minute examination of the brain was made by myself, in the presence of a large number of physicians and citizens of Auburn. We noticed that the skull was quite thin, and the upper posterior portion appeared diseased, as if it had been formerly injured and inflamed; and at this point the duramater was strongly adherent, and when removed, blood continued to ooze from the bone.

The arachnoid membrane was opaque, thickened and congested, and unusually firm. It could be removed from the convolutions, and then presented a thick net work of congested blood vessels, similar to what is most generally found in those who have died after long continued insanity. The gray or cineritious portion of the brain seemed partially atrophied in places, or thinner than usual, especially on the anterior and superior part of the brain, and the outside appeared harder than natural; while beneath this thin layer it was soft, and of the usual appearance.

The white fibrous or medullary portion of the brain was changed from its natural state. It was of a dusky gray color and presented numerous bloody points; and what was particularly noticeable, it was much harder and firmer than natural, and appeared as if its fibres had become adherent to each other, presenting an appearance similar to what is often, if not usually, seen in the brain of an insane person who has died from General Paralysis. This unusual hardness extended to the annular protuberance and the medulla oblongata. The left hemisphere of the brain was not quite as hard and firm as the right. The right thalamus appeared to have undergone some change, as if at some time previous there had been an effusion of blood into the middle of it, which had not been entirely absorbed.

The inner portion of the left temporal bone was carious, and the duramater covering this portion of the skull was red and congested. The membrane of the tympanum and the internal structure of the ear were destroyed by disease. There was also a collection of fœtid pus in a cavity of this bone, having no connection with the external ear. The cerebellum, and other portions of the brain not mentioned in the foregoing account, appeared natural.

As regards "deductions" from this post-mortem examination, it must be evident to every one who has even but a slight knowledge of the physiology and pathology of the brain, that such a condition of this organ and its membranes as was found in this case, was incompatible with the healthy performance of the mental faculties.

I have very rarely found so extensive disease of the brain in those who have died after long continued insanity, as we found in this instance; and I believe there are few cases of chronic insanity recorded in books, in which were noticed more evident marks of disease. It should be recollected, that although insanity is a disease of the brain, yet it usually is but a slight disease of this organ. If it was not so, it would soon prove fatal. Hence, we find many persons unquestionably insane to enjoy good bodily health for many years; the disease of the brain, though sufficient to derange the mind, not being so severe as to perceptibly disorder the general health. In such cases, after death, some disease of the brain or its membranes will be found, but usually less than in the case of Freeman.

The whole history of this man, his parentage, his imprisonment, punishments, deafness, crimes, trial, sickness, death, and the post-mortem appearance of his brain, establish, most clearly to my mind, and I doubt not to others who are much acquainted with mental maladies, that this was a case of insanity-that Freeman had disease of the brain, and was deranged in mind, from a period some time previous to his leaving prison, until the time of his death.

A slight review of his history may serve to render this more strikingly evident.

1. He was hereditarily disposed to insanity. An uncle and an aunt of his were insane for many years.

2. He had been exposed to causes, both mental and physical, likely to develop this disease: arrested and imprisoned when a boy but sixteen years of age, for a crime which there is good reason to believe he did not commit; whipped repeatedly in prison; and struck on the head with a board

and rendered deaf.

3. After five years' imprisonment and seclusion, he came out remarkably changed in appearance, manners and character. From being a lively, cheerful, bright lad, he had changed to a dull, unsocial, and apparently idiotic being; complaining that he had been abused; that he had worked five years in prison, and ought to be paid for it. This notion engrossed all his thoughts.

4. Suddenly he undertook to right himself or to get his pay, and solely by the most bloody, yet most irrational means, (no doubt the offspring of insane delusion,) by "killing round awhile" as he phrased it, and without any attempt to plunder, or any regard as to whom he destroyed-indifferently men, women, the sleeping infant-those who were entire strangers to him, and whom he knew and acknowledged never had given him any cause of offence whatever.

5. Arrested for these crimes, and in answer to questions, he confessed all; but from that day to the time of his death, during his long protracted imprisonment and trials, he never asked a question respecting his probable fate, nor took the least interest in the proceedings for and against him; never asked his counsel a question, nor made any suggestion to them or to any one else. During his trial he did not betray the least emotion, nor exhibit any consciousness of what was doing in court, but day after day sat by his counsel, apparently regardless of every thing and every body, and without any change of countenance, except the frequent, unconscious laugh of the idiot. Even when called up by the Judge to receive sentence of death, he did not appear to know any thing of the proceedings that had taken place in court relating to himself; and when told by the Judge, "You have been tried for killing John G. Van Nest—the Jury say you killed him, and we are now going to sentence you to death;" and then asked by him, "Do you understand this; do you know what I mean?" answered, “I don't know."

6. His appearance since his trial has been that of a person nearly bereft of intellect. I saw him the last week in June, and found him more demented than he was the year previous, during the trial; almost totally deaf and speechless, and apparently affected by General Paralysis. Never, scarcely, have I seen such a mere fragment of humanity, so far as mind was conçerned.

7. He died of disease of the lungs-a disease of which a majority of the insane die; and his brain, on examination, exhibited those appearances of disease most generally found in those who have been long insane, though, in this case, to a greater extent than is usually seen.

In conclusion, I add, that at the time of the trial of Freeman, I was very confident that he was insane, and that the heinous crime he committed was the consequence of mental derangement. I can now have no rational doubt of the entire correctness of that opinion.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. BRIGHAM.

B. F. HALL, Esq., Auburn, N. Y.

OPINION OF JOHN MCCALL, M. D.

UTICA, September 10, 1847.

B. F. HALL, Esq.-Dear Sir: In compliance with your request that I would "communicate in form for publication, the facts discovered at the examination of the brain of William Freeman, and my deductions therefrom, touching his insanity,” I am glad in being able to say that I was present and witnessed the dissection and inspection, by Dr. Brigham, of the brain, its membranes and the upper part of the skull, and a portion thereof involving the left ear, as described so fully in the Doctor's report of the case for publication; and that I regard his statement as strictly correct in all respects. That able physiologist and experienced physician in the management and treatment of the insane, has given you, in my opinion, a full and accurate account of the case; and hence I consider myself relieved from the labor of furnishing a detailed statement of the observations made and the deductions formed, as afforded on that occasion, "touching his insanity."

In the examinations made and witnessed by me, during nearly forty years' practice in my profession, I have never seen greater or stronger evidence of chronic disease of the brain, and its membranes, in cases of insanity of several years' standing, than in Freeman's.

My opportunities during his long trial, for judging and making up my mind respecting his sanity or insanity at the time he murdered a whole family in cold blood," were such as enabled me to say, unhesitatingly, that he was, in my judgment, not only insane then, but at the time of the commision of the crime.

In my opinion his brain was permanently discased at the time he left the State Prison. That his insanity, which was a consequence of that affection, continued to grow worse, until he became utterly demented, is a fact which I should hope no one can now doubt.

It is in this, as in every such case, very gratifying to the friends of medical and legal truth, to know that it was fully and severely investigated to the satisfaction, it is believed, of our whole community.

With these views I remain, my Dear Sir,

Very truly and sincerely,

JOHN MCCALL.

OPINION OF DAVID DIMON, M. D.

AUBURN, January 4, 1848.

DEAR SIR:-William Freeman died on the twenty first of August, 1847, after a confinement in the jail of eighteen months. In the month of January previous, bis lungs became diseased, in consequence of a severe cold. Previous to this attack his appetite and sleep were good, and his health did not appear to have suffered; and up to the time of his decease he had no delirium, but retained his senses to the last. A few days before his death I visited him, in company with Dr. Willard. He then answered questions correctly; and complained of great difficulty in breathing, and other distressing symptoms, which he referred to his lungs. The jailer informed me that he readily made known all his wants; and that when he had become satisfied that his disease would prove fatal, he manifested less reserve, was more willing to hear, and answered inquiries more readily than he had formerly done. The day previous to his death, Mr. Clough, an artist, in company with Mr. Van Anden, went into his cell to make a sketch of him. Upon Mr. Van Anden's

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feeling his pulse, he asked him if he was a physician; showed him the matter which he expectorated; said he was too weak to sit up; that they would have to draw him lying down. After the sketch was finished, he wished to see it, and seemed much pleased with it.

A post-mortem examination of the body was made in the forenoon of the day of his death, in the presence of several physicians and citizens. His lungs were found extensively disorganized, and contained numerous ulcers, full of matter. The brain was removed from the skull, and the dissection of it deferred, until Doctors Brigham and McCall, who subsequently came from Utica for that purpose, should arrive. This examination took place at night. To the statement made by the other physicians, I could not subscribe. The arachnoid membrane had, to me, a uniform appearance, one part being no more thickened than another; and had a natural transparency throughThe same was true, so far as I could see, of the substance of the brain. If there was any unnatural hardness or density of the brain, or alteration of color, (so far as color could be determined by candle light,) it extended, with remarkable uniformity, throughout its entire structure. it indicated, to my senses, any decided marks of disease. Whatever general No portion of unhealthy appearance it might have presented, which my experience would not enable me to detect, could be attributed to another disease, which was the cause of death, and about which there was no doubt and no difference of opinion.

out.

B. F. HALL, Esq.

Yours, &c.

DAVID DIMON.

OPINION OF BLANCHARD FOSGATE, M. D.

DEAR SIR-In reply to your note requesting a statement of the post mortem examination of the body of William Freeman, at which I assisted, I beg leave to say that my views of that case are embodied in an article lately prepared by me, and published in the American Journal of the Medical Sciences. If that article will answer the purpose indicated in your letter, it is at your disposal. Yours, &c.,

B. F. HALL, Esq.

B. FOSGATE.

"WILLIAM FREEMAN-the murderer of the Van Nest family-was a native of Auburn, Cayuga Co., N. Y., twenty-three years old. In stature he measured about five feet seven inches, and when in health weighed in the vicinity of one hundred and fifteen pounds. He had a broad chest, and was of muscular make. With the exception of a slight admixture of aboriginal blood, he was of African descent.

"At the age of sixteen he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in the State Prison at Auburn, for grand larceny. It was long since conceded that of this charge he was innocent. 1845. He left his prison conscious of the injustice he had suffered, and had His sentence expired in September, imbibed an idea that he was entitled to pay for his time. This sentiment could not be eradicated from his mind, and on several occasions he applied for warrants against those whom he supposed liable. him was the one idea. Failing in this mode of obtaining redress, he armed Remuneration with himself with a common butcher's knife, and a cane with a blade attached to the lower end, and from his lodging made his way toward the Owasco Lake, at about sunset on the 12th of March, 1846. premises, he finally selected the residence of Mr. Van Nest as the proper After examining two or three place to begin 'his work,' as he termed it, and there massacred Mr. Van Nest, his wife, and one child, aged two years, and Mrs. Wyckoff, aged

seventy. He stabbed Mr. Van Arsdale in the chest, who subsequently recovered. In the affray he entered every room in the house, both above and below, but took nothing away. He went to the stable, unfastened and mounted a horse, and was some rods from the scene of devastation in the incredibly short period of not more than five minutes from the time of entering the house, as was proved in evidence. Three days afterwards he was committed to Cayuga county jail to await his trial.

"He was tried at a special session of Oyer and Terminer, July, 1846first, as to whether he was sane at the time of trial, and secondly, on the indictment. A verdict of sufficient soundness of mind to be put on trial was rendered on the preliminary issue, and of wilful murder on the indictment. A trial calling forth so much talent in its prosecution, and arousing such fearful excitement among the people, is of rare occurrence. Subsequently, however, a new trial was granted by the Supreme Court.

"On the part of the people, the cause was conducted by Hon. John Van Buren, Attorney-General of the State of New York, and for the defence by Hon. William H. Seward, Ex-Governor of this State.

"My knowledge of the prisoner commenced on the 16th of March, 1846, being the day after his commitment, and it continued until the completion of a post-mortem examination of his body on the twenty-first of August, 1847. "During the scene at Van Nest's, he received a severe wound in the articulation of the right thumb with the carpus-the artery barely escaping division. This circumstance saved the lives of other members of the family, because, to use his own expression, he couldn't handle his hand any longer.'

My services were required on account of this injury. In addition to the wound, I also found him entirely deaf in the left, and partially so in the right ear.

"It was a singular circumstance that he never made an inquiry as to either the extent or condition of the injury, or the time necessary to complete a cure, or the prospect of recovering the use of his hand-though it was the right, and as a laborer was his main dependence. Neither did he complain of any sensibility in the wound, although the physical evidences of pain accompanying the inflammatory stage were such as to leave no doubt of its existence. In fact, from the time of his commitment until the day of his death, although he often saw, and was attended by me through his last sickness, he asked only two questions, one about his medicine, the other regarding his diet, and these were made during his last illness.

"During the principal part of his incarceration, he passed his time standing; his body erect his head a little drooping, and with arms folded. He sustained this posture with statue-like stillness-indicating great muscular strength. He exhibited a calm, quiet expression of countenance, occasionally broken by a smile, which had the appearance of just bursting into laughter, but would quickly subside, leaving the same unalterable expression, as undisturbed as though a gleam of mirthfulness had never occupied his fancies. To the careless observer, it appeared as though he endeavored to suppress an irresistible propensity to laugh. This smile was never accompanied by any vocal sound, but often glowed upon his features, regardless of time, place or circumstance, indicative of intense mental emotion. For this emotion he could never assign a cause. I say he never could, because, when asked, he always said he didn't know.' My conclusion is also based upon the remarkable fact, that on the trial, seventy-two witnesses on both sides coincided in the opinion that the prisoner did not intend to deceive in any reply made to the numerous interrogatories put to him.

"His deafness increased until the sense of hearing was nearly, if not quite, obliterated. I doubt whether he heard any conversation for the last two