The New York herald., 1876-01-19
Recital Of the Vagaries and Hallu-
cinations of the Prisoner.
HIS FEAR OF ASSASSINATION.
Change Of Conduct After His Re-
turn from Europe.
CONTRADICTIONS AND PRESENTIMENTS.


nesses to-day
John I. Burk was the first witness worn:-I have
lived ten wears in Vineland; went there to act as
cashier for Mr Lands; am still in his employ; when
FIRST went 10 Vineland found him coonizng tract OF
land and people coming in rapidly the tract covered
2S sol acres OF ground; l entered upon my
duties at once as cashier and bookkeeper
he was very strict, OF great method and
gave close attention TO business; his orders to all his
employees given by hmseli he never had less than
twelve employees and sometimes fifty or sixty; Mr..
lands did his own advertising, prepared advertise
ments himself and consummated his sales; / his
attorney in fact when he le Europe have been
ever since he returned; the amount Of land sold by
him amounts to over l3 600 of his and over
1000 belonging to settlers; Mr. Lands received
thousands of letters; he ndorsed them himself and
gave the outline Of the replies to be sent
PEcUuARIrEs
first noticed change in him in August, 1868; small
things would disturb him and make him nervous; he
feared assassinaton 1869 he spoke OF his fear of
being assassinated told him II was imaginary, but
he repeated it very often he would point persons
who eyed him closely the street as being such as
had come 10 Vineand TO assassinate him; would say
they had bad face; some Of these persons had
been in his onice and talked with him;
in the latter part OF 1874 and the
early part OF 1875 he spoke OF such things twenty-five
or thirty times this after his return from Europe
he was very negligent Of business, continually acting
contrary to his directions; him the evening
OF his return from Europe; he had been absent eight
months and eight days, and yet said nothing about
business but talked u his European "trip; then broke
on suddenly declared he would sell off hs carpets
and have more fires In his room, the
dnst thew made was unhealthy: the evening
very chilly felt cold with my overcoat on he
had on only one coat and complained OF being very
Nna1 hnfn nhar Nl
10th went 10 the 5ity together on important busi
ness had securities in safe deposit company in
Philadelphia which needed attention. he put II of after
arrival this surprised me- as he had been very
prompt in business before; we visited mill in Pha-
dephia and while descending in one of the elevators
he remarked that he did not believe the rope
very strong and would not care II II broke and killed
him; he spoke also of not having happy home
count of his domestic troubles l tried TO bring his
mind upon business, but he would put business off; he
would break OF suddenly from The subject he was
speaking about and talk of something else; when
we crossed the ferry he remarked, what an amount
OF business have done to day p when had really
done nothing; while returning to vineland he asked
'What have those VinelRnders been telling my wife
about meY" he said, These troubles will ruin me;
tried to soothe him. but he would reply to what
said
The examination of the witness was hero broken off
order to allow others who had come from distance
10 testify.
Alexander G. Catten sworn IL a merchant In
Philadelphia; deal in grain and -four; know Mr. Ian
dis have met HIM about five times saw him last about
days prior the shooting in my Office; noticed
a strangencss of manner showed him samples and
made SALE but he acted very strange and nco
herent that he Quite unnerved me / remarked 20 NV
partner that there certainly something wrong with
that man. he made me so nervous that had to sit
down some ffteen minutes TO regain my composure
vAGARIEs IN EUROPE.
Lewis G. Madeira sworn, examined by Mr. Brew
ster:-I know Mr. lands first met him about business;
distribute circulars in Europe; took supper with him
IN Philadelphia in the winter Of 1874; next met him
the Sd Of June, on the street in Liverpool; he did
not seem 70 know me; mentioned my name and the
business transactions We had he did not remember
tilem; they seemed to be lost to him; asked
HIM about his trip and what
he had in inducing emigration; TO of my ques-
did he satisfactorily and he left dissat-
Isned his dress was neat very much soilcd;
his boots broken open our interview did not last but
few minutes made mention OF this interview i'm
medatey after my return 70 Mr. Colesbury friend Of
Mr. Lands and expressed my opinion as TO his mental
condition. thought his conduct exceeding strange In
view Of friendly relations; as business man he
had been genial and prompt
Dr. Coleman Leaning sworn, examined by Colonel
Potter:-I know Charles X. Lands; first saw him In
1861 have seen him frequently since for two three
years back noticed an irritaoty in conversation;
when contradicted he would become very much
cited; became very guarded in my conversation with
him. careful 10 agree with him; noticed wildness
In his eyes, want OF hxIty saw him after his
from Europe, and noticed that his temper was more
orm, his eyes more Wild
Cross examined by Attorney Genera:--I met Mr.
lands on the cars and our conversation general
one, he was a monomanac on Vneland; was an inter
estinR conversatonalist with the exception Of the
uniformity have mentioned; met Mr.. Lands once
In Trenton, he had tailed getting a certain bull be-
fore the Legislature he said that my brother who was
the member to whom he had applied did not know
what injury he was doing to Vneland by refusing 10
offer this bill he took hold of with gentle force
and wanted me 10 60 with him 10 his brother; he
acted in such way that ! thought he was
cracked; ! have no interest in Vineland my
honest opinion is that he cracked his talk did
agree with his intelligence; have heard him talk
abous statutes and mix up other things In
Of his intelligence; he showed what consid-
cred might be insanity In the blood, which
anything else; his gestures violent his general
demeanor was extravagant; his conduct would only
last a few minutes; IL would come quickly and 90
quickly; a contradiction would start him; when
noticed this wildness Of manner Immediately backed
down and agreed with him.
TALKS PREsENTTMEyr.
MT Burk recalled When Mr. Lands came into the
pnice he said 81 gong away and will return
shortly" he did not back; he would give orders
and then countermand them; seemed to have no fixed
principle OF business hts former manner was quick and
decided January ~ he sent for me- he told me he
The vault ! had the lock taken apart and the
vault searched but the letters he wanted
not there; he found them In his pocket;
he wanted the keys get letters which be sald
In the vault; him the night OF the l4th OF Decem-
Der he sa'd he was tired, but commenced talking again
his European "Trip; said he had lot OF statuary
which he was afraid TO show for fear Il would excite
jealousy; thought that II he placed them about his
house they would serve to fnghten OF any one who
70 sssassinate him; he said the mountains of
Italy would be the future OF mankind he thai pre-
sentiment 20 him reality told him that that
was imaginary bu, he could not dismiss II nom
his mind; called his attention TO a letter
from Dubin; he said he had answered ~ showed it
10 him and he still thought he had answered ~ he
spoke Of selling or hts furniture and carpets his man.
ncr was rather Wild he would open his eyes wide and
stare walk Up and down rapidly take up books and
throw them down: his conversation ipcoherent;
Was there about two hours when tried " leave he
would urge TO sit down again; stayed long at hrs
solicitatiou he told that hereafter when visitors
came he wanted 70 them he did not ride out but
with two Of thom after this conversation
nALLUciNArioNS
Anar recess Mr.. Burke took the stand once more
&c continued I'll had an Interview with Mr.. Lands
Or about the 6h OF February he said hs wife wanted
a separation; he said he thought OF his children and
their future this connecticut that he thought such
teparation would avail as his wife would want
40 return him he spoke very tendery about thcm
pn February r., 10 the evening his house caught hre
snmo 200 people were collected about the house and
great many buckes OF water were used 70 extngufsh
(he flames. Mr. Iandis insisted that be had
put n out with bucket OF water next day we went
70 New YORK; had q conversation with a Mr.. Page
shere about advertisiDg IN a New York paper; he
.rdo-ad rnn a nrenarn nlrertisameni and half