Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-07

suit or HlSS0m VS.. HlSS0m aCtracteI
a large audience TO the Court House
yesterday, and great deal Of interest
was manifested in the proceedings.
The attendance of witnesses in the jury
room and lobby was very large, MANY
ladies being among the number sum
moned.
The first witness of the day and the
trial was Justice M. J. Fitzpatrick, be-
fore whom the original lunacy charge
against the plaintiff was brought and
afterwards dismissed by the prosecution
which had instituted similar pro-
ceeding before Justice C. S. Greer. His
testimony was brief.
Witness was succeeded by Robert +.
Kanapfer, of the bank cf Spencer,
Roane county, who had met defendant
at Spencer and talked with him about
plaintiff. Witness said that among
other things defendant wanted him to
see Supt Guthrie, of the Asylum. Wit
ness refls ID to do this, when defendant
offered TO pay him foc his trouble.
Defendant said later he wished witness
to see DR.. Guthrie relative 70 his son
(the plaintiff) whom he said was not
mentally responsible, and also asked
witness to speak to Director Flynn, of
the asylum.
On REORGANIZATION witness said
he had known defendant for ten or a
dozen years before their conversation.
lie said Hissom's idea appeared to be
to have ME- asylum officials know OF
his financial responsibility. of his social
connections, etc.
George wait was next called. He had
talked with defendant about plaintiff,
In sistersyille, in 1899. Defendant said
he had put his son in an asylum be-
cause he would not improve until che
had good treatment" He referred to
his son as poor boy" Witness saw
Attorney Ewing; get money from de-
PENDANT and pay costs in Justice Fitz-
patriek's court.
Justice C. s. Greer next took the
stand. He hadA been paid three dollars
in fees in the Hissom case by the
county.
Q-What other bill did you render?
objection; ovsrruled). A-Well at
the time of the hearing the lawyers
agreed that the officers should have
more than the law allowed them.
wrote out fee bill and gave it to Mr.
Ewing.
Q-Who was it made out against.
A-Well, I suppose against J. R. His
som.
After a wrangle between counsel the
next question was:
OH your rulings on the hearing OF
DR.. Hissom, you ruked that his attor-
neys had no right to- interrogate wit
nesses? Collection sustained).
Odd J. W. Ewing advise you thus
Collection, sustained).
The crcss-examination was limited
to a single question.
The deposition of Judge Blizzard,
before whom the habeas corpus pro-
ceedings were held, was then sub
mltted by plaintiff, examined by the
Court and read by Mr.. Hubbard.
This was followed by the evidence
OF John B. Wilson, who was notary
in the Hissom proceedings. Mr.. Ew-
ing paid him for his services.
Robert T. McNichol was then called,
and in reply to question he said:
''g came out OF the Wheeling Title &
Trust Co.'s bank one morning in
March / met J. r. Hissom. | asked
MIN If he would persist in sending his
son to the asylum. He said he would.
Then 1 told him I would so on the
witness stand and tell everything he
had told me about the matter. He
said I would have to do So"
The witness was then excused for
the time being.
D. B. Montgomery, of Tunnelton,
then took the stand and testified to
his having been Waterman at the
Spencer asylum and there talking to
]. r Hissom. He told witness his son
was in deplorable condition. He de-
plored the situation. Defendant, wit
mes said, expressed himself to be will
ing to give witness $500 if the case
could be settled.
Police Lieutenant Michaels testified
at considerable length as to facts oc-
curing at the time of the arrest OF
DIR. Hissom. and was followed by
Jailer William Mccormick, and he BY
Prosecuting Attorney w. c. Meyer, all
this evidence being relative to matters
occurring at the time of the arrest OF
plaintiff.
At the afternoon session Miss Edith
Maser, sister of Mrs. DR.. Hissom, tool
the stand. She testified that plaintiff
married her sister, Miss Carrie Maser
before the charge of lunacy was made
Odd they live at your house af
ter the marriage A-No.
Q.-Where did they reside? A
Woods, in the country.
O.-HaS he been at your home sine,