“Thanks, doctor. You can go.”
Having thus sought to prove the prisoner’s irresponsibility, the defense endeavored to establish her fair name. Half-a-dozen ladies and two or three gentleman attested that they had known her for many years, and had always found her to be of a peculiarly sweet and gentle temperament. Not one of them would believe her capable of an act of violence, unless, at the time of committing it, she was out of her right mind. As the last of these persons left the stand, Mr. Sondheim said, “Your honor, our case is in.”
“And a pretty lame case it is,” commented the district-attorney. “I beg leave to remind the court that it is Friday, and to move for an adjournment until Monday, in order that the People may have an opportunity to produce witnesses in rebuttal.” The motion was granted.
On Monday a second alienist, one whose renown quite equaled that of the first, declared it as his opinion, based upon a personal examination of the accused, that she was not and never had been in the slightest degree insane.
“Is Dr. Julius Gunther in court?” called out the district-attorney.
Dr. Gunther elbowed his way to the front, and was sworn.
“Dr. Gunther,” the prosecutor inquired, “you are a physician in general practice—yes?”
“Yes, sir, I am.”
“You were also, I believe, up to the time of his death, physician to the family of Mr. Bernard Peixada?”
The doctor nodded affirmatively.