You are here:  Home  >  Newspaper articles list  >  Article Article from the Sioux County Herald Orange City, Iowa March 1, 1899 DISMISSED! Mrs. Alice A. Blood is Released After a Three Day's Trial. DOCTORS PRONOUNCE HER INSANE. Full Account of the Proceedings of the Now Celebrated Case. SATURDAY NOON. Last night in obedience to the order of the court, Drs. Mead and Cram, experts for the state, made a critical examination into the condition of Mrs. Blood. They went into the matter thoroughly and after an exhaustive examination reported to counsel of state, Mrssrs. Van Oosterhout and Orr, that the prisoner was afflicted with locomotor ataxia, which had extended to the brain and rendered her mentally irresponsible. Under such a situation to proceed farther was useless, or worse than useless. The county attorney, whose conduct of the case thus far had been no less than masterly and had elicited the warmest praise from the eminent counsel opposed, did not wish to prolong the matter at the expense to the county of several hundred dollars per day, and, after the examination of one or two experts, dismissed. Thus ends a notable and unfortunate chapter in the annals of the district court of Sioux county. It is to be hoped that the irresponsible condition of Mrs. Blood will prompt her friends to take such measures as may prevent a repition of last November's tragedy, which shocked even the enemies of the deceased man. A brief statement of the entire facts will serve to explain the situation which confronted the prosecution last Friday night. Four weeks ago County Attorney Van Oosterhout took with him to see Mrs. Blood, Dr. Mead, superintendent of the Yankton asylum where from 400 to 500 insane are constantly kept, instructing him to make a careful investigation of her condition and report the truth. After seeing Mrs. Blood for an hour or more the doctor asserted that she was a responsible person. Upon the theory that such was the fact and that the best medical science would uphold that view the case was begun. On Friday night, however, by order of the court another examination was made by Dr. Mead, assisted by Dr. Cram and Huizenga, and Dr. De Bey. The latter physician had some time since arrived at the conclusion that the homicide was the result of an insane deed, and at Friday night's investigation there was an unanimous agreement on the part of the physicians as to the condition of the patient. She was insensible to the prick of a needle, could not give continuous utterance to a thought and the limbs were partly paralyzed. The court was so informed, evidence to that effect put on record, and the case dismissed. When Mrs. Blood was told by Deputy Sheriff Henry that her troubles were over, she replied, "I haven't had any trouble - only I didn't want them to let the children get into trouble." The rest of this article is a reprint of the Feb 25, 1899 article. If you would like more information, please contact Randy Lane