The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-07-10
VICTIM Or NERVES.
DR.. snitzka and Othef Ex-l
perts Testify That Dr.
Wilkinson Is Suffer.
ing from Dementia.
EyEREFT's GENERAL REPUTATION
No Expert Testimony On This
Point But Ordinary Witnesses
Say 1t Is Bad.
syERETT's GENERAL REPUTATION

The Everett Wilkinson libel suit drags
slowly along in the Supreme Court. AZ
ter the testimony of the handwri ting ex-
perts had all been put in, the defence
began to make an attack On Dr Ever
ett's reputation Several witnesses tesz
tified yesterday afternoon that the pain
tiff's general reputation was BAD.
Charles L. Van Antwerp dentist,
who was formerly at Bergen and CoTnniH-
nipaw avenues. was one Of tho witnesses
who testified to the Doctor S bad general
reputation. He was asked II it was not
common rumor in the neighborhood
that DR.. Everett had caused the death
Of Arthur B. sterrett This is the young
man whom the plaintiff is accused IN the
anonymous letter of having killed. Mr..
McCarter objected. He said that there
are two positive statements in the letter
accusing DR.. Everett of having killed
Sterrett. and he opposed the Introduction
Of idle rumors.
Ex-senator Brinkerfoff said he merely
wanted to show that 1t was rumored
about the neighberhood that Dr. Everett
had caused Sterrett's death, not inten-
tionally but through lack Of skill,
Mr.. McCarter said that such testimony
could only be offered in. justification and
no such plea had been entered. Justice
Lippincott admitted the testimony. with
the understanding that it was to go to-
ward mitigation of damages.
Mrs. Agnes Atchison testified that she
went TO consult DR.. James Wilkinson
last December. She became convinced
then that he was losing his mind
Didn't you say asked Mr.. McCarter.
on oss-examination, that you went to
consult the old doctor about your daugh-
ter because you had more confidence IN
him than in his son George who was
treating her?''
No l didn't answered the witness.
becoming excited.
Didn't You tell me that In the Court
House yesterday" persisted the lawyer
The witness became greatly excited and
talkatiye. She shook her finger at MIR.
McCarter and if looks. could have amt
hilated him, there would now be a vacan-
cy at the New Jersey Bar She finally be-
came sufficiently calm TO say that Mr..
McCarter was getting the thing all mixed
up. What she did say was that she and
her daughter always liked the old doctor.
DR.. Edward c. Spitzka, the expert in
nervous diseases testified that he has
known DR.. James Wilkinson for fourteen
OF 1lItSS0 years tlCS-tO tUlfcitItctl @tte-
witness about five years ago aboul MS
condition. He was suffering from neuritis,
ar affection of the nerves, which Ia more
pronounced about the fower extremities
and causes great pain and insomnia, Peo-
pie whose occupation requires them to
SIT down much are specially subject to
it, In this class are typewriters, telegraph
operators and sometimes lawyers. but
never politicians. The witness saw DR.,
Wilkinson again two years ago and the
symptoms were then more pronounced.
He had Authorizations and the witness
advised absolute rest. The next time he
saw DR.. Wilkinson was In last Septenl-
ber. and he was then on the verge of de-
nentia He had been taking morphine in
large quantities. His condition would af-
feet his handwriting.
Dr. Butson Evans of the Morris Plains
Asylum testified that he saw the defend
ant last September, and he was suffering
from dementia- He might be able to at
tend to ordinary affairs from force of
habit. The case may close today.