The New York herald., 1879-02-14
understand what he wanted to do; he confounded one


the Chemical Bank. aud asked il it was good.
anl what he should do with it, he really seemed to
be IN doubt As TO its validity; he had confidence i'll
me and asked my advice; he found difficulty in get
ting OUT what he had TO say this check was Tor De-
tween $1,000 and $1,000; this was last July or August
he was not coherent in his talk; he told President
Ralston that tho Portage Lake bonds were worthless.
but he said they were good this was in December;
found that the bonds were worthless; he Kept an
account with us some years; down to 1877 il was
an active account, but after that there was aii-
ing on; his present balance is sl64 g. which mas
stood there for months; | relative or Mr..
Wells he has S24. 900 i'll Evansville and Terie Haute
bonds; two of the coupons are missing; told him
that two were missing. also Mr. Kent; consider
him entirely irrational and would not have business
transactions with him that might be questioned;
think him unsound in mind and l had serious
managing his affairs.
ON crossexamination he said II made the moving
affidavit: Mr.. Sbey brought 1t to me already drawn;
the language is his. the ideas mine.
ENTRANCE MIsER WELLS.
At this point the door opened and Mr. Wells ap-
peared escorted rather ostentaousy by an officer of
the court. The old man was dressed neatly in suit
of black. aud. mira6ae dietI. wore two boots
counsel. looked freezinely at Cousin George.
regarded the jury with amused look and turned
then took the stand and testified follows:-
l live in Brooklyn, and am lawyer and also the
receiver, and come in obedience to a subp9na. and
rather unwiliingiy; am in charge OF Mr Wells
estate; l am president of the Brooklyn Library !
have known Wells since was made receiver. on the
2sth of January; on the 2sth went to No. lit
Maiden lane to make the inventory; he was in Mr..
Swans office; told him my position and asked for
his keys; he fumbled in his pocket and left tor
moment; he gave the keys, three large safe
keys the he retained OF his private safe, and
Id him must have that too; said should take
With Mr.. swan. Mr.. Sbey and Mr. Clark; opened
the safes aud advised him TO soc his counse hc said
he had just come from them, but was to see them
again. he said Grossly and Kent were not
his counsel but that their successors were;
his mind wandered, and he didn't quite under
stand me; he was confused aud contradictory his
stat ahOut counsel: i then took what in
his safes, made list OF them and put them IN safe
place; a week ago l saw him again; he canie to my
office and said had to ask when the funeral
of Mrs Van Snderin would take place: said he prob
ably referred to Mrs. Ward and conversation ensued
with his property; he said he owned some in Leet
county Miss about six hundred acres and some good
land in Michigan the best OF farming land and tim
bered that he had in Pike county oil lands with three
fine wells on that yielded no OIL as they didn't run
because the weren't paid. $16 which he would
send to the Sheriff; he couldnt remember the
OF his counsel and referred to memoranda in vain
for their names he then said, looking at one dol
lar note "Aha. here have it'll" and was puzzled to
find it was not there; he then took out matchsae.
with dollar note wrapped about it, but
couldn't find the names; he said their Office
was at No 50 Wall street; named the lawyers there.
but they not the ones; asked about his New
York property he said he wanted to be rid OF 1t and
was in treaty with man who wanted it; he could
not remember the name; he then rose to leave and
said he was going to see.that his locks had not been
tampered with; he asked where the securities were,
and said they were at the Mercantile Deposit Com
panys and that they would be given up to the right
full owner; his manner, when asked for his keys.
was that of child under the orders OF superior
authority; he made no resistance; he offered also
door key, an old fashioned one, with many wards;
think took it, the locksmith was there as also you
llr Sibleyl and q gentleman from Mr.. swans offce;
think he attempted to unlock the small brass pad
lock on the upper door when we went up; Mr. Wells
didn't take part in the ntroductons; the first thing
l did was ascertain which key belonged to par
ticular safe; Mr. Wells told me accurately; he had
given me four keys.
Mr. WELLS POSSESSIONS.
Ttara nfa anfir m va
talent is unequal to the task OF picuring his Office;
it contained old boxes, old papers. old memoranda,
old scuttle and stove. old clothes hanging about.
newspapers done up in packages FAR back 1882.
old-fashioned oil lamps the shutters were fastened
and the place dark; Mr.. Wells naturally had some
difficulty in understanding who was as it was the
first time he had ever seen me, and demanded his
safe keys; this is my inventory at par value. but
the real value with real estate may be in all
5000 co., the par values of which as follows:-
q bonds Portage Lake. 2l,0OO; 80 bonds Portage
Lake. $4,000 bonds Portage Lake $500; Al bonds
Michigan Lake Canal, Sal 900; ~ bonds New York,
Housatonic and Northern Railroad $40 1000; parcels
OF coupons Portage Lake bonds $4,000; ~ bonds
Republic Of Cuba, $780, 000 1877 Missouri certificates.
$li1375 74 = coupons Portage Lake. 5000; "a bonds
Evansville Railroad, $24,O00; coupons Evansville
railroad, $3.50; coupon burlington Railroad Com
pany. $35; 20 shares burlington Iailroad Company,
81 900: GAO shares Louisville and New Albany Road
S64 UU0; 20 shares Burlington and Cedar Rapids Road,
$1,000; 6s7 shares Terre Haute aud Richmond Rail-
road, s6s, 700: 1857 shares New York and New Haven
Railroad, $50, 700; shares Columbus and Chicago,
$500; l certificate Columbus and Chicago. sl2 80:
$500; check, ST. 49, II parcels OF bank notes. 3l2
8 lots copper com, &C., $22 81 certificates In
dianapolis Railroad. $500: certificates Lake supe,
other matters, giving grand total Of $3.50. .696 81
DIsGUsrED JURORS. 4,rs nr,rs,
Mr.. Marsh--I object to all this. n ,as
The Court-What is the object!
Mr.. Sblcy-We wish to show that here is . mass
OF worthless trash that has been put to this old
man.
Mr.. Marsh-He's had it for ten years past.
a Juror--We want to go home. we have engage
Another Juror-wIll you finish the case by six?
The Court-It will last four or five days, at least.
The Juror-well. they needn't think Pm'coming
hero four or five days for III. II they do they're
mistaken. Come here again for 81! guess not.
WHAT SALESMAN TOLD.
Mr.. Van Sinderin excused for q time In order
thet Mr. Murdoch might be examined and Mr. Henry
Murdoch. very young and willing witness. testified
US follows:7I am a salesman in No. 80 West Four
teenth street, and have known Mr.. Wells seven
years; 1 havo heard that you his relative; Mr..
Wells went to sleep Sunday in the afternoons he
ing undress; he said he thought it Monday
morning and not quite breakfast time; he washed
and shaved and insisted that it was Mondays he bor-
rowed my lamp in November and wanted some keys
to lock his trunk; one time he got up between
twelve and three in the morning; Miss
Ruckie said he wanted to 90 out to bus
mess at that time, thinking it daytime; he
wanders about trying to find the bathroom and goes
from room to room looking for it; his table habits
queer he sits sdewise and Is untidy and scatters
the fragments when he carved used 10 put napkins
mp lest he should scatter the gravy stuing; he Is
incoherent and rambling and uses foreign words and
subjects; he IN sovenly and irregular in dress; he
puts his undercoat over his overcoat and ties his
tippc about his waist; consider him irrational and
ound in mind. and incapable to manage his own
affairs, and has been at least two years.
ON cross-exsmination he said II haven't rected
my speech before any Lyccum; have slept on
sunday afternoons he was very sweet girls;
1T not the boarding house chickens. but his
awkwardness that spilled the gravy
At this point the jury gave such unniistakable
evidences of weariness and disnclination to ait
longer, that after discussion further considera
ton was adjourned TO ten o'clock this morning.
Mr.. Wells Immediately surrounded by his
cousins, but he waved them all away, and placing
himself in the hands of the Ruckes rode OF with
them in Court street
MRS uAIGHT-S pR0TEST