The times., 1899-03-17

ness was turned over 10 Attorney j. NJ.
Wilson for cross-eXamination.
In reply to questions by Mr.. Wilson, Pc
ters said: My first recollections of Boyd,
Signal Corps officer, was in 1874" He
then said he had trouble with Sergeant
Boyd, in Philadelphia, in 1874, but that 1t
was a personal matter. and was settled
years ago. On Mr.. Wilson asking what the
trouble was, Peters replied, asking if he
(Mr. WILSON, was a military board. and was
going to try him by court martial. In
speaking of the actions of a man at the
Signal station, at Barnegat, on the Jersey
Coast whom Peters referred to as AN
other maniac he said he never knew him
10 commit any act Of violence other than
TO eat raw corn to appease his hunger. He
further stated that the man was called
a maniac, more because of what he did
not do than on account Of what he did.
Peters also stated that he had quarrel
with Gen. A. W. Greedy, at Denison,
Tex, because of misunderstanding over
a telegram. When he referred to this mat
ter on his direct examination he said 1t
was on account of escapes of electricity,
and MIR. Wilson asked him 20 explain this.
Peters answered that the services of an
expert telegrapher had better be got. to
explain the operation, because he was sat
isfied Mr. Wilson did not know anything
about 1t. Peters concluded his explana-
ton, however. by saying TO Mr.. Wilson:
THAT may seem incoherent to you, but it
is plain TO me-"
He Meant Wax Figures.
In referring to the statement made by
another witness that he had seen the Gus
ter massacre Peters said all he ever saw
OF it was in wax figures and paintings.
Referring to his service In the Signal Corps
at Atlantic City, Peters stated as on
Wednesday that at that time his stripes,
reputation and several miles of wires were
oblitersted at the same time. He said In
further explanation that the weather had
obliterated the wires and that the United
States Government oblitera.ed his stripes
| he was reduced from a sergeant to pri-
vate in the Signal Corps. When asked why
he was finally discharged, he said Be
cause / could not successfully contend
against the elements"
In reference TO the conduct of the busi-
ness of the Norris Peters Company, Mr..
Peters stated that he was never taken into
consultation until all the plan. had been
arranged and endorsed by counsel. Mr..
Wilson asked If he referred to him, and
Peters answered, We'll, indirectly" Con-
| tinuing Peters says he has been practically
| excluded from active conduct of the Nor
ris Peters Company business. He said
| that he objected to certain expenses for
rent Office services which have been paid,
| and to the arbitrary manner in which he
was arrested, charged with being insane,
and to the paying of salvage TO witnesses,
| as he said has been done in connection with
| the present proceedings. He also stated
| that he does not believe that the contract
| first entered into between the members OF
the Norris Peters Company exists today in
the spirit in which II was made. He ex-
| planned that according to the first con-
tract Mr.. Fraser was to become possessed
! of not more than one-third interest and
TO draw only an amount equal to that ot
the other members of the firm. Instead
| of this agreement being carried out, ac-
| cording to the last contract Mr.. Fraser
| is TO draw out $500 more per month than
he did before and in excess of the other
| members.
| In response to a request by Mr.. Wilson
| that he explain his connections with the
| gambler Walsh, who has been repeatedly
referred 10 since the hearings began, he
said that he advanced $50 for him as g
| stake in game OF faro. He said Walsh
won, and that his share of the winnings
was s400, but that Walsh only handed hin
| over $500. Peters said he knew this was
not right. and that he told Walsh that he
| wanted the balance of $40, and that he
wanted it quick" Then, after a short
pause, Mr.. Peters said: Il got it." Mr.
| Peters had stated in his direct testimony
| that when he arrived at Hot Springs he
| had about $1,000 and that he re-
ceived from Mr.. Fraser $1,000 more
Mr.. Wilson asked him TO tell what
had become of all this money. He replied
that there was $1,000 OF it on deposit II
| New Orleans, that he purchased about SSOt
worth of jewelry, and that he had the bal.
ance, except the $1,000 he gave 10 DaI
| ha rrfz e-ff I, I.
AT Hot Springs Mr.. Peters said his ex-
penses We're abou; SIS or 500 day.
The hearing will be resumed this morn.
| ing at II o'clock