The New York herald., 1876-01-21
THE TRIAL OF lands.

TESTIMONY OF THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND
THE UNPLEASANT DOMESTIC
scENEs-THE PRISONER KNOCKED sENsELEss
BY HIS wIFE-wHIcH WAS INSANE!
BRIDGEroS, JAN 20, 1876
Colonel Pearson took tho stand this morning and his
cross examination proceeded He testified that he had
practised shooting Mr. Landis' house; that Mr. and
Mrs lands were both poor shots; that he bad fired
the British bulldog at target that Mrs. Lands had
ady's pistol which she used; that he fired that also
and made the only good shots that made.
Benjamin Cook sworn and testified have been
in the employ Of c. X over three years; am
salesman OF the under his Office; the early part
OF my connection with him | regarded him a FIRST
class business man; he gave his supervision
my department; after his from Europe he did
not enter the store for ten or twelve days; he was
there almost every day before he went; did como
in but two three times up to the time OF tho shoot
ing; March is he in; turned speak with
him, but startled by his appearance that
stepped back about three steps, his eyes wild and
his appearance unnatural; he said, "Why don't you
keep ihis store ceap had just got through cleaning
II and II fair average condition.; his eyes
wild slarlng aud rolling in their sockets
Sandcrson Martin IL live in Philadelphia know
Mr. Lands met him in that city in March, 1875; thought
he was about the most erratc | had ever met;
his talk about cheap travelling in Europe; about
bread cheese diet the Continent; he talked non
sense; this was the first time had ever met him; |
expressed my opinion OF him before We separated;
sad, ALEC, that man is crazy. ~
Alexander Coicsbury sworn:-I attorney and
live in Philadelphia; know Mr Lands; | introduced
Mr. Martin to Mr.. lands; saw Lands about weeks
after his return from Europe; his talk about
tlqutes, pictures and rubbish he had picked up in
Europe; he never mentioned business though l had
written to him TO call upon about matters OF I'M
porance; thought his conduct very strange though
did not particularly mark 1t as being insane.
LANDis' FAMILY PHYSICIAN
DIR. Franklin Lane 81 live Ninchnd and am
the family physician OF Sir. Landis have paid bcween
500 and 600 professional visits before he went
Europe he was good business and very direct in
conversation and otherwise after his return noticed
the first time called upon hum that he gloomy;
seemed 10 have something upon his mind; was wild
and incoherent; about a week before the tragedy L
noticed that his manner was increasing wildness;
that his depression was greater; there was no con-
sccutvcncss in his talk
Judge Reed ruled that any opinion of the Doctor re-
gardng Mr. Lands must be based upon his obscr
vatioD, not upon what Mrs Lands said. The Doctor
said he could express such opinion, he could
not separate what he and what Mrs. lands told
him from the opinion he formed at that time of Mr..
Lands' condition
Witness continued About the evening Of the 10th
or 18th Of March, 1875 Mr. Lands came to me; he
said he In great trouble and wanted my aid; he
claimed, my God! ! cannot endure this; my wife
insanc;n % told him did not anything like insanity
about her. but he insisted sho was and that II
necessary for him TO provide for her. he walked the
floor wildly and cxcitedy, gave vent TO expressions OF
wildncss aud despair such ''My God what shall
dof" he thought no put her in asylum, but
that il he did her family would pursue him to tho
death that her family delighted in a row; that her
brother had threatened To follow him eat 10 England
that he might have the pleasure there OF blowing his
tLandis0 brains out; he seemed 10 have
wIFEs FAMILY;
KNEW Mrs Lands was not insane, bccnusc visited
her frequently; interview lasted about two hours
his countenancc pale his expression that of gloom
and despair; he said ne could Sleep that his mead
panied him that sharp pains and flashes of light
he exclaimed three tour tunes, 81 am afraid 70 go
home afraid of my life II go home ~ he said
he was afraid Mrs Lands would destroy his children
his talk was almost continually repetition OF what
have stated; my opinion at that time that he
insane that reasoning useless with him; |
stated to my family after this Interview; saw him
again next day. went to his house see Mrs Iandis
and he informed that she had gone o the
city; hc said nothing about her but that no
had had terrible time with her during tho night; he
looked PALE aud called my attention TO bruse his
temple caused by Mrs. Iands having thrown plaster
Cupid nj him; It struck him the temple and bruised
him severely; he wanted me 10 examine his wife when
she returned and give my opinion to her sanity;
did SEQ her in the evening; with her hour and
told lands he must give up the idea of insanity; no
still insisted that she was insane.
Amer recess the direct examination OF DR.. Lane
continued He said:-On the night OF the 18th or
March considered him unsound in mind; saw HIM IN
jail he wanted me TO prepare twenty-five bottles OF
CONDUCT OF MRS LANDis
Cross-cxamned by the Attorney Gcneral-Hc was
insane ON the question of his wifc's snnity he SAID
that the whole family on his wfe,s side we're insane
could not discuss the question with him. because no
would break in and say Il know; know he told
me that his wife had taught his children TO throw
things at him the table his return from
Europe; that she had thrown glass OF water in his
OF cndeamcnt and then iasicn her hands in his hair,
so that II would be difficult for him to escape; did
not believe his assertion that she was insane but did
believe that these things occurred; attributed her
actions to another cause, which knew TO exist; he
was afraid OF his life and tho lives Of his children the
danger he dreaded at the hands of Mrs Landis /
never said TO Mr. GTIfths that she insane
SAVAGE DOMESTIC RELATIONS.
Deborah Ryan was next cacd--I live IN Mr.. Lapdis'
family; am housekeeper; there work for Mrs.
Landis before her husband returned from abroad;
some weeks after his return was lust taking dinner
4 won n
and found him and Mrs. Lands jostling each other;
he requested me to hold the door while he put his
vile in her bedroom; he wild and excited; he
locked himself then In another room: remember the
week previous 10 the shooting. the 10th OF March;
number OF boxes OF articles he had bought In Europe
brought 20 the house. and the dining room WAS
covered with them they taken from the boxes.
Witness went and related many things which
showed the condition of between Mr. Lands
and his wiie--hOw she Knocked him scnsclcss with a
bracket on which was plaster CuDid how shc slapped
his lace IN her prcscncc how witness told Mr. Lands
that these things, her opinion. the OF
Mrs lands condition; how witness told him he
insane than she was; on the morning OF tue
shooting Lands very wild anu complained OF his
head his eyes staring he would press his hands
to his head no acted like nadman: three or lour
weeks before this he went with the cellar to
draw some winc he there pointed at the window and
said. Look at the window; somebody has trying
20 break through there and assassinato me - he i'm
medatcy ran up Stars and lott me alone the night
of tho 10th Of March there disturbance between
them in the parlor, was called in. but would not
interfere; dld not think she insane: thought II
temper; thought
TEMrER WAS pEvIIisH;
when she slapped his face IL sounded all over the
ROOM she hit him hard. after being struck with tho
bracket Lands lay nsensibc tho floor Eve or six
minutes; was alraiu to leave him; stood between
her and hin. when lac revived backed her out of the
room and accompanied her TO her cwn room; told
her Il was dreadful act so: she INSISTED ON roinr
down stairs TO see him; ~ am AFRAID have killed him
and must go down 10 sec 10 him. she said; she did 90
down The 'front.' stairs went down the back stars
passed the door heard her say, 'You arc more in
sane than am; your grandfather or uncle was IN
sane.
The cross examination OF this witness was very keen
but she adhered TO her direct testimony
James Brannan WAS next examined. He had had
business dealings with I.andls but noticed no other
evidences OF insanity than have already hccn related
Samuel Gaston saw Mr.. Lands on the morning OF
the shooting; went To his Office ON business; made
INDIGNANT by the treatment he received; noticed his
staring aud his utter OF interest IN business