The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-19
Willy Mr.. WELLS.
The Old Man Turns the Tables
on His Cousins.
SPICY REJOIN d E Z S.
Examination of the Alleged Luna
tic by a Doctor.


held yesterday The examination OF the old man
himself kept the audience in q roar. and his quaint
and pertinent answers evoked storms Of applause
that the officers were unable to restrain. Thus far
each days session has been held in different
room. Yesterday the courts were using the upper
rooms. so it necessary to take the room San-
orally reserved for the Surrogates hearings. All
the interested parties wero present. except Mr. Wells
and he camo in later. All the cousins were on hand
and some of them were represented by counsei.
Among the spectators several old merchants
and residents. OF whom, Mr.. John I. Howard,
was called witness. Everybody concerned
In the trial greatly inconveniencod by the awk-
ward arrangements of the the jury were badly
placed and the Commissioners wore half hidden De-
hind hugo desk on the platform
WHEAT AN MERCHANT sAYs-
John T. Howard testifed:-I am merchant and ia
miliar with large transactions; have met Mr..
Wells and know of the Portage Lake bonds; they are
now worthless but were prospectivcly OF great
value; / negotiated their sale in Europe and sold
them, but owing to some techncaity 1t was not con-
summated; never knew Mr.. Wells intimately, but
from my intercourse with him should say he was
coherent and there nothing out of tho way with
him; should not think his declining to tell where
he passed the night when he pretended he went to
Albany any evidence of unsoundness Of mind; in
my judgment that man is perfectly sane.
DIR. Ayres-The requisition directs us TO inquire
into the condition of Mr.. Wells mind now and
propose to test that condition to-day. Is Mr.. Wells
here
Mr.. Kent-He is not coming to-day. sir. but we
can send for him.
Mr.. Marsh-It seems to me. sir, that it would be
extremely unfair to take the old man now, when he
is excited angered and exasperated at his treatment
1 have never seen the document to which you al
1ude. You will remember that all the proceedings
ex parte and there was no opportunity given
any to challenge what was done. Why these
very proceedings enough to upset the man. 1t
seems to me the inquisition should be directed to
what was the condition Of the mans mind. Some
of our other witnesses here and will first
anime them. and then. il Your Honor directs will
take Mr.. Wells in hand.
DIR. Ayres-An right. Go ahead.
Mr.. Charles J. Smith. editor Of Noahs Sunday
Times was then called and testified that he had Wis
tied Mr.. Wells on professional business and found
him intelligent and coherent.
Richard b. Charles testified IL have rented prem
Uses of Mr.. Wells in No. 62A Greenwich street; left
there last May; paid my rent to him. and he called
quite regularly, prompt the quarters at those
periods ! talked with him on general matters So
lictcd reduction OF rent and he took off ten per cent
after much talk; paying more than it
worth; he wouldn't make q new bargain SO when
i'm MAY of 1873; consider him harsh in bargains.
To Mr.. Sibley-I saw him every quarter day;
made him an offer. but he refused to listen to any
place when my lease expired consider him entirely
| sound in mind.
| Mr. Wells here came into court and it was deemed
| best to put him on the stand again. Mr. Marsh con-
| Quoted the examination.
| Jonathan I. Wells testifed:--I will answer you q
| few questions: am in my seventy ninth year, sir;
| have been in New York near forty years; was born
in Montague. Mass; mothers name was Perley Taft
arria had hpnf bara Gam md
| Henry, and sisters Mary and Hannah; didn't see
| much OF the family after came here; none Of us
ever married. father called Cornelius Wells: his
| father was Henry. physicisn father farmer
in early life; came with very little money to make
was agent of cotton broker for three wears: he
| lived In Augusta. Ca. then WAS in retail drug
| store; after this went in business with Mr.. Miles
! Wells Il Miles, for five or six years; Miles Lives in
| New York since then have done business in my own
| way; sold palm leaves; imported them from
Cuba; we received them the wharves and then put
them in my own store; they were used tor braiding
hats, mems and women's; palm leaf hats We called
them; that trade ran down in about ten years; we
| exchanged the leaves for manufactured goods and
dealt with Eastern men, and sold always at a
profit; have what might be called pretty little
| property and enough to carry me through; made
| it not by peculation; never spent much
| RxrREMH MORALITY,
never went to Theatres never drove fast horses;
dress and jewelry were not my forte at all; had
| old fashioned English watch in my younger days;
| there no adjournment about me; took good carr
times S have certain nvestments have property
| on the Connecticut River and stock in the Hartford
| and New Haven road.
.'Bad stockY
mo. siri 1t bears premium of sixty per cent"
Eyes, sir, every six months; get per cent
| the original value of the stock. say from $3.50 to
$40O generally reinvested my dividends and didn't
ST. TOO dividend: recollcct the several Terre Haute
| roads; rely on my own books almost entirely, and
fesI y SSasy
| OF late years: l had some Portage Lake and
Ship Canal bonds; don't remember Of whom
| l bought Them presume I inquired particularly
about the property that covered by these bonds;
the lands were West but can't rcineniber the state
| of Michigan was the headquarters; the iron aud
| mineral lands considered the cream of the
value; have an ndistinct recollection that Mr. John
L. Howard and Mr.. Avery went TO England about it;
| knew Holbrook very well and consulted him az 10
my investments; thought highly OF him; lie was
highly esteemed a. a auancier. and stood in
pnte in the city: know Mr.. Swan, who had his
| Office next 10 me-"
Mr.. Marsh-Do you know cousin George Sbley?
Mr.. Wells-l call him acquaintance (grcat laugh
teri; was always ranked rs one Of tho most tenn
peratc kind OF folks: never smoked in my life and
very small chew answers me four and twenty hours;
| my bonds arc registered; never married; my
sister died two years ago. in East Hartford. the
| property owned by my father aud mother; she left
her property to me- sent lawyer up there; can't
recall tho name OF the firm; there two of them
and first rate looking fellows and highly esteemed;
have their names in little pocketbook; can't re-
| member names well as could . few years ago;
| it's over the Third National Bank.
| Dr. Ayres-was the name Crosby?
Mr.. Wclls-It moro like Crosby. (Applause)
| Dr. Ayres-Whats the other2
Mr.. wclls-Kent Crosby and Kent. daughter and
| applauseJ
Mr.. Marsh-whats my name?
Mr.. Wells--I can't tell.
Mr.. Marsh-Is II Harsh?
Mr.. Wclls-No, sir.
Mr.. Marsh-Is II Marsh9
MIR. wells-Msrsh Is the name. Well call il Marsh
| Long laughter and loud spplarsc)
| To Mr.. Marsh-I remember tho accident, q few
months ago. and have had stiif finger ever since;
| ! am capable OF taking care OF my affairs;
| lnn beatc In har.
| gain; no one that know OF has out ahead OF
me, but don't care to say much about that. y
| A MEDICAL EXAMINATION.
| To DIR. Ayrcs-I keep list OF my securities; when
dividends are due am notified and go to the Office
for the checks the Office IL IN the OF Wall
street; the dividends paid in checks drawn to
| my order; deposit them In the bank and put my
name on the back-indorsc il; can see aud read the
| print In this book.
] Then Mr.. Wells took boob and made out a few