The New York herald., 1879-02-15
ECCENTRIC Mr.. WELLS.
Continuation Of the Investigation of
His Peculiar Habits.
FUN IN A COURT ROOM.
Testimony Of Boarders and Tits
Between Lawyers.


the Commission. Although Mr. Wells was not pres
ent at the opening of the court he was numerously
represented. heretofore by first and second
cousins-a long list which this occa-
sion supplemented by the appearance
of third cousin in the comey person of Miss Sibey,
of New Jersey The court room was thronged all day.
and many local notabilities crowded in upon the
already uncomfortable congregation. 1t is nota-
BILE circumstance that although the relatives and fel
low boarders not persons Of means. they
cheerfully give entire days to the considers
ton Of his affairs, and remain in court
from roll call to dismissal. great deal of fun was
occasioned by the frequent tits of counsel. and
especially when Mr. Luther r. Marsh led the wit
nesses for the prosecution into admissions of Curl
osty and meddling with the business and private
doings of their fellow boarder.
MANS APPEARANCE.
About half-past ten Mr.. Wells appeared at the
door and created quite q sensation. He looked pale
and thin; indeed. the excitements. dsappointments
and embarrassments of the past fortnight have worked
perceptible changes in him. He dressed quantity.
but with neatness and with his old fashioned stock
and rusty garb, reminded many Yale man of
DIR. Porter president of their alma mater. The
boarding house people to receive HIM, and all
the cousins smiled affectionately as he looked at
them in kind of dazed and bewildered manner.
about to speak to the Court. but he considerably
turned to smile his aged and intesate relative be-
fore he made his motion Mr. Wells leaned on his
cane awhile and then. the first witness made re-
marks rejecting his intellectual capacity sat bolt
up his chair and stared at him he would ami
hilate him.
Mr.. Joseph c. +. Cleve said:-I have boarded with
the Ruckes some time and knew Wells well; he at
one time was greatly elated at the success, as he
called it, of some bonds he had purchased; his habits
were unpleasant and his table manners most singu-
lar; he used the stove cuspidor, chewed tobacco
and was unpleasant generally; moved away from
the Buckles house, didn't know when Wells
might set it on fire; considered him demented aud
believe him to be unsafe and unsound.
THE OLD MAN IN BUTTONS.
Mr.. F. Methke mild-mannered tailor, of Wood
hull street. kept the audience in roar in which Mr.
Wells heartily joined. He saia:-Mr. Wells used to
come to my place and insist on having twenty or
thirty buttons in lines his pantaloons; he was
great hand for patches. and sometimes had them six
eight deep his clothes; his trousers holes
all over, and needed constant repairs and were
patched time and time again. at times he insisted
that his garments were in my shop and would
search the place all through to find them and then
60 away grumbling. Last Monday he called for a
thing, raised his cane if to strike me, but he
IN old man and said nothing. Last Wednesday
him sitting on the stove warming himself.
thought his mind affected then and Is now. He
iond of putting on two vests two coats and odd
boots
"How long did he sit on the stoveP" asked the
Court.
"About Ave minutes"
"Was he burned?"
''Oh. no. sir he was not exactly on the stove. but
he sat with his in front of the stove
did You ever see Horace Greeley" asked Mr..
Marsh.
''No, sir'
"And didn't know that he went everywhere with
leg of his trousers his boot
"No, sir.''
3 "yon have been in court three daysr'
in that timer"
At this Mr. Wells, who the point that q poor
man might possibly find more remuneratve
his chair, threw his keen eyes past Cousin George
and catching the glance of his little tailor laughed
Avery animated discussion in the guise of cross
examination here followed between Counsellor Marsh
and receiver Van Snderin being the formers object
to show collusion between the latter cousin George
and the accountant. who s cousin to George,
and therefore third cousin thereabouts to Jona-
than. Mr. Van Sinderin testified to the comparative
worthlessness of much of the property he found and
also showed sundry pecuiiarities In the manner in
which he transacted his business.
Mr. William Y. Taft testified that he was O first
cousin and explained how IL happened, and also how
fond he was or cousin Jonathan.
THE FAvoRIrE BoARDER.
Mr. J. +. Clarke. salesman and fellow boarder
after the one O'Clock recess testiied:-I moro
friendly terms with Mr.. Wells than any one in the
house. He hurt himself severely some months
since. but he wouldn't do anything for him
self; Miss Rucke took care of him; his
head was hurt and the shock impaired him; Wells
gave me an account of his speculation in stocks,
and said he was worth more than $5OO.O00; this
inside Of two months: he had considerable property
in Hartford and about acres in the village OF
East Hartford and Michigan lands and oil wells in
Pennsylvania; his wardrobe was deficient and he
needed clothes for cold weather; had al appoint
ment with him to go and get some new clothes. and
he showed me the Housatonic bonds.
THE WELLS WILL.
He told me he had made will. but didn't be-
1ieve 1t; he wouldn't say who were his lawyers he
to its being made; this was six months ago;
he he said aid his his will didn't say to whom he
would tell to whom he had left it; about ten days
ago he said he had not made will, but that his
said Crosby Il Kent were his lawyers and at other
times he said Haskell Steadman were; he told me
the Albany story three or four times, and never
could convince him that he hadn't been in Albany
at all; haven't spoken to him in some time he
said that there was a new way of making wills now
names; he went constantly to his lawyers he con-
stanty mistakes days of the and dates and often
had three or four sundays In one week; he insisted
time that Sunday was Monday and then that II
Saturday; tried to convince him OF his unsound
speak to Mr.. Wells. and did so
That ends that newspaper story" said Cousin
George
Mr. Clarke continued: He did not realize what he
had done; explained his singular conduct TO him,
but he did not seem to think there was anything
singular in 1t; have people of his wealth who
dressed as well and some who did not dress as
well; l don't consider there Is anything
very strange in his dress; when I told him
about the receiver ho had on no coat,
and was in his shirt sleeves he said he had heard
some singular news and that all his trouble grew out
of his ovcrdraft on Mr.. liaston's bank; in a joke
was introduced TO MIR. Wells Mr.. Jones and he
didn't discover who 1t was. and subsequently said ho
ict mortified that he shouldn't have known Clarke;
his answers were not pertinent to my questions;
seventeen years ago hc had fire in his office.
but for the past ten years he has had none; Wells
was very calm and collected when the receiver was
named, and went over to his office to give up the
keys to Mr.. Van Sinderin; he gave me tho keys but
] made him give them to Van Sndcrin; he mistook
Lipps, the locksnth, for Van Sindern the receiver
he called the receivers locks police locks and custom
house locks; he said the most important thing
he wanted to get in there for to get paper
OF tobacco he had left there; talked with Mr..
Wells to-day and asked him to dine with me I'm a res.
taurant IN view OF all these facts / consder1 him
MecdedlN IRRATIONAL. unsnunl Ii min nd