The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-04-06
IS He INSANE ]?
Witnesses Testify to the
"Queerness' Of Clifford,
Wattson's Murderer.
SAY He WAS CRAZY FOR YEARS
Some Amusing Stories Told
Experts Decisions This
Afternoon.
SAY He WAS CRAZY FOR YEARS

The investigation before the Oyer ana
Terminer Court to determine the present
mental condition of Edward Clifford, the
murderer of Superintendent William @.
Watson, was begun at eleven O'Clock this
morning Justice Lippineott and Judge
Blair were on the bench. Lawyers Dixon
and Stockton represented Clifford and
Prosecutor Erwin appeared for the State.
Mr. Dixon formally renewed his motion
for venire to draw jury for the pur-
pose of trying the question.
Justice Lippincott said that the Court
had read Mr. Dixons brief and had cons
eluded to try the case without jury.
Mrs. Minnie Hoffman was the first wit
ness called. She testified that Clifford
boarded with her at No. 2l5 Bergenline
avenue, Union Hill, for five years. from
June H. 1889. She had known him for
eighteen years. In 1892 he was sick for
two months with pneumonia. The witt
ness always thought that he was queer
and she was often afraid of him.
About ten o'clock one morning, when
he convalescent, he came down stairs in
his night robe and with sheet around
him. AS he entered the room where the
witness was he exclaimed: Look out,
here comes the Queen of Sheba!" Imme-
diately afterward he told the witness to
send the colored boy out for beer. Thera
was no colored boy in the house.
Prosecutor Erwin interposed an objee-
tion to the line of examination and sug-
gested that the investigation was for the
purpose of determining his present mem
tai condition.
Mr.. Dixon said it was proposed to show
+l,ot 10 tai
sion before he shot Watson.
Justice Lippincott permitted the wit-
ness to continue.
Mrs Hoffman testified that during all
the time Clifford boarded, with her he
acted peculiarly She was often afraid
of him. On one occasion he took his re-
volver out of the drawer and threatened
to kill everybody in the house. She was
so frightened that she sent for Police
man King. Clifford was awfully wild,
and the witness ran out in the hall to set
out of his way. On cross examination,
the witness said she had been divorced.
but is now widow. She kept her hotel
or boarding house opposite the El Dorado
wasn't the Queen of Sheba produced
at the Ell Dorado about the time Clifford
came down dressed in a sheet?' asked
the Prosecutor.
''I believe it was replied the witness
'rNasn't Clifford a particular friend OF
yours?"
No more than anybody else. He was
my first boarder.''
On redirect examination Mrs. Hoffman,
said that she always considered Clifford
queer.
william Elmendorf, ofNo. 1,107 Washing-
that he had
nursed Clifford during the time he was
laid up with pneumonia. He nursed him
for three or four weeks Clifford gave the
witness his watch and ring to keep for
him and when he wanted to return them
Clifford declared that the ring was mot
his and insisted on the witness keep
ing it.
Elmendorf considered Clifford very
fiighty and always thought that he was
not exactly right He had no memory
and was incoherent at times. The witt
ness often spoke to Clifford's brother
about it.
Herman H. Wouters, an apothecary, az
No. 500 Palisade avenue, Weehawken tes-
tilted that he had known CLIFFORD for
about six or seven years He saw CLIFFORD
three or four times week after he cap
tureu Herry. Inc WilHesS was neeotAs1.AAS
with him for loan of about $500 to open
another drug store.
II said to him. continued the witness,
ED, you will only blow your money In.
You had better let me have some of II
and I'll make money for you." He said
he would but he never did, and finally
concluded that he was stringing me,
thought he acted queer and was not in
his right mind.
Martin Filon, of Union Hill, Cliffords
faithful friend, testified about the defen-
dant being in his saloon the night before
the shooting and accusing everybody there
of being thieves and pielSpocketS. THAI
convinced him that Clifford was crazy.
The expert testimony to show that Cliff
ford is insane now will be given this ALTERS
noon.
WEATHER INDICATIONS