Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1886-10-14
THE COURT RECORD.
Superior COurt-CrfmInal Sfde-Judge
Phelps.

| Superior Court-Crtminal Side-Judge
Phelps.
I The trial of Wales Doolittle for the muir
der of William Ford was continued in this
court yesterday morning Dr. Hinckley, of
Naugatuck, was the first witness called. He
| testified that he went to examine Doolittle
| by request of the Bethany selectmen. Doc
| little talked to him quite irration ally at
first, but soon grew friendly and confden-
| tial. He gave the doctor to understand that
| he had hired Ford and at that time laid
| down the law that he must obey. He said
| that Ford had not obeyed and he punished
| him, and severely, too, and he would do it
| again if he did not get up and mend a har-
/ ness, aud that he would have none of the
| selectmen around his place. With Doolittle
| he went to see Ford, whose wounds he at
| tended to. The harness lay by the bed, and
| while the doctor there Doolittle again
| ordered him to mend it. Doolittle told him
| that he was sorry for one thing, and that was
| that he had jumped on Ford, but that he
had right to make Ford obey him, and he
| should whip him again if he disobeyed &C.
cordingly, or he would whip the doctor if he
disobeyed him if he Ooolittle) had the same
| right to the doctors obedience that he had
| to Ford's. Dr. Hinckley then read the re-
suit of his autopsy upon Ford.
Mrs. Horatio NJ. Clark, of Prospect, was
| the first witness for the defense. She testi-
| fed that before the homicide Doolittle
/ came TO her house. He acted strangely
i that she thought at first he drunk, but
! afterwards determined that he was not
| fumes of liquor could be detected in a small,
close room. She thought and said at that
time that he crazy. She had known
him since he was a boy.
Denslow Hoadley, who has been repre-
sentative in the legislature from Bethany and
held many town offices, swore to the circum-
stances of an interview he had with Doolit-
| Al e. To-, lofo 81 10
| fed to some very peculiar prayers made by
Doolittle in religious meetings. Witness told
| neighbor that Doolittle was crazy.
Attorney James P. Pigott testified with a
humorous smile that he had occasion to
the jail ," f fGeqgsnt goa At these
ly and mumbling insanely. He had never
heard Doolittle, who was in dark cell +,
even articulate a sane or recognizable
word. He always thought he was crazy
since them.
Wales H. French of Bethany, who lives
the Friday preceding the homicide. He
talked very strangely about two mice which
he had caught, one for Doolittle's
| mother and another for her sister, two old
ladies', but Ford had let Mrs. French s
mouse escape.
John Reilly, a keeper at the jail, testified
that soon after Doolittle's arrival they had to
remove him from the 'fbound over tier" to
the "cooler," which il q dark cell without
furniture, as he was 80 boisterous and dis
turbed the whole ward. He acted as othef
crazy men, tore off all his clothes five or six
times and destroyed his bedding. Doolittle
would remain naked for ten or twelve hours,
lie on the stone floor and then act like cir
Gus clown. They were frequently obliged to
put leather muffs and straight jackets on
Doolittle.
The case will probably be finished to-day.
Superior COurt-Civfl Side Judge
BeardRley.
The array of lawyers interested in the
Welton will case were on hand
at the Superior court, civil side,
yesterday morning. but Henry Bergh, to
whom the bulk of the money was left in
trust for the Humane society, was not to be
seen.
Mrs. Horace johnson testified that she
first noticed that her cousin the testator