Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-29
DR.. R|SSOM ON THE STAND.
DURING THE GREATER PORTION OF
THE DAY IN THE SUIT FOR
BIG DAMAGES.
NOT YET CONSTRAINED
And VIII Probably be on the stand
Almost All of Friday, to Which
Day Court MISUNDERSTANDING
Testimony Was Substantially the
Same as Upon the Former Trial.
other witnesses Examined.

The feature of yesterdays proceed
ings in the big Hissom damage suit,
was the test mony Of the plaintiff, DIR.
Samuel X. Hissom. He went on the
stand in the morning, and at the hour
for adjournment in the afternoon had
not yet completed his direct testimony.
When court re-convenes Friday morn
ing. DR.. Hissom will again take the
stand. and his cross-examination will
porbably occupy almost the entire day.
The plaintiff put number OF Wit
nesses on the stand in the morning.
The court made an important ruling
when Mrs. Hutchinson was on the stand.
Judge Hervey decided that testimony
as to quarrels and disputes prior to
DR.. Hissom's return from Germany IN
1898 is not admissible. This will ex-
clude considerable testimony and
number of dispositions which would
have been offered by the plaintiff. In
the afternoon Judge Hervey severely
reprimanded Mr.. smith for endeayor-
ing to get in evidence contrary to his
rulings. remarking that If the offense
were repeated, it would be counsel and
not the witnesses who would be pun
ished.
Dr. Hissom's testimony did not differ
materially from the evidence he gave
in the first trial of the case 1t was
substantially the same. VIM. P. Hub
bard was again absent, and the direct
examination of witnesses was conduct
ed by S. q. Smith and Chas. j,
Schuck.
Ex-Jailer Mccormick went on the
stand to complete his testimony. In
explanation OF the special privileges ex-
tended to DR.. Hissom While in jail, he
said the doctors health was bad, and II
was not unusual to extend privileges
when there were good reasons for SO
doing. Under discrimination he
stated that j. R. Hissom said to him
that all prisoners should be treated
alike.
Miss Edith Maser, the next witness
lived in the house adjoining chat occu-
pied by the Hissoms. j. R. Hissom
asked her to testify against his son
in the lunacy proceedings, adding u
will make it all right with you. Don't
be afraid" He made the request a
number of times. The elder. Hissom
Mrs. Hubbard, Lucy, and witness tes-
titled in the proceedings. After j. K
Hissom testified, he told what had been
said, and directed them to testify as
he had
Miss Maser was handed a letter foI
examination, and asked if she had
written it. She replied that she wrote
all but two words, and suggested that
Mr.. Hissom might tell something
about them. 1t was letter written to
a young man, containing references to
the lunacy proceedings, in which the
writer said she was to testify, but die
not think Sam was crazy and sympa-
thized with him.
Miss Maser's cross-examination was
searching, but brought out nothing
new. She repeated that she did moi
tell j. R. Hisom her opinion On the
question of Sans sanity. Witness
heard quarrels and profane language
between the parties to the suit, but
refused to repeat the language.
Robert Mempfer, clerk of the Bank Of
Spencer, was called. He knew DR.. l.
V. Guthrie, Superintendent of the Asy-
lum, and also J. R. Hissom. Hisson
told him he thought the asylum was
the best place for the boy, and told
witness to do the best he could tc
have the authorities keep Sam there
and he would pay witness for his trou.
ble
On cross-examination Mempfer sale
he knew Hissom ten or twelve years
ago. Hissom told him he was afraid
of his son.
Mrs. Jennie Hutchinson. who was
employed as a domestic in the Hisson
home, testified with a child in hel
arms. Most of her testimony was ex-
cluded in the ruling referred to above
The plaintiff, DR.. s. K Hissom. next
took the stand. He testified that he
went to Germany to go to college in
1897. He had previously graduated
from the Rush Medical College in Chi
cage, fourth in a class of 236. The wit.
ness detailed his illness in Germany
and the surgical operation performed
He used his own money in Germany.