The San Francisco call., 1898-07-29
STATES CASE SOON ENDED
THE WIFE-SLAYER SUBJECT TO
 MENTAL PREPARATION.
His Sole Defense Is That He Did Not Know What He Was Doing at the Time He
 Shot.
Oakland Office, San Francisco Call,
 nap I,.na d runAr Hll,,

sos Broadway. July 2S
 J. H. Moffett, accused of the murder of his wife, Lucy Moffett, vas on trial this morning, before Judge Hall.
 With the testimony of E. A. 'Brien, a reporter, the prosecution concluded be- fore the noon recess. The first witness for the defense was M. c. Chapman. who knew the defendant and the secrets ot ms domestic life.
 "I have known MT. Moffett since 1891. v said the witness He has worked for me and 1 have often conversed with hlm. Never having heard his reputation dis cussed l assume that it was good.
 My opinion is in regard to his men, tai condition that up to the time he re- turned from the country last faii and for some time after he was of sound mind. For two or three weeks prior to March II he was insane My reasons for this con- clusion are many In all the conyersa- tions that l ever had with MT. Moffett he seemed to be interested in general sub- jects I do not recall that he ever talked about himself during the period that l have stated he was of sound mind. He was always clear and level-headed and in my opinion would do nothing without good reason for it. Although not sun shiny, he was not gloomy nor festive. Ills conversations with me showed him to be man With a fine sense or justice. From the middle or DeceUlDeT Ol ySdi tO the middle of January this year l did not see him, being away, but when l returned from Salt Lake l found him working on my house; lie appeared to have fallen away in flesh and was very gloomy and Respondent. He did not look as tidy per sonally as he used to, and would not speak at all except in monosyllables. He was a changed man.
 1.-The night after he completed the work on my house he called on me and 1 at once asked him if he had come for his money. He said he had not. but his mind was loaded with trouble. He told me he was ruined man and said, My heart Is gone. He talked erratically cried, con- Vulsively and was unable to speak for several minutes. The visit lasted an hour and half. and as he was about to go told him that if l were in his place would go back to the country and never return. I tried to cheer him up when he called week before the shooting of his wife. l told him to get away from her and from the people who were annoying him him; l met him & the ,1 night before the the spondent. But he said, Don't, don't, you are pulling me away! Ills mind drifteo into different channels and he was unable thinking the man insane.
 Ex-Mayor Chapman was cross-exam. ined by District Attorney Shook, and said harm hair of his wife's head. The Dis trict Attorney asked MT. Chapman if his testimony % was not m more re- dramatic ,a , thar to which he had testified.
 "No. MT. Shook; no. Mir Shook replied Chapman in deep. measured tones. '1 could not begin to be as dramatic as MT Moffett was In his simple but narrowing narrative"
 Deputy District Attorney Harry A. Mel win was then called to the witness stand by the defense. He told of knowing MT Moffett a juror in the Oakland Police Court On the morning of the day before the murder the witness saluted him but Mnffeft O 1nknOwlqdPa win believes that Moffett could not have been normally mental at that time.