Defense Claims Van Dyke Suffering from Temporary Insanity When He Killed A.L. Painter, March 11, 1926

Insanity Plea to be Used for Van Dyke by Attorneys. . . Will Argue to Jury That Slayer of the Officer Was Insane at the Time of the Deed. . . Mother Died at Morganton. . . Van Dyke Claims He Was Gassed in France—The Court Room Is Packed During the Trial

Gastonia, March 11 (AP)—Defense council for Jesse Van Dyke, 25, on trial for his life in Superior Court here before Judge C.C. Lyon of Elizabethtown, will argue to the jury late today that the defendant was temporarily insane at the time of the killing of Chief A.L. Painter of Cherryville on January 14th.

Van Dyke claims he was gassed while with the A.E.F. [American Expeditionary Forces—what they called the soldiers who fought in Europe] during the World War, and underwent treatment In an army hospital for five months. It is also stated that Van Dyke’s mother was insane and died in the State Hospital at Morganton.

The state finished with the evidence this morning. Two witnesses, Loring Hord and A.B. Sweatt, Cherryville young men, were called from Florida to testify.

Despite the inclement weather, the court house was again packed beyond standing room by spectators. Judge Lyon called for order frequently.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Thursday, March 11, 1926From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Thursday, March 11, 1926 newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-03-11/ed-1/seq-1/