New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-11
TESTIMONY or JOHN BAIRD.
HIS FoypSEss FOR THE SCRIPTURES.

| THINKING THAT HE HAD MARRIED WiDOW-No
| CLAIMS TO ROYALTY.
For the purpose of refutlng the evidence
hithe 70 given prove him TO be incapable or managing
his property.-od John Baird, formerly construction
engineer OF elevated railroads. yesterday testified In
his own behalf before shers iury. He gave his owl
dence clearly and without excitement In answer to the
questions OF his counsel Robert H. Mcclellan VINO was
occasionally prompted by his associate. John e. Par
sons Mr.. Bal stated that he tho first man to con-
suct prors!ers that piled outside Of Sandy Hook lie
rotated services 10 the Cromwell steamship Line III
building than forty vessels from 1913 10 1917 nc
had invested 100000 In thstiae He eary recognized
tho merit the elevated railroad scheme and morgaged
his house for 900 and put the money 10 the roads,
He was construction engineer and took no salary uEf
the roads were completed ana then received $4,000
year.
In 1879 Mr. Balrs health ailod and he was compelled
10 give up position In that year his first wife died
He had married her In 1912 and they had had seN en-
children His health then was so bad that his MUSICIAN
Thought he could not live six mouths His present vile
nursed him aud he married her. She an excellent
nurse and for years all that he required OF her,
Before the marriage she told him she had been widow
for eight years Two years after their marriage she
TOLD him her husband was living. The witness was
about to go to Europe. He very much PERI lexed
ana did not know how to act In the fall OF los2 he
started for Europe. she alone accompanying him. He
told where they travelled. In Glasgow he became
I'll and LOST Josh Before starting for Europe
he made a will in which lie made ample
provision for Mrs. Baird. though his children
objected When he arrived home in the fan of $50 he
not il good health He called a doctor VINO gave
him medicine saying that 1t for his nerves ana IL
gave him headache and bowel complaint. linen tue
doctor prescribed rum before eacl meal and rum
punches He had in later life Deen in the haDlt OF tax
Ing champagne and other wine at dinner Dut no othei
stimuanis. His parents aud grand parents were very
mons peopc and regulated Their lives Ivy the scriptures
and often quoted them The witness al sixteen united
with :he Presbyterian Ch ch and had been churehgO
ing man ever since His belief In full accord with
the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church. At eighteen
wears he doubted the divinity OF Jesus christ ana
he all the books he could get aud came 10 DeleNe
i'm the divinity Of Jesus had held 20 this belief ever
since lie held to the doctrine OF some PreshyteTans
that If believed in certain essential doctrines he
might Roman Catholic and vet be as goOd Chris
tian as Presbyterian.
The witness produced Bible which he said he always
had with him and said he had often quoted TO his chill
dren passage I'm which the FOrds The Lord Is
my helper anu will not fear what man can do TO me-,
and one in which the Lord is declared TO be no resi- ecter
Of persons witness had always been great student
doubted the divinity OF Christ o recited lr0n memory
passages the with char ter OF Micah which he had
read his children and which promised mercy 70
sinners. He pledl the who was nOtsdHccled Dy
the promises theron contained. Tho witness ala not
claim OF royal blood had been assosted He was
the oldest living OF James Baird who was born IN
Scotland. His grandfather only SON. TGe brother
of that grand father married the daughter OF an
earl and their eldest the Enrl Of Eli hinstOne
who was :he cousin OF the grandfather or the
witness.
The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday.