William W Southgate
Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Aug 1872, page 8
EXAMINATION OF W W SOUTHGATE
William W Southgate, the lunatic who attacked an old man and
woman on Broadway last Saturday, was before Judge Hoeffer yesterday on an
inquest of lunacy. The testimony was sufficiently conclusive of his insanity to
induce the Judge to make an order sending him to Longview to remain until cured.
In that event he will be returned to await the further order of the Court. The following is a brief summary of the testimoney taken in the examination.
A L Greer, a retired merchant of Covington who has been on terms of intimacy with the family for a number of years, testified to Southgate's being confined in the Lunatic Asylum at Lexington about two years ago. Before his confinement in the asylum, Southgate was drinking a great deal of the time, so much so that he thought him unfit to be loose in the community.
Southgate had been addicted to dissipation from youth up. The witness had often talked with Southgate with a view to effect a reformation, but he had lately given up all idea of ever being able to accomplish it. This dissipation, though excessive, was never productive of vinleore? On one occasion when the witness was going to Lexington, Mrs. Southgate asked him to stop at the asylum with the view to have her son brought home
The witness called at the asylum but the officers informed him that Southgate had escaped the night before. He was discovered near Cynthiana by a friend of the family, a short time after and cared for. His conduct toward his family when intoxicated was not violent. He was kind, gentle and affectionate toward them when not under the influence of liquor.
The witness saw him about ten days ago. Some two months before, Southgate had told him that he had united with the Temperance society and was going to break off drinking. On the occasion of the witness seeing him, ten days ago, while he was returning from the Temperance hall, the witness asked him why he wasn't at the hall. Southgate replied that he had been kicked out of the hall.
The witness also saw him a short time afterward. He was standing with his head leaning over a fence. The witness spoke to him but Southgate returned no answer for the first time in his life when spoken to by him. Aside from his excessive use of liquor, Southgate had no other bad habit.
The parents and grandparents of Southgate, whom he had known had all been very sensible people. In the case of Richard Southgate, he thought there was no insanity other than induced by drink. Jacob Hawthorne, the uncle of Southgate, a resident of Newport, testified to the same effect as Mr. Greer. He further stated that after young Southgate's escape from Lexington, he saw a letter from a person who said he ought not to be out of the Asylum.
Martha McClellan, a servant living with Mrs. Southgate for the last four months, testified that last Thursday night, your Southgate wakened the family by giving the alarm of robbers in the house. On Friday last, when he was eating his supper, he jumped up and ran to the back door to see if the robbers were at the gate. Southgate was examined by the Court. He did not appear to be comprehend the situation in which he was placed.
The mother of Southgate was also examined. She testified that he had resided in Covington for a period of forty-eight years. She had thirteen children in her life time. Seven are now living. Richard, one of her sons died at Longview Asylum of congestion of the brain. Wright, another son, died of the same disease.
The Court, being satisfied as to Southgate's insanity, made the above mentioned order.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 October 1872, page 8
NEWPORT
Wm W Southgate, the man from Newport who hacked an old man to
death while laboring under a fit of insanity, some months since, was released
from Longview a day or two ago and was before the Police Court for examination
yesterday. The case, however, was postponed until tomorrow morning.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Nov 1872, page 3
The State vs. Wm W Southgate. The defendant was indicted under two indictments charging assault with intent to kill, assault with intent to would and assault and battery; one in which John Platfoot is named as the party injured; and the other in which Rose Duffy is named as injured party. the assault was committed on the 10th of August last.
The indictment was returned at the last session of the Grand Jury and the case set specially for trial yesterday. The Court found that the plaintiff did not make out his case and rendered judgment for the defendants.