The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-12
SANITY OF EUGENE PETERS.
Second Enquiry Into His Mental Re-
sponsiBiIIty Instituted.

Second Enquiry Into His Mental Re
sponsiBiIIty Instituted.
The second investigation in two years
as to the sanity of Eugene Peters began
this morning at Il o'clock before mar
shaFs jury W B. Robson. Assistant
United States Marshal for the District Of
Columbia. conducted the proceedings En-
quiry as to the mental condition of Mr..
Peters is had at the instance of his reIa-
tiyes- The petition asking that his sanI-
ty be made subject OF judicial enquiry
was filed about ten days ago by his aunts.
E Annie Hannum, Emma Garrett, and
Hannah PARCEL.
About two years ago Mr.. Peters mental
ity was subject of enquiry and was
passed upon by 4 jury which determined
/ thai his condition of mind was such as 10
warrant his being able to care for his
own person and property. It is estimated
that his estate amounts to about s475, 600.
During the last two years. it is stated.
Mr.. Peters has been spending his wealth
very Iavishly. His relatives have feared
that his mind is unbalanced to such an OK
tent as to make him frresponsi bic and not
1T person to care for himself and his
affairs
Aside from the proceedings instituted
/ by Mr.. Peters aunrs his wife flied pc
tition with the District Commissioners
also asking that his sanity be enquired
into. Proceedings on that petition are now
pending.
". J. Lambert. J. N Wilson. and D.
" Brown. represented IL. Peters aunts:
/ Messrs- Hamilton & Colbert represented
Mrs Eugene Peters while The defendant
was represented by Messrs. Head & Frai-
ieE.
The District Commissioners. who we're
requested to make an Investigation were
represented by 3 Leftwich Sinclair
The following persons were summoned
to act as a jury: James E. Fitch. Thomas
Hyde. J. Maury Dove ISadore Saks. L0rin
NJ Saunders. Frank 3 Moves. Harry B.
Parker. Charles c. Duncansou Louls p
Shoemaker, Clement " Howard c. Shir-
ley Carter, Charles \ Baker. and John
Mitchell
Samuel n. Walker was he first witness
examined by ". J. Lambert for the plain
Jitfs. Mr. Walker said he had known Mr.
Peters for years a2d that he was employed
BY him to look up some business matters
and that he had ample opportunity - CO.
serve his actions and believed he was sd
dicted to the use OF something probably
morphine Or cocaine. He further testified
that Mr. Peters requested him to effect
separation between himself and Mrs Pc
ters. and that be later became earaged
because = separation had not been brought
about. According 10 Afr- Walkers testi-
mony Mr. Peters acted IN z peculiar man
ner ana threatened 10 bura his hcuse.
He testified that on one occasion Afr. Pc
tsrs had attacked him with sword and
that then for the first time he believed
him to b. unbalanced and at once took
iatO his mental condition. Sir. Walker
then exhibited letters and kilograms said
10 have been written by Mr. Peters One
WAS telegram to President Mckinley and
another 70 the Little Sisters CT the Poor.
There were also eight pages OF uuiateiIi-
gent writing.
Dr. Charles c. EaTbury. Surgeon of he
Police and Fire departments, tes lied
that when he VAS called to see sIr. Peters
he exhibited symptoms Of insanity 10 SGch
an extent thai he issued certificate oE
lunacy The day after his first visit 10 him
January u. al The First preciact police
station. When rTGsS- examined as TO
whether the symptoms cb5gTved in Nr. Pc
terS' case might not he the result of ex-
cessiye use of iniCxicants. De-. Marbury
said he did not regard the ease as the
direct result OF the alcohol. although il
was probably aggravated by hard drink
ing
the actions Of Mr. Peters white he Was
confined - the First precinct stati-n ca
January y ard February /. 1891 He sail
that Mr.. Peters had created cons de=2bIa
disturbance in the station. and burned
the bed clothing Later he tried 10 burn
his underclothlng- Policeman Stenhousa
cited a number Of instances Of Mr.. Pc
ters violence. and said, in conclusion
that in conversation he sometimes talked
nationally He told of The finding # torn
fragments OF bills OF large denominations
Two pieces Of 800 bills were T. uad. Be
fore he vas dismissed Steuhouss WAS
asked if ne thought Mr. Peters was
drunk or insane. He replied that he WAS
not able TO Judge
The testimony of George Morgan. sta
ton keeper at the First Preciect station.
was essentially the same as that # stem
house
Testimony regarding Mr.. Peters con-
duct while temporarily incareerated at
St Elizabeth's Asylum for the Insane
was given BY Dr. A 3, Richardson. the
Superintendent OF that Institution He
said that Peters had once torn th5 bed
F'ng in his ToOm into shreds and .ying
strung them abou-