Evening star., 1901-02-12
PETERS CASE. BEFORE JURY
INQUIRY INTO HIS MENTAL CONDI-
s TION IN PROGRESS.
Evidence Tending to Show That He
Ought to BE Deprived
of Liberty.

Ought to BE Deprived
of Liberty.
A hearing was had today before a mar
shals jury In the case Of Eugene Peters,
nephew of the late Norris Peters, and
wealthy resident of this city, who is al
legged to be of unsound mind. to determine
whether or not the charge Of insanity is
well founded. The jury, which met at the
city hall building. consisted Of the follow
ing: Messrs. James E. Fitch. Thomas
Hyde. j. Maury Dove. Isadore Saks. Lorin
NJ Saunders; Louis P. Shoemaker. Frank
B. Noyes, Harry b. Parker, John Mitchell.
Charles c. Duncanson. Clement W. How
ard, c. Shirley Carter and Charles A. Baker.
1t will be recalled that several months
ago proceedings in lunacy were Instituted
against Mr.. Peters. After an exhaustive
investigation the jury agreed to dismiss the
proceedings. The present inquiry was in
aIgurated recently, through the arrest of
the man upon complaint of his wife and of
Mr.. Samuel H. Walker. He was committed
to the Government Hospital for the Insane
on temporary permit, and day or two
later petition In equity, requesting that
an inquiry be held. was filed by E. Annie
Hanrfum, Emma Garret and Hannah Par
CELL aunts of Mr.. Peters. and said to be
his nearest blood relatives
An interesting petition was submitted by
Mrs. Clara L. Peters, wife Of the subject of
the inquiry. She set forth In her petition
that she and Mr.. Peters were married
February II, 1899, and that she lived hap
PLY with her husband at GA East Capitol
street until last November when. she says,
he began the excessive use Of alcoholic and
other stimulants. He also engaged in vio-
lent conduct toward herself and others.
and proceeded to such an extent that she
felt compelled to cause his arrest the I'd
f,nCt oot h 80 fy,fo lon, ira
Peters asked that in the event her husband
is to be declared of unsound mind. she
shall have representation on the committee
Of his person and estate that may be ap-
pointed, and that an allowance for her
support be provided.
The attendance Of spectators at the hear
ing was large in numbers. Mrs Hannum,
Mrs. Garret and Mrs. PARCEL were repre-
and Jere Wilson. Attorney D. w. Baker
was present as representative Of Mr.. 8. H.
alker. Attorneys Hamilton and Colbert
appeared for Mrs. Peters, and Attorney A.
Leftwich Sinclair for the District Of CO.
lumbia. Mr.. Peters interests were looked
after by Attorneys Heald and Frailey.
Explanatory Statement.
The understanding is that Mr.. Peters is
the owner Of property valued at about
$475.O
Mr.. VIM. B. Robson. deputy United
States marshal for the District Of Column
bia, administered the oath to the witnesses.
Attorney Lambert. in the course of an ex-
planaAory statement to the jury, said.
among other things, that Mr.. Peters, by
squandering large sums of money, being
guilty of many eXtravagances. and by rea-
son of other phases of conduct, had caused
the inquiry to be made to determine his
sanity.
There are certain features Of the case
that we hope we shall not have to go into."
remarked Mr.. Lambert ION account Of the
testimony which will be necessary in refer
ence thereto
Mr.. Samuel H. Walker was first called
as a witness. He said he had known Mr..
Peters for some years in an incidental way,
and was employed as notary and agent by
the latter the 25th of last month. He was
with him almost constantly for several
days thereafter. Mr.. Peters desired Mr..
Walker to secure for him separation from
his wife and to look up certain articles OF
value that he had left at different places.
According to the witness. while he was at
Mr.. Peters house the latter was constantly
addicted to the use of something, either
morphine or cocaine.
Mr.. Walker went on to say that during
the period he was at the East Capitol street
house Mr.. Peters did everything he possibly
could to make his wife want to leave home.
and she told the witness that she would
welcome a separation. One day Mr.. Peters
declared to the witness that he intended to
burn down the house in case his wife should
not be out of 1t by that night.
He cornered me one day when he was
armed with a fencing foil,'' testified Mr..
Walker. land threatened to carve me. BY
the use Of pleasant words I calmed him.
With sword he cornered me a second time
and announced with an oath that he meant
to finish me. I escaped only by promising
to accomplish within thirty minutes some
thing he wanted attended to. At the time
I had on only one overshoe 1 hurried from
the house without attempting to get the
other one"
Mr.. Walker referred to efforts made by
him to trace Mr.. Peters about the city, and
submitted number Of papers secured from
Mr.. Peters. One was telegram to Pres
tdent Mckinley, and began with the words:
"Lost-A Woman" Another was to the
Little Sisters Of the Poor, and third to
the register of the treasury. In view of all
the circumstances, said Mr.. Walker he
felt 1t his duty to take action that would
result in Mr.. Peters being properly cared
for.
Surgeons Testimony.
DR.. Charles G. Marbury, a surgeon of the
police and fire department, told the jury
regarding the examination of Mr.. Peters
he made the first part of this month, when
the subject Of the inquiry was detained at
the first precinct police station. In the
opinion of Dr. Marbury at the time Of the
examination Mr.. Peters was suffering with
acute mania.
The physician called twice at the station
The second time Mr.. Peters was violent
had torn his clothing to shreds, and the
policemen were putting restraint straps on
him. The witness declared that Mr.. Peters
Is unfit to be at large.
Leaving out of consideration what l
know Of the history Of Mr.. Peters case, and
judging solely of his condition as I noted It
at the station, will say he might recover
In a few MONTHS concluded DR.. Marbury.
But taking into consideration the history
Of the case I would not care to say that
recovery is possible
Policeman on Stand.
The next witness was Policeman Adam
Stedhouse of the first precinct. He gave a
recital Of the actions of Mr.. Peters when
detained at the station house. and explained
that the prisoner set fire to the bed sheet
in the witness room, with all clothing off
attempted to escape, tore a S1OO note into
pieces and made a sandwich with a filling
of potato, salt and pepper and a piece Of the
500 note.
George Morgan, station keeper Of the
first police precinct, made statements SUBJ
stantiating those Of Policeman Stedhouse.
Evidence of Superintendent Richard