Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-01

DR.. Samuel K. Hissom, the plaintiff
in the action for 100000 damages from
his father, broke down and wept bitter
ly yesterday afternoon while under
cross-examination by John A. Howard,
counsel for the defendant. 1t was after
he had asserted that selling out" was
characteristic of the Hissoms, and af-
ter Mr.. Howard asked him if he
thought his mother had sold out be-
cause she was against him. The wit
ness replied that she had her home re-
furnished from garnet to cellar and had
a new piano.
DR.. Hissom concluded his direct tes-
timony about eleven o'clock, and M;
Howard then began a searching cross
examination, asking questions from
notes which he had taken during the
direct examination. DR.. Hissom made
a strong witness, contradicting himself
in no important statements made eth
er in the first or the present trial. Mr.,
Howard was unable to shake him and
the witness gave evidence that his
memory was very clear as to all that
happened at the former trial. Mr..
Howard endeavored to show that at tn"
former trial DR.. Hissom said his father
suggested a division of his estate by
giving each of the children $4,000 and
DR. Hissom ''the rest"
Witness version was that the elder
Hissom offered $4,000 to each of the
older children, and addressing Witten
and the Doctor, asked them If they
would go in with the rest. He called
Mr.. Howard's attention to the fact that
he had made the same correction In the
previous trial, and that when MIR How
ard made the statement to the jury that
Dir. Hissom was to receive 1.-The rest,
1T had been disputed by Mr.. w. P. Hub
bard.
The Direct Examination.
was conducted by S. G. Smith Dr.
Hissom first narrated the events imme-
diately following his return from Ger
many. He testified to abuse and
curses from the elder Hissom upon sew
eral occasions. After his return from
Sthe asylum, at the conference at the
Howell House, he said his father stat
ed that he had made mistake in his
Ftreatment of the son, and was willing
TO settle for $4,000. Witness said he
would not agree because j. X. Hlssom
Fwould not consent TO stop divorce pro-
ceedings against his wife.
Among certain letters which DR.. HIS
som testified he had received from MS
mother and subsequently burned, were
letters stating that the elder Hlssom
had knocked his wife down with
chair, and again with his fist, and had
slapped her in the face. His letter, he
iotC h1r
and written by Lucy.
Witness said that while he was in
Jail he had several conversations with
J. ~ Hissom. His father told him he
had never been beaten in anything,
that money could accomplish anything,
and that he had sent his father to the
penitentiary. He SAID he would keep
witness in custody and that witness
would surely die within two years. No
member of the family came to see him
in jail, except his mother, who wanted
him to drop the trial. If he wanted
anything to eat but bean soup, he paid
for it himself.
In the Asylum.
+ DR.. Hissom told about his transport
tation to Spencer, in charge OF an at
tendant at the Hospital for the Insane;
of a visit by his father, at which the
latter wanted to make" up and be
friends; Of his release under an order
by Judge Reese Blizzard; of his return
to Wheeling, and his movements dur
ing the ensuing few days; of meeting
his father, whom witness at first de-
clined to talk to; of the elder Hissom's
to settle their differences outside OF
court, and witness declination.
The court ruled against the introduce
ton in evidence of the marginal writ
ing on a newspaper, which the plant
if sought to show indicated the
amount the elder Hissom was willing
to give his son in settlement.
Witness said he incurred an indebt-
edness of $4,000 in the lunacy proceed
ings and had paid $500 or $500. To
Mr.. Howard he said he refused to take
the check for $1,000 from his father,
but accepted it from his mother. He
got the money with the understanding
that he was going south, but he did
not go. He talked with his father