Evening star., 1899-03-08
Proceedings Begun Before MarshaFs
Jury Today.
The STATEMENTS OF COUNSEL
Testimony Given by Witnesses
From Hot Springs.
SOME PECULIAR ACTIONS

rhe mental condition or Eugene Peters Oc-
CURED today before a marshars jury. The
hearing took place in the room Of Equity
Court No. g and began shortly after II
o'clock. Deputy Marshal William B. Rob-
ison presided, and the following well-known
citizens were sworn as a jury;
Messrs. Robert I. Fleming, w. s. Thomp-
son. Clarence F. Norment, George w. Moss,
Norman Gait, William B. Gurley, George
W. F. Swartzell, John A. Baker, w. A. H.
Church. William s. Knox, Archibald
Greenless. w. A. Moses and John E. Her.
rell
Other prominent residents of this city
were in court. both as witnesses and spec
tators. The witnesses also included several
persons from Hot Springs, Ark and other
out-of-town places.
Mr.. Peters accompanied his counsel,
Messrs. Worthington, Heald and Frailey,
into court. With him was the young lady
whom he claims to have married at NAL
vern, Ark, and whose name was Miss
Clara Louise Mackay. She was handsomely
attired and seemed decidedly embarrassed
because of the situation. Mr.. Peters greet
ed his friends cordially and was very deep
ly interested in everything that occurred.
jr., were pres ent in the interest of the rela-
tives of Mr.. Peters who instituted the pro-
ceedings..
Statements of the Attorney.
Attorney Wilson, after stating to the jury
that Mr.. Peters is a well-known member
of the Norris Peters Company, went on to
recite the alleged action of Mr.. Peters at
Hot Springs, New Orleans and other places
substantially as havs been published fully
in the newspaper articles. He told of Mr..
Peters going to Hot Springs, frequenting
gambling houses there, becoming the asso-
ciate of gamblers, being f1eeced Of his
money and of his marrying or assuming to
marry Miss Mackay.
Attorney Wilson concluded his remarks
by saying that, from all appearances Mr..
Peters is of unsound mind and incapable
of taking care of himself or his estate and
that no one has any interest in the matter
except for the welfare of Mr. Peters.
Attorney Worthington, in reply, Informed
the Jury that the question at issue was
whether or not Mr.. Peters is of unsound
mind at the present, not whether he was
of unsound mind several weeks ago. Con-
tinuing. the attorney explained that Mr..
Peters Is about forty-fve years Of age and
about ten years ago came into possession Of
an ample fortune. He went to Hot Springs
some weeks ago to be treated for certain
complaint. The course of treatment re-
quired him to take a drug which had a
strong effect on his mind, and as a result
he may have acted Queer1y. In connec-
tion with the marriage Attorney Worthing,,
ton stated that it became rumored around
Hot Springs that the lady with MIR. Peters
was not his wife Naturally he wished to
dispel such rumors, and. therefore, took
formed.
. Attorney Worthngton took occasion to
state to the jury that the proceedings were
instituted by two ladies, relatives of Mr..
Peters, who would reap the benefit of his
estate in the event that anything happened
to him and he was not married. -.-
The recent arrest of Mr.. Peters in this
city, on the charge Of being dangerous
lunatic, was characterized by Attorney
Worthington as atrocious. He concluded by
saying that there was apparently some
desire to have Mr. Peters and his property
looked after to his best interests.
DIR. Hollands Testimony.
DIR. Thomas E. Holland, a practicing
physician of Hot Springs. Ark, was the
first witness examined. He told that he
was called to treat Mr.. Peters at Hot
Springs. Mr.. Peters, with Mrs. Peters was
occupying the handsomest suite of apart
ments at the Arlington Hotel. Mrs. Peters
told the witness, so he said. that at that
time she had never been married to Mr..
Peters.
DR.. Holland told Of the actions Of Mr..
Peters at Hot Springs, repeating several
alleged occurrences that have heretofore
been detailed. In paying tho witness for
his services, Mr.. Peters, so DR.. Holland
testified, handed over a $1,000 note to
which he attached revenue stamp.
The witness gave Mr.. Peters no drugs
that would in any way affect his mind, so
say that he telegraphed J. Paul Brown of
Wilmington, Del, the only friend of Mr..
Peters he knew of. that Mr.. Perets was out
of his mind, and was about to be married.
Mr.. Brown forwarded the telegram to this
city, and DR.. Holland received a telegram
frcm Mr.. Daniel Fraser of the Norris
Peters Company requesting him to prevent
the proposed marriage If Mr. Peters was
not in his right mind.
Among other things, DR.. Holland told the
jury that he knew that Mr. Peters, while
at Hot Springs, had not slept for five days
at time. Mr.. Peters, when he first reached
Hot Springs, was not considered Of M
sound mind by the witness although he
was erratc. The condition of insanity de-
yeioped later; In the opinion of DR. Hol-
land, Mr.. Peters did not drink at all The
entire time he was at Hot Springs.
Action at Hot Springs.
Frank c. Place. county clerk of Garland
county. Ark, was next called as a witness.
He stated that Mr.. Peters called at his
office in Hot Springs and made application
for license to marry CLARA Mackay.
spinster." The witness had been informed
that Mr.. Peters was not right mentally A
worthless piece of paper was given to the
applicant under the assumption that IT was
a marriage license. The witness told Mr.
Peters that there was no charge for the
license, but Mr.. Peters remarked that he
paid for everything he got and threw a
large roll of money on the counter Later
man named Martin J. Walsh spoken Of
as confidence man and gambler, made
application for a license for Mr.. Peters
and Miss Mackay. 1t was refused. Mr.
Peters manner, SO said the witness, was
entirely different the day he desired the
! marriage license from what 1t was in court
today.
Lee Mayberry, hackman, of Hot
Springs, testified that he was employed by
Mr.. Peters for several days while he was
at Hot Springs. 1t was the habit of Mr.
Peters to drive down town in the morning
fn fha how nyn1 f1av,
gambling houses, where he would remain
the rest Of the day and until or or 5
O'Clock in the morning. Mr.. Peters, SO said
the hackman, would actually use the car
| rtage about Ave minutes, and then keep 1t
! waiting for hours. paying for it at the rate
| OF 81 the first hour and $150 for each addi-
tional hour. On one occasion Mr.. Peters
snapped a pistol in the face of the witness
At the conclusion of Mayberry's examina-
| ton. at 1:80 o'clock, a recess for half an
hour was taken.