The times., 1899-03-14
FRIENDS OF PETERS
BELIEVE HIM Sane
Many Witnesses Who Testify
in His Behalf.
Competent to Attend to His Bust
ness Matters.
= Large Crowd in Court To Hear the
Evidence in Re-
buttai.

the enquiry relative to the sanity OF Eu-
gene Peters We're resumed yesterday morn
ing in Equity Courtroom No. 2, before As
sistant United States Marshal W. b. Rob
inson, A. S. Worthington announced that
he would open the case in rebuttal. This
statement was made after Attorney Jere
NJ. Wilson, who represents Miss r. Annie
Hannum, at whose instance the writ de
lunatico inquirendo was issued, had in
formed Mr.. Worthngton that he would
offer no other testimony at that time.
When the hearing WAS begun there were
not as many persons present as on the pre-
vious days of the proceedings, but before
the recess hour the courtroom was crowded
to its utmost capacity. Mr.. and Mrs.
Peters were in court early, and occupied
the same seats which they have since the
enquiry began.
The first witness called was Fred B.
Pyle a local architect. who has been on
intimate terms with Peters for several
years. He said: Il have known Eugene
Peters since 1893. / met him at his own
home; the acquaintance continued till
1896, when took a cruise with him on his
yacht In 1897 he told me ne wanted me
to make some changes in the way of re-
thing about Peters different from any other
citizen of Washington. He had his pecu
liarities like everyone else, one Of which
was that he breakfasted very late some
times at II q. m. He often told OF his eX-
perience out West and his experiences with
gambling; how quickly gamblers in the
West could handle a revolver; he had a
revolver with which he used to illustrate
saw hiia just before he went to Hot
Springs, Ark, last year; there was moth
ing unusual about him. Before going he
gave me instructions TO see about some
new decorations in his home during his
absence l received a letter from him
while he was at Hot Springs. ! saw MIN
when he was arrested. | was notified by
Mr. Seitz. Mr.. Peters private secretary,
who has been with him since 1895.
Il wanted to see Peters, but Mr.. Daniel
Fraser told me that l could not, as he
Eraser had given orders that no one
should see him. | said that ! would and
went to see Mrs. Peters. She was in great
distress and said she did not know what
to do. and / advised her to employ coun-
sell"
The witness then went on to relate the
circumstances connected with and the re-
suit of his visit to the Twelfth Street po-
lice station on the day of Peters arrest.
From what / saw of Peters at the police
station he said, II was convinced that
he was not insane. and that there was no
occasion for his detention. When he was
released | called upon him and he told me
of his experiences with gamblers in the
West and New Orleans"
With much deliberatinn and emphasis.
Mr. Pyle stated that. from what he knows
of Mr.. Peters. he is thoroughly competent
mentally and physically OF caring for him
self and property.
a long and searching cross examination
by Mr.. Wilson failed to shake the testi-
mony OF the witness in any material state
ment.
Frank n Funsrt, tho nsernber vf tho
Metropolitan Police who watched over Pc
ters while lie was confined a, the Twelfth
Street station, when called 10 the stand
said ne was led to believe that he had been
given charge OF 4 dangerous lunatic, but,
from what he saw Of Peters, he found him
10 be a very mild hammered man. He said
that Peters talked a great deal. but he al
ways exhausted the subject before he
changed it.
After recess, Dr. Henry \. Bryant, den
list OF this city. took the stand. His testi-
mony was very similar to that OF Mr. Pyle
He met Mr.. Peters in 1893 he said, and ac-
eompanied him on a cruise TO Old Point
Comfort on his yacht He had also done
considerable professional work for Mr.. Pc
ters He saw him Just before he started
for Hot Springs and also when he was
under arrest after his return to this city.
He considered Mr.. Peters to be of sound
mind
After the recess hour the only witness
examined was William E. Setz. who has
acted as Mr.. Peters private secretary since
July. 1895. He said: Il have known
Eugene Peters for about ten years and
have been in his employ since 1895.
Ny first work for Peters was to make an
inventory of the things aboard his yacht
for him. This he requested me to do be
cause he said that he believed that the
people whom he had employed were
not acting honestly by him. Peters the
witness said, went from Norfolk 10 Hot
Springs Ark, on December II last, ard
when he left that place and went to New
Orleans he telegraphed him to come TO him
at that city. Il was at the time in Key
West and Immediately left for New Or
leans"
The witness then went on TO relate what
had happened in New Orleans in reference
| to the removal OF Peters to this city. and
concluded this part of his testimony by
stating that it was his opinion that Pc
ters was thoroughly competent to take
care OF himself and his property at that
time. He admitted that Peters was nerv
Gus from want OF sleep. but beyond this
he said there was nothing unusual in his
appearance nor in his actions. Mr.. Selt J.
also stated that he has seen Peters on sew
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