The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-13
PRICE TWO CENTS.
JONATHAN WELLS'S SANITY.
THE CASE OF THE ECCENTRIC STRAW
MERCHANT IN COURT.
One Relative as a Petitioner and Another ne
Lawyer In the Cnse-Pres. Rolston's Tess
timony-Mr. Weiss Sudden Appearance.

One Relative Petitioner and Another ne
Lawyer In the Cnse-Pres. Rolston's Tes-
tmony-Mr. Weiss Sudden Appearance.
Tho commission appointed by the Supreme
Court to determine the sanity of Jonathan
Tremain Wells, who is now 10 years OF age. and
who for fifty years has been straw goods dealer
Mt III Maiden lane. this city began to take tes-
timony yesterday afternoon in the Supreme
Court room in Brooklyn. The commission is
composed OF Mr.. Frederic A. Ward. lawyer; G.
A. Townsend gentleman. and DR.. Daniel Ayres.
physician. The proceeding is based on the
petition OF S. d. Clapp. who Processes to be Mr..
Wellss second cousin. Mr. Wells is a bachelor.
and for twenty-five years he has boarded with
Miss Sophia II. Ruckcl at 80 Woodruff street.
Brooklyn. He has saved his money carefully
and amassed a large fortune. He has lived
apart from his relatives. and little communica-
tion has passed between him and them. His
savings he invested with great care. and he was
looked upon rs n shrewd buyer Of the best class
of securities. His chief eccentrcity is said TO
have been steady refusal to have any fire in
his office. even in the coldest weather. Mr..
Wells began recently to manifest the eccentrici-
tics which were regarded as indicating mental
disorder and so the present unacy proceedings
were begun. Mr.. Samuel ID. Clapp who makes
the petition. is n travelling salesman. He sup
Roosevelt G. l(olston. President Of the Farmers
Loan and Trust Company; A. y. Smith. teller
OF the Union National Bank: Mr. q. 7. Fish,
Secretary OF the Farmers Loan and Trust
Company; George f. Sbey, D. II. Gray. and
ings' Mr. Airian Van Sindercn. President Of the
Brooklyn Library Association, was appointed
receiver Of the estate Of Nr. Wells.
There were seventeen jurors summoned by a
Sharin's deputy. The jury was 80 placed that
nye members had TO sit outside the box BY the
spectators. One at least was freely talked to by
young man with reddish hair.
The petitioner was not IN court. HIS repre-
also n second cousin ofMr. Wells. who appeared
both NJ lawyer and relative. Mr.. Wells WINS abb
said that he had advised Mr. Wells not to at.
tend because there was no need OF II; and.
Furthermore, because he had no oyercoat. Sub:
scquently. Mr.. Sibley said that he had INQUIRED
about tho oycrcoat and was Informed that Mr..
Wells had had no oyercoat all winter. " He
should be here" added the lawyer. with or
without one. The counsel want to keep him
away until he can be fixed up. 50 the jury will
Mr.. Rolston testified that Mr.. Wells owned a
large number OF railroad shares. He had 300
shares Of the New York. New Haven aud Hart
ford Railroad. 24.OO0 in bonds Of the Evans
Vile. Terre Haute and Chicago Railroad bonds.
and over 600 shares OF the Louisville, New AL
sold nj IS share at the last sale. Mr. Wells
also owned some Portage Lake and Lake Supe-
vaiueless since jay Cookies failure He also
owned some Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Min
nesota Railroad bonds. which have not paid in
| terest Tor some years. The witness had several
| interviews with Mr.. Wells last summer. Mr..
hOl5tOn tnOn described Mr.. " els s strange con-
duct one day, about check on the Union Bank.
| After that Mr.. ROlston said he began to fear
that Mr.; Wells was losing his mind and that he
would be robbed. and he asked Mr.. George p.
Fish of bis & bank to look W MI Wells's affairs z
| found it locked. Mr.. Rolston thought that Mr..
Wells WAS irrational. and unfit to care for his
| own business.
| On cross examination, Mr.. Rolston said that
| he had never met Mr.. Wells socially, Mr.. Wells
| was co-director with him in the Louisville. New
| drOnnad QhOnt n arCOnnf
change OF mental condition, All OF Mr. Wells's
ipyCstments, were good with the exception Of
| bonds. and the Burlington. Cedar Rapids and
Minnesota bonds. His Investments, however.
| held no conversation with Mr.. Wells except on
financial matters. and never tested him on any
At this point. Mr. Jonathan Wells entered the
| court room. Il was then twilight. and he was
Jury. Two men attended him, He is six feet
| tall and is apparently feeble with age. But his
oye is bright and strong. and as he walked up
| 10 the bar he held his head erect and looked
| straight at the commissioners. He shook
hands with his counsel. and then sat down;
| " Here is Mr.. Wells now" said Mr.. Sibley ." I
| don't think he will lose anthing by being with
| out his overcoat." he added sarcastically Mr..
Rolston identified Mr.. Wells and Quilted the
stand.
=. Joseph Collet President Of tho Evansville,
he,rv hWu hnuIe ana Ohicag9 Iaaditoau, nan , iestined
| ing the branch road, known as the Indiana
Block Coal kaiiroad Company. He related his
| the amount subscribed Ilc didn't think that
| Mr.. Wells was n sound man.
Broker w. G. Eggleston thought Mr., Wells
was irrational because he had raised some
| question about the soundness Of railroad.
! which was perfectly sound in the witnesses
| opinion. and because his mind seemed to wan
| der, and because he carried some bonds about
| in his pocket.
Mr.. 4. \. Smith. paying teller OF the Union
| National Bank said that he thought Mr.. Wellss
mind was not sound. Mr.. Wells was perfectly
correct in all Of his business dealings, and
| seemed to be straight In his financial dealings,
| but he had AN irrational manner.
We'll. what was queer about him?' said Com
| missioner Ayres.
" His face his looks that's ALL" said the
| witness.
The examination was adjourned until to-day.