The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-29
Hearing OF James R. Hissom Be.
gan Before Squire Dunning.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
After Which Further Proceedings
We're Delayed Until Next Tuesday
Mornins-Thc Prosecutions Princi-
pal Witness was Miss Edith Maser
who Says Mr.. Hissom Asked her to
Testify That his son was Insane.


ness at the late hearing OF his son on
the charge of insanity. began yester-
day afternoon at o'clock before JUS
tice of the Peace James A. Dunnlng.
Considerable time was consumed In the
discussion of several motions made by
the defense, principal among which
were motions for q change OF venue and
for a jury trial. Both Of these were
denied.
Mr.. Hissom was represented by Mr..
John A. Howard. The prosecution.
which was instituted by Charles T.
Woods, friend OF DIR. S. K. Hissom.
who lives back of Bridgeport, was con-
Quoted by Messrs. NJ. T. Dryden S. G.
Smith, w. p. Robinson and Charles
Schuck.
Only three witnesses we're examined.
OF whom Miss Edith Maser. who says
Mr.. HIssom attempted TO bride her to
testify against his son at the recent In
sanity hearing. was the principal one.
The first witness called was Justice
of the Peace Greer. before whom the
Hissom insanity hearing took place in
February. He testified that the war
rant for DR.. S. X. Hissom's arrest was
sworn out by Attorney James "A. Ew-
Ing. He could not reroliect the day OF
the hearing, but believed II was Feb
ruary 3. He identified ]. Il. Hissom and
Misses Edith and Carrie Maser as wit
nesses at the hearing.
The star witness was Miss Edith
.t,A t,a al
was offered a bribe by the defendant
II she would swear TO his sons Is. *.
Hissom) Insanity. She testified that
she lived with her father at 10 South
Penn street, Island. which IS next door
to the Hissom home. She had been 4
witness at the S. X. HIssom insanity
hearing. She had conversed with j. r.
Hissom previous to the hearing. or
rather series of conversations, which
occurred at the following places: At
the Tissom house. In the dining room;
at the street corner while waiting for
the street car; on the cars. and In the
jury room at the court house. These
conversations occurred in the afternoon
before her turn came 10 testify. MIR.
Hissom had told her how awful was
the trouble that had developed be-
tween his son and himself; and, con-
tinuirg, he had told her to 20 In and
testify: he mad also said to her: You
know the doctor is insane: you tell
them the doctor is insane" The wit
ness had said she would be afraid to
tell this, and Mr.. Hissom had said to
her in reply: Don't be afraid; it will
be all right; will make 1t all right.
What did he mean wheL he said
thIs?" said Mr.. Dryden. Of counsel for
the prosecution.
THAT he would present me with
something or give me money"
Ibid you believe the doctor was in
eane?''
NO. sir
do you believe he is insane now"
NO. indeed. l do not
"Dld you agree to what Mr.. Hisso:u
said?"
yes; but / did not intend to do what
he wanted. I did not swear his son was
insane."t-
Continuing. the witness said Mr.. His
som spoke to her about her testimony,
not only In the house, but on the corner,
on the cars and in the jury room. In
the jury room we were all there to-
gether. They nll said what they intend
ed to give in their testimony. He told
me he would make'it all right and that
l need not be afraid"
A lengthy and searching cross-exam-
nation was conducted By Mr.. John y.
Howard Miss Nasc- denied she had
ever expressed the opinion that S. X.
Eissom was insane.
did Mr.. Hissom ask You to swear
to any lies?s
MIR. Hissom asked me to swear to
3 an opinion that was different froma my
own. He asked me to tell that the doc
tor was insane.
''Where?'
..In the dining room. on the corner,
on the street car and in the jury ROOM
The witness was asked to repeat the
conversation she had with Mr.. Hissom
in the house. She stated tt as follows:
HE said TO me: Just go ahead and
tell what you know: tell he Is insane.
He said this in all four places. He also
said. And I'll make 1t all right with
you His sister. Mrs. Mcknight, was
there and she told me not to be afraid.
His daughter, Lucy Hissom. was also
there"
what was said on the corner?"
HE spoke about it being a shame to
think of all the money spent ~ the
doctor. Just as good as throwin- 1t In
the street. And then think tnat he
would cause his poor old fathe' such
trouble as this Then the car came and
this conversation ended"
On the car the witness said Mr.. HIS
som spoke to her rs follows:
This trouble Is terrible. Edith, you
lust 20 up and tell them the doctor is
insane, and tell all you know about
him. and will make 1t all right with
you"
In the jury room he said to her:
you will soon have to go In and tes-
tify. and you don't need to get afraid
because they wifi not hurt you, and III
make 1t all right with YOU"
WHO was there" asked Mr.. How
ard.
"Only J. r." said the witness.
After the hearing. the witness said.
she talked with the folks at home about
what Mr.. Hissom had said to her. and
she had expressed the opinion that he
meant to pay her. He didn't say he
would give present or money direct
Didn't you say the doctor was In
sane?"
The witness hesltatcd before reply
ing, and then admitted that she might
have said the doctor was insane on one
particular subject.
Didn't you put this in writing?"
mo. sir"
ST. "You stick to that answer"
~ don't know what YOU mean."
Here Mr.. Dryden nterposed with OBJ
1cctions to Mr.. Towards mode Of cross
examination.
"Didn't you write this letter." said
Mr. Howard. and handed the witness
four-pagc letter written on small note
paper.
The witness read the letter. after
which It Was handed over to Mr.. Dryden
for perusnl.
did you write this letter." asked Mr..
Howard again.
Mr.. Dryden intcrposed again. and said
this mode Of examination was pursued
only TO cmbarrass the Witness. Tho
Justice ruled that IL the letter was not