The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-15
JONATHAN WELLS'S FORTUNE
THE QUEER FACTS BROUGHT OUT IN
THE INVESTIGATIO

THE INVESTIGATIOM
The Eccentric Old BacheIor's Talk About n
wnI-A FIr-t Cousin on the stand Mr..
Wells Makes Brief speech TO the Court.
The cousins Of Jonathan Tremaine Wells,
the rich and eccentric Maiden lane straw NOR
chant. were early In their attendance at the in
qury Into Mr.. Wells's sanity before Commits
sioners f. A. Ward, G. A. Townsend. and DR..
Daniel Ayres. in Brooklyn. yesterday. Mr..
wess second cousin. Mr.. George E. Sbcy.
the lawyer. who appears for the petitioner. an
other second cousin. who Ia absent. had large
company OF witnesses to prove that the aged
bachelor was incapable OF caring for the large
fortune which he has been fifty years in amass-
ing. Receiver Adrian Van Snderen attended
laden with bonds and securities OF all Sorts
which he had found In the sort OF curiosity
shop. in Maiden lane where Mr.. Wells did bust
ness. Mr.. Wells sat by his counsel. and leaned
upon hickory stan. converslng with those
nearest him. DR.. Chas. Corey. tho insanity OK
pert. asked Mr.. Wells whether he knew what
the proceedings were about
Oh" said Mr.. Wells. ihoy are about an old
man who is supposed to be very rich"
Mr.. Wells walked into the court room and out
OF It unattended. his greatest difficulty seeming
to be his failing sight. He shaded his eyes as
10 WIS SehrCillnR IOr tno seat.
Joseph c. +. Cheever. who boarded In the
same house with Mr.. Wells. said he looked
upon Mr. Wells as insane.
+. Methke. "A tailor Of % Woodruff street. tes-
titled that Mr.. Wells would insist in having
twenty or thirty buttons on his pantaloons in
lines. Mr.. Wells wanted patches put all over
his pantaloons. vests and coats. and wanted
patches on patches. Mr.. Wells was singular in
his dress. Mr.. Marsh Mr.. Wellss counsel.
asked the tailor II no did not know that Horace
Greeley had the same eccentrcity
Mr.. Adrian Van Sindercn. the receiver OF Mr..
Wells's estate. testified to finding among Mr..
wells's securities $4,000 In New York and
Housatonic Railroad bonds. which are now Mr..
Van Sinderen said. comparatively yalueless as
tho roNd has been In n receivers hands since
July. 1874, Mr.. Wells bought all these bonds
last fail; He paid $4,000 on Aug, 20. 1878. for
$40 o0 IN bonds and 5000 on Sept. II, 1878,
for $4,000 in bonds, He also owned SIC 900 in
the bonds OF the Cuban republic. for which he
paid tlOO on March 2i. is77. Mr, welis's check
books were put In evidence TO show the differ
ence in the way no did his business in former
yenrs and OF late
The witness continued Il found IN his
kerchefs, candle ends. old clothes done up in
papers, old papers done up together. and old
coins should say that his condition Of nj
was irrational. and that his mind WAS unsound.
also consider him wholly incapable Of mHnag-
ing his affairs. He has thr"e lots OF land in
Greenwich street New York city. running
through 10 Washington street which ara as
sessed at 80 600 He hns other real estate out OF
the city; $40 acrrs Of land in Leet County,
Missls-ippi; ~ acres near Coeymaus. Albany
County. New York .'nud various other parcels. "
=, on cross examination Nr Van Sindercn said
Maiden lane, after being appointed Receiver.
he took lonksmith with him; Mr; Wells was
not there. The locksmith picked the lock and
they entered and took n cursory view OF the
contents Of the room. Then the lOcksmith af-
fixed padlncks to the outer doors The next
uV - Of he ri.
ties. Mr.; Charles Sibley. "a brother OF the law
yer tor me petitioner helped to inventory the
ceiver's accountant. and ns such had. under the
rncelNers supsrvision access TO MIR. Wells
not know that either Mr. George Sibey or Mr.
Chas Sihley was "A relative ot Mr. Wells's until
after hghad he'd ed W2Ee . 2r less 70 do with them
Sihley continued 10 he witnesses nccOu nttnt al.
though the witness had learned that $ hley .was
a cousin Of the defendant and brother OF tn,
petitioners LAWYER The witness saw no rea.
Mr. Mnr-h-I thought that you were an un.
VIII nR witness when you took the stand. but
am sorry 70 see that you are not sir, and that
William \. Tuit Of A Horatio street. this city
testified that he Is on tho retired list OF the New
YORK folice Department. and that be is FIRST
Mr; Wells for many years until Jan. % last, bul
he had no particular reason for the lapse Of his
arqunlntAnre %ith his first cousin, The wit
| ness went to Mr. Wellss office at ~ Maiden
| lane. on Jan. %. at the request ot Mr.. Sbey.
! The witness thought that Mr.. Wells was moi
| able 20 manage his own Affairs. There were
| only two first cousins of Mr.. Wells the witness
| nddrd; ono WIS himself. tho other was Mrs
| Batchclor. but htS second cousins seemed to bC
| numbered 10y doz' ms A day or two ago witness
| met Mr. Wells IN Nassau street. and Mr.. Well.
| dll not rrcpgni3i him.
- .s"ph I. Clark. who had boarded with Mr.
| W"ile nj - Woodruff street for seventeen years
| swore that h. had met Mr.. Wells nearly every
| day for that time. and has been on friendly
terms with him. About seven months ngo Mr.
| he told tho witness that he had made n will
| but he would not suy who his lawyers Were.
| | suggested,' said tho witness. " TINT he
| might haye endowed an institution or built
| On Fob. q h" told me that he had not mad" q
| Will. He said: II seems WAS mistaken Clark
| II was u power of attorney | signed. | wts
| never more surprised In my life when found
| II out He sand that the lawyers nowadays did
not mention names in wills. He often became
| coniused ir regard IN the days Of the week. Ii,
| hn,l threr or four sundays tho same week"
| T. q. SteimHn. of the tlrm of lawyers who col
| lert II the rent Of MIR. Wells's Office swurc tina
! Mr. Wells WIS regular I'm the pavment Of hi.
! bills. Mr. Wells witness thought. WAS occrntri,
| and Incapable ui ATTENDING lo his business.
| Pttrick Ortoan the clerk who collected N,
| rent. testified that Mr.. Wells nenrly always hHC
| check made out Tor him. When Mr.. Well,
| mad" out a check in wltnrsss prrsence II tool
| HIM about half m hour, for he had to 20 from
| one safe to another and handle many papers
| Mr.. Wells kept his receipt book tied up with
clothes line.
| On Mr.. Wellss way ont alonc some one a-ke,
| him 4 hH did not wish To- wat for his com pan
M" he said, have seen all | want to o
| them"