Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-03
The Queer Characteristics Of
Daniel J. Harris.
A Witness Says He Was Penu-
riOus and Filthy.
Features of His Conduct Which Were
Decidedly Peculiar.
The Testimony of Sherman r. Robinson
He Credits Harris With All Sorts
Of Queer Antics-rhe Shorb
Case on Trial.

The suit of Public Administrator D.
w. Field to recover $27 900 which it is
alleged was obtained by DR.. A. s. Shorb
and his wife from d. J. Harris, deceased
while the latter was of unsound mind
was resumed before Judge Van Dyke in
department four yesterday morning,
and the great amount of interest which
the sensational case is attracting is evil
denced by the large attendance.
Drs. K. D. Wise, w. G. Cochran, W.
G. Brainerd and H. 2. Mathewson were
called and testified during the morning
session as to Harris sanity.
Counsel for the plaintiff put the fol-
lowing questions to each of them:
"Sdppose that Daniel j. Harris was a
man of about IS years of age, who,
about June, 1890, was afflicted with
heart disease, or dropsy, and sdbse-
quently died on or about August IS,
1890; and suppose the following facts
were true: That he was penurious,
close and stingy; filthy in his person
and habits; did not want to buy food,
and when he did buy food for himself
would buy cheap food and small
quantity, as, fer instance, loaf of
bread, 10 cents worth of milk, and live
upon it until it was gone; never
c0nbed his hair or changed his shirt,
except when urged thereto by his at
tendants, frequently mumbling to him
self; frequently bawing; practising a
vicious habit; frequently crying with
out apparent cause, and when spoken
to upon the most trivial subjects, and
without anything being said which
would excite griet in person; misery
in his habits; would get up out of bed,
rave and swear; wearing mean apparel
which looked dirty and uncomfortable;
in talking would on the same subject, at
different times, get things turned round
and would not always tell the
same story about the same subject; pos
6essed of large amount of property,
but worrying and saying that he would
be IN the poor house if he was sick
much longer, and was getting poorer all
the time did not like to part with any
money F.; fearful that people we're friendly
to him because they desired to get his
money ; had frequent crying spells;
stated on several occasions that Los An
geies would be visited by an epidemic
in 1890 whereby 10000 people would
die, and it depended upon whether he
(Harris) stayed in Los Angeles or not as
to the epidemic, and that if he went
away from Los Angeles it would escape
such epidemic, and the other place he
went to would be similarly inflicted !;
while in bis sickness and before his
death placed in the hands of the wife
of his attending physician a certificate
of deposit and other funds amounting
to over $4,000 in value, which it Is
claimed was gift to said woman; while
sick never washed himself; did not
want to change his clothes; very close
financially; did not want to spend cent;
occasionally going to the piano and
beating upon the keys in random-like
way, not being able to play the piano;
dancing about the room; complaining
whenever he was called upon
to pay out money for attention to him
during his sickness, and grumbling and
saying he was not earning cent; some
times cry ing aloud ; suddenly would snarl
and say that he was sick, everybody was
keeping him down allowing himself and
his bed wherein he was TO become
lousy putting on plug hat and walk
ing about his house with his pants off
and playing the piano in that attire;
cursing and swearing because his clothes
were sent to the laundry to be washed;
talking disrespectfully of every woman ;
to cry in spells not being caused by
pain; giving his valuable papers and
money to others to keep for him who
were not related to him; what is your
opinion as to the condition of his mind
at the time, as to being strong or weak,
sound or unsound?"
The witnesses were unanimous in de-
claring that if Harris's condition was as
implied by the questions OF counsel, he
was undoubtedly of unsound mind, and
that the fact of his sisters confinement
for insanity would add weight to the
evidence of his mental condition.
DR.. Shorb, one Of the defendants, was
called and sworn. His examination was
very brief, contrary to expectation. The
only evidence given by him was that
after the death of Harris he went home
and from there to the undertaker's and
then to the bank, where he deposited
the $25, 900 check, between l and pm.
The balance of the day was spent in
reading dispositions. Sherman r. Rob-
inson and G. w. Harris depose that
they came to this city shortly after Har-
ris was buried. Harris is brother oil
of the deceased and Robinson was act
ing in the capacity OF agent for the
nelre TO the oetate. III. ChOiu Wac
called on by both men, who inquired OF
him as to large sums of money he was
reported to have received from Harris.
The physician was very cavalier in his
manner to them, and CURLY replied that
they must consult his attorneys. He
said that Harris received full value foi
all the money given.
The plaintiff then rested and the de
tense introduced number of deposi.
lions to show that Harris was OF SOUND
mind, the reading of dispositions con
tinuing to the hour for adjournment.
The case was continued to "Wednesday
next. 1t is expected that three or lou
days will be required to get in the bal
ance of the evidence.