St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-09
STRONG ATTEMPT TO SHOW
That Weber Emaciated Him
self in Order to EXtort
Money.
WEBER'S LETTERS SHOWN,
In Which a Doctor Is Asked
for Pointers to Deceive
Other Physicians.

Judge BrllFS courtroom was packed
with spectators yesterday. all listening
with deepest interest to the sensational
testimony for the defense in the S52, 900
personal damage suit of John E. Weber
against the street railway company.
Several witnesses were examined by
Counselor Mum for the defense aud
gave testimony very damaging to the
plaintiffs case. They were subjected
to rigid cross examination by Mr..
O'Brien for the plaintiff. but were APP
parenuy not shaken. The trend of the
testimony yesterday was TO prove that
Weber was neither blind nor paralyZed
as claimeda during the early part of his
illness, whatever his condition may be
at the present time. The defense is
trying to prove that Weber purposely
emaciated himself in order to sue the
company, and that nature has done
more to help him than he had antci-
pated.
August Scheiden test fled that he had
taken care of Weber ever since he came
from the hospital up TO few weeks
ago. He had frequently seen him hold
ing newspaper up before his face as
though he was reading. But Weber
would always throw the paper away as
soon as witness approached. Weber
asked him to write a letter for him.
Witness told him he could not spell very
we'll. Weber told him all lie wanted
him to do was to copy the letter, and
when lie handed it to him witness told
him il was written better than he could
write it. Weber said lie wanted him to
copy it because lie did not want the
writing recognized. Witness copied
the letter. mailed the copy as directed,
and returned the original to Weber.
He had seen Weber writing the letter.
He wrote it lying down. This was
about month after lie came from the
hospital. He wrote two letters. The
second letter was sent to Attorney
Lovely, one of the plaintiffs lawyers in
the case. Weber Signed witness name
to it. Attorney O'Bren showed wit
ness this letter and asked him if he
did not write it, but he positively de-
MED that he did .e
He swore Positively
that Weber wrote it, signing MS ha'lie
as stated. On crOss-examlnatlon VIII
ness Dluntly denied that he stopped
taking care of Weber after he had
learned that he was to be witness
against him.
O. E. Mitchell, who was formerly an.
employee OF the street car company. put
had been DISCHARGED, was calico, ana
testifie l. regarding a conversation ne
had with Weper.ln which the latter had
told him he (Weber} was d. fool
for not lying down on the floor OF the
car and pretending he was seriously IN
jured in the collision.
William Hall, who is in the employ OF
the Milwaukee railway, was. working
for the street railway company at the
time Weber was in the employ OF the
company. He heard Weber complain
of his eyes and saw him wear glasses
when on the street. This was in 1892.
The accident occurred in November,
1898. The object OF this was 10 show
that he was subject to weak eyes.
William Ray, conductor for the
street railway company. testified that
he and Weber were well acquainted.
A few days after the accident Weber
got on his car, and they were talking
about the collision. Weber told him
one man had been seriously hurt and
the conductor was also hurt some; he
himself was aot hurt, but he was a
d fool'' for not pretending he was
and getting damages from the cons
pany.
One or two other witnesses testified to
the effect that Weber was troubled
with Weak Eyes.