The evening times., 1899-03-10
THE PETERS LUNACY CASE
several Witnesses Testify That He
Is Mentally UnipaIanc.d

The proceedings in connection with the
enquiry into the mental condition of Eu-
gene Peters, member of the Norris Pc
ters Company, which were begun last
Wednesday, were resumed today in Equity
courtroom No. 2. Assistant United States
Marshal Robinson presiding
AS on the previous days the hearing was
attended by a large number of interested
spectators. Mr.. and Mrs Peters were IN
court and occupied the places which they
nave since the opening OF the investiga-
ton.
The first witness called was Albert G
West, the bookkeeper at the Citizens Ma
tional Bank, of this city who was on he
stand yesterday but did not complete Eis
testimony. He produced the banks book
and showed the checks paid out on the or
der OF Peters during the last two months
One OF these checks was for 81 geo paid 10
Dan a. Stuart, the prizefght promoter.
The next witness was Miss E. Annie
Hannum, at whose instance the writ de
lunatico inQuirendo was issued. She stated
that she resides in this city and is an aunt
of the subject of the enquiry. Eugene Pc
ters. She had heard of Peters doings in
the West and South and of his intention
10 return 10 Washington. When he ar
rived she had a long talk with MIN. He
seemed very much excited and told OF all
his troubles. He was usually a man of
few words. but on his return TO Washing
ton was exceedingly talkative. She saw
him again the following day. Monday, and
he again related his troubles. Later she
noticed a change in his condition. He be-
came more quiet She never heard him
make any threats except once to his serv-
ant. He said at that time: If | had
I would like m clapr nf
fellows. He, however, laughed and said
no more.
Under the conditions she does not think
he is a proper person to care for himself
and property. The witness stated she had
no selfish motive in pursuing the course
| she did.
On cross examination by Mr.. Worthing-
| ton she stated that Peters was always re-
! ticent and had his peculiarities like other
people.
! Danield Frazer was next called. He
stated that he has been connected with the
| Norris Peters Company since 1873 or 1874;
| he was the general manager of the busi-
ness. At first Eugene Peters was around
a great deal but later drifted away.
He then told of hearing of Peters ac-
tions at Hot Springs, Ark, and said that
! last June he acted strangely. Peters
mother was very i'll. at the point of death,
and be was off on his yacht. He had TO
| be sent for several times before he came.
| His mother died at a. m. Peters sent
| word of it TO the witness, then left the
| house and got aboard his yacht again.
Some years ago, Mr. Frazer said, Peters
was very close with his money and would
drive hard bargain. When propositions
! were made to him he would consider for a
| long time before answering. When he ar
| rived, Peters asked the witness to take
care of him and talked in rambling way.
insisting that the JesuitS in New Orleans
| were all Masons.
| Mr.. Frazer stated he was present wner
| DR.. Walsh saw Peters. The latter talked
constantly of gambling and bloodhounds.
| In reply to a question the witness said: Il
! do not think Peters is capable of taking
care of self, his business, and his prop
! erty." He stated that he did not favor
! the taking out of the warrant for Peters,
| and only consented on the condition that
it should be executed only in case OF
emergency. He then related his connection
with the matter until the end of the pre-
ceedings in the Police Court
| In this connection Mr.. Frazer stated that
the arrest of Peters as dangerous lunatic
was mistake, which he regretted exceed
| ingly. The witness then went on to state
| what property in this city and other cities
is owned by Peters.
DR.. Ralph Walsh testified that he had
known Eugene Peters about ten years and
had been his physician for seven years.
He saw him on the Sunday when he came
here from New Orleans. Peters was at the
| Wellington Hotel. He left there and went
| to his house on East Capitol Street. Pc
ters was standing in the middle of the
| room and said he could not stop talking.
He then told me of his being followed by
gamblers and hunted by bloodhounds -
said the witness. He was undoubtedly of
unsound mind; he is suffering from a dis
ease which attacks the brain; a peculiar
| condition attending the disease is that af-
ter the mind has become affected at times
the patients mind became perfectly nor
NAL,