Slays Sweetheart, Called Moron, Imbecile, Inferior, Insane

1920

NEW HAS MENTALITY OF 12 YEAR OLD BOY

ALIENISTS ASSERT THAT SLAYER OF SWEETHEART IS A "HIGH CLASS IMBECILE"

By United Press Leased Wire

Los Angeles. -- Harry S. New has the mentality of a boy slightly under 12 years of age.

He is a moron, a "high class imbecile."

His mind began to deteriorate about two years ago when he was on the Mexican border.

His mind "exploded" in Topango Canyon on the night of July 4 when Frieda Lesser is supposed to have refused to marry him because of circumstances surrounding his birth.

These were the opinions of Dr. Ross Moore, alienist, called by the defense in New's trial on the charge of murdering Miss Lesser in an attempt to prove the accused man was insane when he shot the girl.

Prospects today were that the trial would continue for another week.

Dr. E. B. Hoag of Pasadena, mental expert and special lecturer for the University of California, analyzed New's case as:

New is constitutionally an inferior person; is of a psychopathic personality; a paranoic; suffers from dementia praecox; is feeble minded and insane."

He based his testimony on an examination of New, a study of New's history and of the evidence and depositions presented at the trial.

It was learned the prosecution will not deny the allegation that New is of an inferior mind, but will attempt to prove he is only dull not demented.

"Frieda Lesser must have been a remarkable girl not to have realized New's mentality," Dr. Hoag declared.

--The Appleton Daily Post, Appleton, Wisconsin, January 3, 1920, page 4.