The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-16
ECCENTRIC BACHELOR WELLS.
The Alleged Lunatic Talking Very
Like a Sane Man.
LEGAL BADGE ERIN
A Witness Who Thinks the Old Man q Vic
tim OF Senile Dementia.

presented in the Supreme Court room in Brooklyn
yesterday morning. when old Mr. Jonathan 7. Wells
was broug ut in and put upon the stand for the pur
pose of exhibiting his infrmties and making public
the wreck Of active and enterprisine brain.
In the great spaces of the court crowded
audience of all sorts OF and women. Every seat
occupied and scores of men stood where there
chairs. All the cousins present. scowl-
ing at one another and regarding Cousin George Sib
ley with especial viruence The entire Ruckle house
hold put in an early appearance.
ALLEGED LUNATIc.
When Cousin George called Mr. Wells to the stand
every eye turned to take the old man in, and a
unique picture he presented His tall head. thinly
matched with silver hair in the front; his
eyes are small, sharp, piercing and near together;
his is long and straight; his lips thin and
bloodless and his teeth broken His collar and shirt
We're soiled his cravat badly tied, the bow being
the collar his vest and coat and trousers
faded and soiled. and on his wrinkled wrists were
bands of red worsted. Although an alleged luna
tic" the commission treated him precisely they
did the other witnesses and administered to him the
oath rapidly and perfunctorily assuming. APP
parenty that the 'lunatic understood the import
of the solemn proceeding.
UNDER FIRE.
From ten O'Clock until late in the afternoon with
out rest nermssion relief, the old man. born in
1900 feeble in body and unaccustomed to strangers.
pushed. pressed. tripped and badgered by all
sorts of questions on every conceivable topic by
relative lawyer, who had the advantage of carefully
prepared brief from which to Ego for him." 1t
was painfully evident that much Of the matter
was caridre to the witness. He remembered
clearly when and where he was born. and
called Of his early days, but when he
was quickly questioned as to property values. the
nature of legal documents. the age of his mother,
his property in Michigan the streets that lead to the
several New York ferries, the price Of Terra Haue
and Evansville bonds, the name of the prosecuting
second cousin the location of his bank. the names
of his counsel and the official designation of the
three gentlemen who sat near him on the bench. he
actually hestated stammered. occasionally contra
tifying that his mother nearly eighty years Of
age. while he is in his seventy-ninth
WELLS AND COUSIN GEORGE.
In an interview with the HERALD reporter
days since Mr.. Sbey, who is a second cousin and
acts for the compliments. regretfully and without
compensation. but very persistently. giving weeks
to the case said that Mr. Wells always called him
George" Yesterday Mr. Wells sat within ten feet
of Mr.. Sibley who questioned him as follows-
do you know Mr. George Sibley"
II have heard the name frequently"
'Do you see him in court?"
mo. sir; do not.
''Do you know me?"
al really can't give your surname"
1t at times difficult to determine whether Mr..
Wells, who evidently has keen eye tor the ridicu-
lous, chatting the relentless lawyer really
when the counsel pressed him sor schedule of his
property, and subsequently when he endeavored. as
Miss Rucke and all the Ruckle boarders did before
him, to ascertain about the famous trip to AL
bany
A SINGULAR cHAFFING SCENE.
q; What property have you. Mr. Wells? A. great
O. Well. what and where? A. can hardly tell
don't know where to begin; own property in the
Ninth ward between Washington and Greenwich
streets.
O. Any stocks A. Yes. stocks in the New York and
worth s16O each
O. what else A. Oh. don't know; have great
deal-some good. some bad; can't tell you def
nitely.
O. Do you know what will is A. I suppose it's
legal document drawn up after discussion.
.. What is power of attorney?
This brought Mr.. Marsh to his feet, and before
long II was evident that this what Of the
jurors aptly termed the 'nigger in the fence" 1t is
part of the plan of the cousins. and possibly the
aunts, to show that Mr.. Wells has been in the hands
of his lawyers. to whom he has given power Of at.
torney, and some legally binding document that
takes the place of bill of SALE The discussion be-
tween the opposing counsel very hot and after
the old gentleman to answer. which he did at once
and with remarkable intelligence.
coUNsELLoR KENT AS A PLUMBER.
Mr. Sibley made it evident that Mr.. Wells eye for
faces not quick for he not only failed to recog
nze his own dear cousins. who began the lunacy
proceedings against him. but mistook member Of
the Junior Bar for one of that much abused class
the plumbers.
The witness shaded his eyes for a moment and
then said probably another relative. don't know.
At this there was such popular laugh as to compel
the commission to frown ana threaten to clear the
room.
And who is this?" continued Mr.. Siblcy, pointing
to Mr.. Kent, one OF the alleged lunatic's counsel
That" said Mr.. Wells. that's Frederick Taft. I
haven't him in some time. But that's his
name. a. near as can get It,.
whats his businessY'
"Hes plumber" replied the old man. and the
answer literally upset the gravity OF every cousin in
the asscmblage for twas painfully evident that at
last his second cousin had touched upon . weak
point in the rich mans mental harness.
SOME EXPERT BADGERlNG
Mr.. Sibley protested much that he had desire
to confuse his second cousin Jonathan, but simply
desired to test his memory, and then proceeded in
O. Who lives on your East Hartford farm? A. My
mother and the rest of the family
O. Your mothers IL she living! A. Yes, sir.
q. How old is she? A. About eighty years.
q. And how old are you? A. i was born in 1900
am in my seventy ninth year.
q. And she is yet livngr A. Yes. sir.
O.. What was her name? A. Perley Taft was her
maiden name.
Q. Have you any brothers sisters? A. No. sir;
/ had two sisters and three brothers. but they are
passed away and gone. None of us was ever married.
q. Have you ever been to Albany A. Yes;
last spring, went up and b ok on business and
stopped at hall of Pearl and Norfolk streets
O. Did you get your breakfast thereY A. No.
q. Why not? A. Because 1 didn't want it,
q. Who is this lady near me? A. Another re-
lation suppose. Great laughter.)
q. What streets do you pass through when you go
TO the ferryp A. can't recall them there are so
many of them.
q. Where do you live A. HIN, well really it's
strange can't recall the street where have lived
many years.
q. How many? A. Seven or eight
q. Not more A. No, sir. not in this house; it's
ten years since left the old place.
Mr.. Sibey continued at great length, going from
flower to flower. like bee searching for the honey OF
dcmentia, but combining himself mainly to u rccur-
rent examination OF the ground already covered. Mr.
Wells did not seem fatigued, and in answer to tho
commissioners said he mentally fresh and pre-
parei to be cross-examned His counsel thought it
best not to proong the inquistion. and he di
rected to step down. He did 80, aided by officer
who conducted him to chair behind the rail. There
the venerable unatic sat during the glib testimony
OF the next and last witness, professional Witness
an expert In insanity controversies.
STRANGE STATEMENT.
From the evidence of Dr. Corey who styles
himself an expert In insanity, it appeared that he
has attended court since last Wednesday, voluntarily
and without compensation; that he sat next Mr.
Wells and talked with him; that lie put his arm
rs CHI no of ham alt mn