New-York tribune., 1901-02-16
LUNATICS AS WITNESSES.
tlTONED TO TESTIFY IN THE TRIAL OF
THE NURSE DAEIS-MINNOCK on
TuE RACK AGAIN

tho presence of two insane men as witnesses at
1'o rrial Of Jesse r.. Davis tor mauslauehter eTe-
4t- considerable Interest IN the Court of General
Sessions Part IT, where Judge CoNinS presided
2osrorday The lUnatics We're called hy the prose
eution 10 sustain the testimony of Thomas J. Min
mock. tho witness who had described the alleged
violent sttack made by Davis ana TWO other nurses
I'm the Insane Pavilion Of Bellevue Hospital upon
shc late Louis n. HilliaTd.
Assistant District Attorney Pierce called the TWO
insane men witnesses, against The protests "i
Francls J.. Wellman. Of counsel for Davis. Judge
Cowing deciding that The two men were competent
10 give testimony. After the two witnesses "ere
examined Mr.. Wellman said their testimony was
mainly IN contradiction OF the testimony given by
Mnnock although they both agreed as TO the treat
mon; OF Iiliard by the nurses.
The cross-exa miuation Of Mnnock by Mr.. Well
man occupied part of the morning session OF the
court As the treatment Of IIilliard on December
T. The cross-eNamination was in part as follows;
Q-Did ne suffer any violence that day? A.-Not
until supper time, except when he was showed down
Q-How did ne fan? Ale tottered and seemed
s'ih In The knee and tel over oack o MaFa' 7,,- o
five times
Nj Wenman quoted from Minnocks Testimony at
me inquest: Nothing happened since Tuesday
night unlil after supper"
u don't care to hear what / said al the inquest"
said Minnock.
9-Bd you swear TO thas: Al dont 2I.,iYt knoT 1E
feeble al dinner on Nednes5sy and MS head was
one mass OF bruises? Ayes that's risht
Q.--And thar was from what they did on IOes-
day when Davis wasn't ther, al all? Al did not
say h. was.
COURT REBCKES WITNESS.
A discussion eneued between witness and ooun-
SCI. The Court admonished the witness that he
must not catechise counsel but must answer ques-
lions,
That man wouldn't dare ask me those ques-
fions outs,de" said MnHook.
You are making poor exhibition Of yourself
said the Cont Answer the questions
o.-You said before the Coroner that you never
HinisrG fail or stumble Al never saw MN
stumble over d stool
Why Minnock." exclaimed Mr.. Wellman. you
haven't any memory Of this at all Are you making
y up"
81 telling what I saw
Q-You said you wrote end signed the article
FOR The journal about the twisting OF Inc sheei
Q-You came oar Of the hospital on December
= snd published ne story Of Tie sheet 2n ,st t
ihs sheet incident came into your headf Al
Q-7Vas the sheet aprltsd while Hillard vas on
the fnor or on the bench? Alt was hrst apple !
On the Aoor and then he was pur on the bench and
fhe sheet was used agalH.
Mr welIman read from the newspaper account
a. the stranginE
Ninnock
is there anything incorrect in ir'"
M,nnock protested against the use Of the news
paper story m the cross-eXamination.
"Counse' Has right TO question you about any
s-a.e.nent you may have made about the matter "
said the Court
Mr. Wellman read The published account Of the
strsngling, punctuatng ii with the remark: And
You forgot sll thar for Two weeks"
IT was not necessary tell of that until testi-
Ned the inquest
Mr wellmaa resa. Then Davis jerbea him to
me f10or and twisted The sheet egsir.' Was rhal
r-ssa
o%5og wrote at: The hn;saing touches we're gEs5
Q-Isn't this whole story OF yours made up'
WONT TESTIFY ABOUT MARRIAGE.
T don't think I viii take any more time with
you" said Mr.. wellman. AL VIII ask YOU is
n the certificate Of your marriage"
! never saw it,"
o-This is sienea by Father Father o,Ne!n You said
YOU were married by Father sullivan We're You
o-on what ground? A-That il might incrlm-
inate my wife.
Hospital testified that James Il. Chambers was a
patient in the hospital suffering in the early
stages OF psresis.
J don't think he can testify ~ that" saia Mr
welinan.
He can testify for the enlrhtennnent Of the
Court 50 can rule as 70 whether the witness IS
competent or net" saio Judge C0Tins
NJ Weman renewed his appl.-al.oa for per
mission 10 examine the hospital records
Mr.. Wel.man objected 10 questisn as TO Cham
bers's memory. on The ground that he had not
been allowed 10 examine the insane witnesses. or
even 70 know who they We're. The objection was
oyerruled
DR.. SpeHman said thar ,-,,srnbers h.,s ,.l. -.