The sun., 1879-02-21
MR.. WELLS NOT A LUNATIC.
THE JURY's TERDICT Nv THE MAIDEN
LANE Bd CHELOR'S CASE
lie l. Declared Capable of Taking Care Of
the Money he hns Made, but n Second
Consin win Appenl from TINT Conclusion.

lie IL declared Capable Of Iaking tnre OF
the Money he hns Made, but n Second
Cousin win Appeal from that Conclusion.
At the opening OF the inquiry into the
sanity OF Jonathan Tremaine Wells. tho aged
and rich Maiden lane straw goods merchant.
yesterday. Mr. wellss second cousin Geo. L.
Sibley. who appears for another second cousin.
Samuel d. Clapp. tho petitioner. announced,
that he tMr. Sibleyl has also represented two
first cousins. Miss L. Clapp and Miss Calharlno
Mathews. Mr.. Wells was not in the court
room. and the petitioners counsel said that ho
wished to further examine him. Mr.. Marsh
said that II was unfair to keep the old man In u
constant state Of torture. and the Commission
crs ruled that further examination Of Mr..
Wells would be improper.
The counsel for Mr.. Wells. NJ. Luther Marsh
said. in summing up the case. that he was
called upon to defend an old man from the Mt
tacks Of his second cousins. They had proved
that Mr.. Wells wns ncRlectful: that he placed
his head near the plato when he ate; that he
wore three vests that he dressed peculiarly /:
and for these reasons they wished to have him
declared lunatc. so that he could no longer
control his property. They had never helped
him to make any Of that property. Thoy did
not visit him. or seek TO cure Tor him Mt all. Ho
had devoted his whole life to accumulating
money He had no friends. and II he was turned
| upon the world now adriu. he would certainly
! die within II year. There existed no right for
| any OF his cousins " deprive him of his prop
/ criy. IL seemed 10 the counsel that Mr., Wells
came there like Sir Joseph Porter. X. O. b.. and
y9,So yHSi,S in anls .;,s, sGgr. LIZ Tn tTSa ,rSS
And snap ms nngers at my sccnud cousins taunts.
| For Ihaventany sisters, aud haven't any aunt.
Mr. George Sibley. in bahalf Of the cousins.
askcd the Jury not to givo eur TO the tidi'ulH
which had Doen heapc1 upon him lSibley) be-
| cnusc Of his relationship "a second cousin to
M Wells Il, thought the cousin talk salk was was
! cuuinrily interested in the proceedings. Tho
second cousins, under tho law, did not come in
| teen first cousins He iMr. Sibleyl, personally.
| had never done more loving. Kind, or benevo-
| lent act than in seeking tn protect this aged man
| from being the prey of designing mon who we're
| making forny upon his prlperiy. Mr.. Sibl9y
| pledged his word that II Mr. Wells was declared
| insane no cousin or relative would ever be ap-
| pointed committee for the care Of his person
or estntc. but he would use all his efforts to ee.
| give responsible bonds. Mr.. Sioley intersperseti
! his address with many poetical quotations. nnd
IN closing sud: " pray G9id to giye you wisdom
Dr. Daniel Ayrcs, the physician on the Com
| mission, first presented the case 10 the Jury
| from medical standpoint. He said that the
person whose welfare they were considering. s
| nm old ninn VINO is remarkable Instance ot
| preservation. self-government. and indepcn-
dence. He is detective physically as TO his eyo-
| sight He has defective memory but his mem-
ory oscillat's. This is only an aggravniion Of
| Rods of activity and rest In all Of his qualities.
| IN" jury was as nhlc 20 determine MS any ply
| sician whether Mr.. Wells was able TO care for
| himself and for MS property.
| Commissioner Frederic \. Ward. the lawyer
| Of the trio. instructed the Jury that they were
| TO find whether Mr.. Wells WIS Of sound or un-
sound mind. aud that IL they found that he WAS
ot unsouud mind. that they were 10 asrertnin
tho value and extent Of his real and personal
| estate and his next 81 kin.
| The Jury retired at 30 p. NJ. Deputy Sheriff
| Sedgwick nj once presented the lawyers with a
| bill OF $500. and when there was n question
| about IL. word was passed up TO the Deputy
| Sheriff in charge of the jury not TO bring them
| down until he got orders from below. Mr.
| George Sihley hadn't the $3.50 necessary TO bear
the cousins share OF the Jury's fees. but after
some time he arranged for II. and Mr.. Marsh
| handed over the cash. Tho jury, who had some
| time before reached n conclusion, were ther
released from their room. They filed into court
| eighteen in number. at So o'clock. The names
Of the iurymen were called and then the fore
man announced that their verdict WAS that Jon
athan Tremaine Wells was OF sound mind. ant
that he was entirely capable OF managing hi,
own affairs. Twelve OF the eighteen concurreC
in the verdict Of sanity The other six con
tended that Mr.. Wells was of unsound mind
The twelve, however. made legal vardlctsan,
they signed legal declaration OF Mr. Nellsi
entire sanity
"Appeal2 or course shall appeal" said m,
second cousin. Il would sleep the sleep OF tn,
damned u allowed this poor old man to GC
unprotected