The New York herald., 1879-02-13
is HE INSANE?

NO~%
MISSION OF INQUIRY nY-wHAT PRESIDENT
RoLsroN THINKS OF THE PALM LEAF DEALERS
MENTAL BALANCE
The commission designated by Judge Gilbert, of
the Supreme Court to inquire into the mental CON-
dition of Jonathan Trelnain Wells. the wealthy old
bachelor who accumulated handsome property in
the palm leaf business the upper story OF No. III
Maiden lane in this city sat yesterday afternoon in
the Circuit Court of Kings county for the purpose of
hearing testimony in the Quite large number
of spectators present, including several demure
looking ladies' who. it was understood. were rela-
tives of Wells. During the taking of testimony tho
latter also arrived in the court and took seat
beside his counsel. The commission composed
of Frederick A. Ward. who presided; DIR. Daniel
Ayres and Charles A. Townsend. Ont OF sheriff y
jury of twenty-four which had been empanelled to
try the seventeen answered to their names and
this number having been declared acceptable to
counsel on both sides the at once opened
John f. Sibley who ia said to be second cousin Of
Mr. Wells. appeared for the petitioner. Samuel D.
Capp. also understood to be second cousin. while
C. G. Marsh represented the old man about whose
estate there seems to lie fair share of anxiety
the part of his relatives
Commissioner Ward called the attention of counsel
to the fact that in Mr.. Wells was adjudged spne
penses OF the investigation. He wanted the counsel
DOTH SIDES tojrrhuge the matter before proceed
ing any further. as the shers fees and the jurors
would have to be paid. He added that,
in addition, he and his fellow Commissioners
case gratutously. debate by the lawyers here
arose, which was cut short by Commissioner Ward,
become personally responsible the costs OF the
investigation the commission would adjourn the
case until such time as the expenses were guaranteed
Mr.. Sibey then pledged his personal responsibility
for the costs and the Commissioner ordered the
to proceed.
PRESIDENT RoLsroxs TESTIMONY
The first witness called BY counsel for the petit
toner was Roswell g. Rolston, who testified Iol-
lows:-Am president Of the Farmers Loan and Trust
Company; know Mr.. Wells have had financial
transactions with him for some years; he has been
ia our Office frequently to collect coupons; it strikes
that it during last summer that he came into
our office and asked about the payment of some
coupons OF the Evansville Terre Haute and Chicago
Railroad; he seemed to be greatly confused as to
coupons which past DUE and l told him 1
guessed he meant Evansville. Terre Haute and Chi
cago coupons; he replied that he meant the last
named coupons. and then opened paper showing
Portage Lake coupons; / told him those were not
Evansville, Terre Haute and Chicago coupons-that
they were Portage Lake coupons-and he answered.
sNo they are Evansville and Terre Haute coupons"
saw then that he had some coupons Of
the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota
Railroad; he asked where they were paid.
and directed him to the Continental Bank; he had
owned the Evansville Terre Haute and Chicago bonds
for lcng time. and never had any trouble about
getting the coupons paid before; occasion he
came into our office with Josephus Collet. President
Railroad; Mr.. Collet had check for about s.. 900
given him Mr.. Wells on tho Union Bank;
sent It to ths bar, bank to inquire about
| tion also sent that Mr.. Wells then had
balance of 5000 at the Union Bank; shortly after
this Mr. Wells into the Office accompanied by
man from the office of the Receiver of Taxes. aud
who held check drawn by Mr. Wells for $3.50 which
he had paid in for taxes the said that payment
OF the check had been refused Mr. Wells had only
| $40 remaining to his credit in the bank which
| it was drawn; Mr.. Wells told me he very
| sorry that the mistake had occurred, and
that If he had only written the word National
on the check the Union Bank would have paid it;
looked at the check and saw that the word National
there; represented to him that it necessary
to make good the check Tor his taxes and then he
said that there was semi-annual dividend coming
| to him from the New York and New Haven RAILROAD
Company; arranged with him to at send mes
senger to see il any such dividend due to Mr..
Wells and the messenger returned with check from
the railroad company for about 81. .700 being the
amount OF the dividend Mr.. Wells spoke Of.
''INcoMPErENr TO MANAGE HIS ArFAIRs."
From like things had seen and heard concluded
Mr.. Wells property in danger and sent one of
secretaries down to his place of business to tell
mn MN tnat there were any or ms securities
tered at once; Mr. Wells could not be that day
the next time saw him spoke 10 him about having
his securities registered; he told me that all OF them
were registered except the Portage Lake bonds;
told MIR. Wells that he being robbed
lie had always been clear headed business man pre-.
vious 10 the occasion have mcntioned his conduct
and conversation struck ut the time being very
rrational felt that he entirely incompetent to
manage his affairs in any way; the impression got
was that he had entirely broken down no doubt
about his incapacity to manage his affairs; 1t
about June last that rst noticed the change in MIR.
Wells.
This testimony was not shaken on cross-examina-
tion.
10 Dr. Ayres-I do not know that Mr. Wells is in
the habit of drinking or Of taking opium.
OTHER TEsrIMoNY
Josephus Colet. president OF the Evansville. Terre
Hautc and Chicago railroad. testified that he had has
business transactions with Mr.. Wells, who one
of the bondholders Of that road. The witness pro-
cecdea to various circumstances all tending
to show that Mr. Wells mental faculties had become
impaired. The witness dated the unsoundness OF
Mr.. Wells mind from last November.
rigid cross-cxaninaton by MIR. Marsh failed to
shake the opinions of the witness given In his di
rect testimony.
Stock Exchange, testified in support OF the alleged
lunacy theory, did also Augustus n. Smith, pay
ing teller of the Union National Bank.
The proceedings were adjourned until two o'clock