The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-08


bug, an Insincere Woman and a
Liar and Gives the Reasons Why
She Thinks So--Fanny Davenport
d and the Poet Whittier Referred TO
without Ceremony---What the
Other Witnesses Said.
When court adjourned yesterday af-
ternoon Miss Anna Dickinson was on the
stand giving evidence in rebuttal of
the defense offered by those who placed
her in Danvllle Insane asylum. She
either emphatically denied or explained
in quite a satisfactory way all of the
circumstances detailed by the witnesses
for the defense to prove that she was
mentally unsound. The court room
was crowded with ladies who listen
with the most eager attention to every
word that fell from the lips of the wit
ness. The trial is now rapidly drawing
to a close and unless something un-
looked for occurs the remainder of the
testimony will be all heard today.
DR.. Wetherill's cross examination
was resumed after court opened in the
morning. He said that during his pres
ence in court for the last ten days he
did not observe anything about the
plaintiff that would indicate that she is
a paranoiac, although paranoia is apt
to be aggravated by excitement. The
examination of DR.. Wetherill was COM
pleted at IL o'clock and the defense
rested.
Mrs. Jessie Winterstein, who was an
attendant at Danvile asylum at the
time Miss Dickinson was there was
called in rebuttal and contradicted the
other asylum attendants by saying
that she waited on Miss Dickinson and
never heard her say anything about
crystals or poison in drink offered to
her. She denied that she ever told Mrs.
March that she thought Miss Dickinson
was off"
BOOKMAN RUGGLES.
Mrs. Lewis Mcdonald, of Wilkes
Barre, was next called. For thirty
years she has been acquainted with the
plaintiff and never knew her to use
whisky to excess and never saw her
do anything to indicate that she was
insane. Her examination was produc-
tive of much amusement on account
of the tart nature of her replies to the
! questions of the attorneys.
Homer Ruggles was the first wit
ness called after the noon recess. He
has resided In Pittston for over fifteen
years and conducts a book store at that
place. During the years 1889 and 1890
Miss Anna Dickinson frequently visited
his store and he talked with her on all
kinds of subjects. He never heard her
say anything about a conspiracy and
did not notice any change in her man.
ner or appearance toward the close of
1890. Her speech did not in any way
indicate to him that she was insane.
Mrs. Sally j. Ackerly, who has been
the plaintiffs constant companion in
| court during the two trials, was the
next witness. Her husband is George
Ackerly and she resides in New York
She first met Miss Dickinson on April
2, 1891, at Goshen, N. Y, where the
| plaintiff went to attend DR.. Sew
ards private sanitarium, of which wit
| ness had charge. Miss Dickinson now
| resides with witness and her husband
| in New York city. She has seen her
almost daily since April 2, 1891, and
| never observed anything irrational in
her speech or manner She never saw
| her intoxicated or knew of her to use
| liquor to excess. Miss Dickinson did
not receive the gold cure treatment at
DIR. Stewards sanitarium. She saw
| Miss Dickinson drink whisky medi-
cinally and use it for bathing.
| on cross examination Mrs. Ackerly
| said she was in charge of DR.. Seward S
| sanitarium and was sure that he die
not give the plaintiff the gold cure
If he did she would have known of it
She denied emphatically that DR.. Sew
| ard had forbidden Miss Dickinson tC
| drink liquor, but that nevertheless he
went to witness room one mornine
and found that she had been sitting vi
| with Miss Dickinson all night drinkine
| and smoking. She also as emphaticallS
| denied that she was addicted to smok.
| ing or that she was drunk when she
went to Pittston to get Miss Dickin.
sons effects in the spring of 1891. Tt
her knowledge Miss Dickinson does no
| smoke.
| HEARD THE LECTURES.
On redirect examination she said she
was at Hermann's and the Broadway
theaters in May, 1891. when Miss Dick
inson delivered addresses. The plain
tiff's language was not irrational anC
very few persons left the theaters Will,
the lectures were in progress.
| George Ackerly, husband of the pre-
| Cadinp witness was CalIa6 II