Evening star., 1901-02-13
PETERS INQUIRY RESUMED
THE EVIDENCE SUBMITTED TODAY
TOUCHING HIS SANITY.
Defendant Takes the Stand I'm His
own Rehalf-Other Wit
nesses Heard.

| whose alleged queer conQuct TeSuileu III LIS
arrest the early part of this month, was
| resumed shortly after II o'clock this morn
| ing. The proceedings were followed with
| interest by a large throng of spectators.
| Mr.. Peters was engaged throughout the
! day busily writing, listing checkr and the
! like. He frequently interrupted the testi-
mony by interjecting remarks, some ex-
| planatory and some contradictory Of the
| statements of the witnesses.
| After The Stars report of the hearing
yesterday closed Rev. DR.. Thomas Chal-
| mers Easton stated to the jury that in his
| opinion Mr.. Peters brain is affected.
II believe his trouble to be due to the
! excessive of drugs" explained the wit
ness. 'If he is restrained under treatment
l think a cure may be effected
| Rev. DR.. Easton testified in detail re-
| garding the conduct of Mr.. Peters during
! the past few weeks. He told of the assault
| made on Mr.. Walker by the subject of the
| inquiry, of his arrest. of Mr.. Peters ac-
| cusing the witness of stealing $500 from
| him and of other actions that warranted
| him in believing the man to be insane.
MIR. DarIinEton's Testimony.
The last witness to appear yesterday was
| Mr.. Frederick Darlington of Wilmington,
| Del. a lifelong friend of Eugene Peters,
| and a friend of the aunt of the latter, who
ltSiItS III w lIlliHStOl NIL iiHS lOH
| titled that the 18th of last month he was
| summoned to this city by a telegram set
| ting forth that Mr.. Peters needed help. The
| witness made al unsuccessful attempt to
| locate his friend, even visiting Richmond,
! Va, in the hope of doing so. AT the time
| Mr.. Peters arrested Mr.. Darlington
| again came here from Wilmington. Among
! other things Mr.. Peters said to the witness
| that it was his intention to go to Honolulu
and erect temple there. Mr.. Darlington
tha 1aft ttay,
! by Mr.. Peters, and described his relations
| with his aunts. IN the opinion of Mr..
| Darlington. Mr.. Peters in his present con-
| dition is not capable OF properly caring for
| his property himself.
| At the conclusion of the examination of
| Mr.. Darlington. al o'clock, the hearing
| was adjourned until this morning.
| DIR. Easton Recalled.
Rev. DR.. Easton was recalled this morning
| to tell that Mr.. Peters since he has been at
| the asylum has handed the witness note,
which was order ''Speare for a cof-
| fin" 1t was directed that the coffin should
be sent to ST. Elizabeth, and with it a
| blank check 50 that prompt payment could
| be made.
Mr. Peters said to me-" added the wit
| ness. that he wanted the coffin so that he
| could go to HI a flynn that evening. He
| also Informed me that he was going to
! build palace car and in II meant to travel
| might be-
| Il said nothing of the sort" commented
| Mr.. Peters. L merely told you to find out
| what the cost would be-
DIR. Stack Witness.
! DR.. Morris ]. Stack, member of the
| staff of physicians of the Government Hos
| pital for the Insane, testified at the request
| of Attorney Lambert. In the opinion of
| DIR. Stack, Mr.. Peters is of unsound mind
at the present time, there existing an al
| teration Of the minute structure of his
| brain. Under favorable conditions, said
| the witness Mr.. Peters might improve very
much. Now, however he is not responsible
! for his actions, and to allow him to be
! without restraint would constitute a dam
ger to himself and a menace to the COM
| munity. and he is not in condition to prop
| erly look after his property.
The witness further said that since he
has been at the asylum Mr.. Peters has
! wrecked his room, torn UP his bedding.
| strung wires, has made threats of vio-
lence and has been habitually abusive.
Victim of Mania.
| DR.. D. Percy Hickling also testified. He
| had made an examination Of Mr.. Peters, he
| said. and found him to be victim of
! mania brought about by a combination of
| alcoholic Indulgence and dissipation. He is
not In condition to care for himself or his
| property. If properly treated Mr. Peters
| will improve and may recover; If not re-
| strained he will, in all likelihood, grow
| worse.
| MIR. Darlington was recalled to testify
| regarding unimportant matters, and
| Attorney Wilson then announced that, not
caring to protract the hearing, the peti-
| TONERS would not call any other witnesses
| for the time being. but would reserve the
right to submit additional testimony should
| the trend OF the hearing make such a
| course necessary.
Iaal ant
| explained that he would offer nothing in the
| way of technical testimony. Mr.. Peters
would take the stand and the jury could
| determine what was best to be done in his
| interest.
Attorney Hamilton, In brief address. re-
| quested the jury to bear in mind that the
| fact that man may be a spendthrift does
| not necessarily mean that he is a lunatic or
| unfit TO be at liberty or to manage his eS-
| tate.
! 1t was stated that Mr.. Peters is worth
| bet tgeen $1,000 and $400 600 and has an
| income Of 10000 year.
Nr. Peters Gives Testimony
After a recess Mr.. Peters took the wit
ness chair and submitted himself for ex-
animation. He declared that he has an In
come of more than $4,000 a year, and dur
| ing the past year has lived far within that
| amount. His household expenses average
! about $400 a month. he said, and added that
| he does not know exactly how much he is
worth
| What do you do, Mr. Peters?' inquired
| Attorney Wilson.
| II don't know what 1 do except to raise
| - every once in awhile replied Mr..
Peters.
| To many of the queries of counsel Mr.
| Peters declined to make answer. He was
| decidedly caustic in many of his remarks,
| and caused considerable amusement at
| times.
In reply to questions of members of the
| jury, Mr.. Peters said that he Is now in
| better health physically than he was six
| months ago; that the only drug he is sub
| Ject to IS the cigarette. and that he is
| painted blacker that he really is
Continuing, Mr.. Peters declared that he
| has not been treated well at the Govern
ment Hospital for the Insane; that brute
| force only had been used there. He de-
| stroyed his bed, he said, just because he
| wanted to. and in order to attract atten-
! ton, for he wanted to get some quinine.
IN Hands of Jury.
| Mr.. Peters further said that since he had
| inherited the estate Of his uncle, the late
| Norris Peters. he had increased the value
| of the same about $4,000.
In reference to his ant Experiences