Evening journal., 1893-12-02
CRAZY FOR HIS MONEY.
What Capitalist Harris Said Of
His Niece in Dover.
THESE PEOPLE WANT TO JAIL ME-

witnesses for the Defense Before the
Jury That Shall Decide whether
Harris is Sane or Not Swear That He
IS Yet Intelligent, Steady and Able TO
Transact ,Business in as sharp aud
shrewd style as Ever.
,pecial Correspondence Evening Journal
DOVER, Dec . Yesterday morning
promptly at 10 10 o'clock Sheriff Damn
Oegan calling the roll. and immediately
after its conclusion Il e. Bradford, OF
Wilmington, counsel for Mr. Harris,
arose and apologized to the Jury for his
absence from the case, saying that his
| presence had been necessary at the ses
sion of the superior Court Of New Castle
county. Mr.. Bradford also informed
the jury that Mr. Sp nance was un-
avoidably detained in Wilmington and
would not be present at to day ses-
sion.
John B. Pennington then addressed
the jury on behalf of Mr. Harris Among
other things be said that senile dement's
was but a natural condition arrived at by
most persons at late period ia life. he
quoted from various authorities the law
regarding the different phases Of insanity
aud also the law of evidence, showing
what kind Of testimony was admissibl,
| in such cases He clai,utd q that in ordei
90 prove lunacy 10 must be established
hey ond a doubt that a person must be OF
such unsound mind that be Is incapabl,
Of n anaging his own affairs. Mr. PEN
niugton stated that counsel for Miss Nc
Phail has failed In proving that Mr.. Har
ris was in such condition of mind that
would Justify any jury in bringing in
verdict OF such a nature as would permit
the chancellor to Issue the writ desired by
the plaintiff
Daniel NJ Ridgely was the first witness
he knew Charles Harris for six or eight
years, personally since the spring OF
1891, when be was at the Capitol Hotel
Sat at the table with Mr. Harris several
times during the session of the Lsgisla
ture Never had any conversation with
Mr. Harris after the spring of 1891
Talked with him about codicils to his will
at Captain Bousalls, since June 13 last.
Mr. Harris told that articles had been
published stating that there had been
undue influence exerted and tiat Mr.
Butler piled him with liquor but Mr.
Harris denied this end said Mr. Butler
never knew what the cOdcils contained
until after they were written
neither had he ever been importuned by
Butler TO drink liquor de told me he
felt better in his present quarters. and
was more comfortable than a. the hotel,
where he WAS worried Mr.. Harris
always inquired after my fathers health
| was always in his room from a half
hour to an hour Sometimes I was with
him alone Mr. Harris mentioned TO me
40 one time. a power Of attorney that be
had given to Mr. Hall to 60 70 Philadel.
phia TO get thirty two water bonds Of
$1,000 each which he desired certain
! people were TO have Twtnt, one Of
these We're for Mr. Butler, five for
Thomas S. Clark, and two-for SO O00
each-were for a person who resided iu
Norfolk, Va He carried on this conver-
sation in business like manner
At this point ia the testimony Mr..
Ridgely, Of counsel for Miss McPbGil, ob.
jected 10 several questions put TO the
witness designed To get an opinion as 10
whether Mr. Harris is Of uLsound mind
Mr. Ridgely in his objection stated to the
jury that the witness, not being an eN-
pert or medical man, must state facts
aud not opinions
Mr.. Bradford, in reply, claimed that
such question was a perfectly com
petent one, and expressed surprise that
counsel ON the other side should object 20
such line of sexamination.
Mr. Bird followed and claimed that the
other side had questioned Mr. Salisbury
Mr.. Millington and Mr.. George regarding
, their opinion as TO Mr. Harriss sanity.
Nr, Smithers quoted authorities ia
] show that under the law such questions
were illegal It was finally agreed be-
tween counsel that the question should
be laid over for the present.
Mr.. RidgelY was then recalled and
stated that he last visited Mir Harris
two weeks ago It was I'm the evening
7 about o'clock. He inquired shout my
! fathers health. Mr. Harris was iu bad
= at that time / never saw anything tC
indicate but what his mind was sound
He appeared to me a remarkably bright
man
Mr.. Bird here asked the witness
% whether Dr. Bishop. prior to July lOlast
when visiting Mr. Ridgely's farm resi-
g dence told Mrs RIdgely that 4r Harris
> was of sound mind.
The question wss objected TO by Mr.
10 Peunewill as being a contradiction Of DR.
Bishops previous testimony, aud con
trsry TO law, and after consultation thl
. jury decided TO allow the question.
~ s ID Mr. Harris was not crazy but tha
y Of the two the niece wss the crazy one.
Cross-examiued by Mr. Smithers
IL was member of the Legislature n
the spring Of 1891, IL met in Januar,
y and 40 journed IN MAY had known Mr.
y Harris by sight for several years previou
TO this time I took dinner at the Cap.
- ito Hotel when Mr. Harris boarde,
y there Met him casually at tn
dinner table Do not know th
pnrport Of our conversations, the
were all on the general topics Of tn
day saw him probably every two O
three weeks after the Adjournment o
al The Legislature a. the dinuing table
is never talked with Mr. Harris after th
sr summer Of 1891 until visited him Il
re Captain Bonsalls house ] called on hin
at Bonsalls about the time the news