her blood smeared hands and walked off； through the
snow； with no shoes on； to a neighbor's house a quarter of a mile off；
and told a string of wild； incoherent stories about some men coming and
setting fire to the house； and then she cried piteously； and without
seeming to think there was anything suggestive about the blood upon her
hands； her clothing； and the baby； volunteered the remark that she was
afraid those men had murdered her mistress！ Afterward； by her own
confession and other testimony； it was proved that the mistress had
always been kind to the girl； consequently there was no revenge in the
murder； and it was also shown that the girl took nothing away from the
burning house； not even her own shoes； and consequently robbery was not
the motive。
Now； the reader says； 〃Here comes that same old plea of insanity again。〃
But the reader has deceived himself this time。 No such plea was offered
in her defense。 The judge sentenced her； nobody persecuted the governor
with petitions for her pardon； and she was promptly hanged。
There was that youth in Pennsylvania； whose curious confession was
published some years ago。 It was simply a conglomeration of incoherent
drivel from beginning to end； and so was his lengthy speech on the
scaffold afterward。 For a whole year he was haunted with a desire to
disfigure a certain young woman； so that no one would marry her。 He did
not love her himself； and did not want to marry her； but he did not want
anybody else to do it。 He would not go anywhere with her； and yet was
opposed to anybody else's escorting her。 Upon one occasion he declined
to go to a wedding with her； and when she got other company； lay in wait
for the couple by the road； intending to make them go back or kill the
escort。 After spending sleepless nights over his ruling desire for a
full year； he at last attempted its executionthat is； attempted to
disfigure the young woman。 It was a success。 It was permanent。 In
trying to shoot her cheek （as she sat at the supper…table with her
parents and brothers and sisters） in such a manner as to mar its
comeliness； one of his bullets wandered a little out of the course； and
she dropped dead。 To the very last moment of his life he bewailed the
ill luck that made her move her face just at the critical moment。 And so
he died； apparently about half persuaded that somehow it was chiefly her
own fault that she got killed。 This idiot was hanged。 The plea； of
insanity was not offered。
Insanity certainly is on the increase in the world； and crime is dying
out。 There are no longer any murdersnone worth mentioning； at any
rate。 Formerly； if you killed a man； it was possible that you were
insanebut now； if you； having friends and money； kill a mate； it is
evidence that you are a lunatic。 In these days； too； if a person of good
family and high social standing steals anything； they call it
kleptomania； and send him to the lunatic asylum。 If a person of high
standing squanders his fortune in dissipation； and closes his career with
strychnine or a bullet； 〃Temporary Aberration〃 is what was the trouble
with him。
Is not this insanity plea becoming rather common？ Is it not so common
that the reader confidently expects to see it offered in every criminal
case that comes before the courts？ And is it not so cheap； and so
common； and often so trivial； that the reader smiles in derision when the
newspaper mentions it？
And is it not curious to note how very often it wins acquittal for the
prisoner？ Of late years it does not seem possible for a man to so
conduct himself； before killing another man； as not to be manifestly
insane。 If he talks about the stars； he is insane。 If he appears
nervous and uneasy an hour before the killing； he is insane。 If he weeps
over a great grief； his friends shake their heads； and fear that he is
〃not right。〃 If； an hour after the murder； he seems ill at ease；
preoccupied； and excited； he is； unquestionably insane。
Really； what we want now； is not laws against crime； but a law against
insanity。 There is where the true evil lies。
A CURIOUS DREAM
CONTAINING A MORAL
Night before last I had a singular dream。 I seemed to be sitting on a
doorstep （in no particular city perhaps） ruminating； and the time of
night appeared to be about twelve or one o'clock。 The weather was balmy
and delicious。 There was no human sound in the air； not even a footstep。
There was no sound of any kind to emphasize the dead stillness； except
the occasional hollow barking of a dog in the distance and the fainter
answer of a further dog。 Presently up the street I heard a bony
clack…clacking； and guessed it was the castanets of a serenading party。
In a minute more a tall skeleton； hooded； and half clad in a tattered and
moldy shroud； whose shreds were flapping about the ribby latticework of
its person； swung by me with a stately stride and disappeared in the gray
gloom of the starlight。 It had a broken and worm…eaten coffin on its
shoulder and a bundle of something in its hand。 I knew what the
clack…clacking was then； it was this party's joints working together；
and his elbows knocking against his sides as he walked。 I may say I was
surprised。 Before I could collect my thoughts and enter upon any
speculations as to what this apparition might portend； I heard another
one coming for I recognized his clack…clack。 He had two…thirds of a
coffin on his shoulder； and some foot and head boards under his arm。
I mightily wanted； to peer under his hood and speak to him； but when he
turned and smiled upon me with his cavernous sockets and his projecting
grin as he went by； I thought I would not detain him。 He was hardly gone
when I heard the clacking again； and another one issued from the shadowy
half…light。 This on