Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-11-30
checks amounting to several hundred dol

The next witness was Dr. j. II. Wilson.
who was on the stand Monday. Mr.. Bird
asked him only one question, whether he
had brought the letter that he had received
from Charles Harris last September. He
answered that he had not
DR.. l.. a. II. Bishop was then called.
Mr. Ridgely questioned him as t0 Harris
sanity or insanity. and he replied that
while he was Harris attending physician,
the signs of senile dementia had grown on
him SO that the malady was perceptible.
AT the afternoon session Alfred S. Elliott
of Wilmington was called and testified
that during the present year that he pur-
chased two bonds of $1,000 each of the
Riverside Railway Company. The amount
paid was S2,Oi2 They were sent to Charles
IL. Butter May Sth, 1898. The witness
knew nothing as to whether the invest
ment was good one and he simply pur-
chased the bonds on an order.
DIR. l.. A. II. Bishop was called by the
petitioners. He had practiced medicine
since 1875 and in Dover for 10 years. Had
known Charles Harris since 1892. In May,
1892, was called to attend him profession
ally. He was first called to see Mr.. Harris
because he had taken all overdose of opium
and was nearly dead. He remained with
him from early in the morning until
O'Clock in the afternoon. His condition
from that time was very weak, aud he had
Afterwards congestion of the lungs. He
was confined to his room and had been as
long as he attended him.
Mr.. Bird objected to the form of Mr..
Ridgely's questions and said he was
squeezing the witness. s.
Mr.. Ridgely said he would ask what
question he chose.
Mr.. Bird recalled the witness and asked
il Harris was addicted to drink, in which
he replied yes"
DIR. 2. s. Downes testified that his mental
condition was weak and enteebled, and
that symptoms of senile dementia were
visible. The witness was asked If the pa
tient was incapable to manage his person
or estate. He replied that he was. Mr..
Pennewill asked the witness il he ever
gave his consent for Harris to 60 to Basic
City, Va.
MIR. Butler told the witness that he had
gone there weaker than he was at that
time, and ii he saw tit he would see that
MIR. Harris wish was granted.
The witness testified that he had found
Mr.. Harris under the influence of liuuor
several times; in fact several times week.
He never made any connected remarks
for any length of time. The witness be-
lIeyed that he was not capable of making
or forming any connected sentences.
The witness testified that case of senile
denentia never gets any better, but grad
ually ends in death.
The cross-examination of Bird was very
rigid, but the witness corroborated his own
statements in the regular testimony.
DR.. 4. O. Clements, the attending physi-
clan of Charles Harris, testified that he
had been residing in Dover since 1885, and
that he has been daily attending Harris
since June 18th, 1898, from one 10 four times
day. His first visit was soon after he
left the Capital Hotel. He also stated that
he found Mr.. Harris feeble and believed
suffering with senile dementia and was also
troubled with catarrh of the stomach. He
ascertained from the attendant that Mr..
Harris did not take any nonrishment only
milk and toddy. On July 4.h, nr.
| Clements stated that he found Mr.. Harris
very sick man, and that the coating of
his stomach was almost entirely destroyed
from the use of opiates. The dortor
stated that he ordered the estimulants taken
from him to certain extent and prescribed
M X. and toast as nOurlshmnnt. -Ihe
doctor stated that he began to improve in
strength, and gradually recuperated until
relapse occurred in October last. He has
graudually grown weaker since that time.
He is now confined to his bed and not able
to leave 1t.
Mr.. Ridgely asked the witness if Harris
could tell the day of the week or month
Witness answered in the negative and said
had been there the day before Witness
said that one day when he visited the pa
tient, the latter said, Doctor, make out
your bill, as l want to settle with you, as
am going on visit to Massachusetts by
the stage coach in few minutes"
On another occasion he asked Mr.,Harris
If he knew the definition OF deirum. He
answered that it was false impression of
something that did not exist. Witness
stated that on occasions while conversiug
with Harris the latter would fall into d
comatose condition and would have to be
aroused. He thought Harris would sleep
20 hours out of every "a, which he at
tributed to the weakness of the nervous
system, classed under the head of senile
dementia. He also stated that his condl-
tion was such that he could be easily in
tluenced by those around him.
The testimony of DR.. Clements was
general surprise, as it was thought he
would be the strongest witness Of the de-
fence.
A. B. Richardson testified that Harris
came to his hotel in 1898, and left two
years ago last May. He stated that when
he first caipo there his physical and mental
condition was fair, but after being afflicted
with carbuncle it seemed TO change He
refused to converse with anyone and dis
charged his nurse, saying he was as well as
anyone. He said that he dismissed from
his hutel Mr.. Harris through fear that he
might accidentally set the place on fire
lie also stated that he thought Harris was
not capable OF taking care of himself or of
his affairs.
Joseph George was the next witness. He
testified that he acted as nurse about four
months while Harris was sick ut the Hotel
luahardson. During that time Harris was
not able to leave the room and drank to
excess during the day. He would drink q
pint Of champagne at night and said he
could not sleep until his brain was drunk
The court then adjourned.