The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-18
WOOD A VICTIM OF EPILEPSY.
DOCTORS OPINION or THE
SLAYER OF GROCER WILLIAMS.
Wood Himself Says That "WolH." HIS
Counterpart" Was Responsible for
His TrOubles-"WOlH," AIlcnist says
was Aura OF Epileptio Attach.'

His TrOubies-''WolT," Ailcnlst says
was Aura OF Epileptic Attach.'
soMERv11LE, N. j., May 17.-George II.
Wood Of New York, who Is on trial for the
murder of George Williams in the Watching
Mountain last February took the stand
In his own defense this morning. Charles
7. Dufield, a Juror who had an attack OF
illness at his hotel during the night. was
brought into court and propped up in a
rocking chair. DR.. A. l.. Stillwell and DR..
William Long were appointed by he court
to attend him for the rest Of the trial. At
the close OF the aft ernoon session Juror
.Duffield received telegram telling OF the
death Of his brother David at harrington
It is believed that the jurors troubles
v may cause the postponement OF the triai
several days.
Wood left his wfe's side and walked TO
the wit ness ct and with 81 eadysgait. His
vacant stare, augmented by his weak race
with its dropping lower lip, protrudlng
teeth and slanting forehead, made MN
appear strangely unlike any other person In
tho court room. His voice could be heard
IN every part of the room. In relating his
family history the prisoner said he had
brother who died at the age of with
sdcuble heart and nineteen year-old Sis
ter who commit cd suicide three years ago.
He was the only member Of his family living.
He said he was in New York on Jan. 80.
and as he went out of his house in the morn
Ing he met Henry Wolf on the street. The
witness said that he had first met Wolff
IN his fathers house in New York seven
years ago. He had returned to the house
unexpectedly after leaving it one day and
first saw Wolff in looking glass hanging
on the wall and then in person standing
in the room.
The man was introduced to him by his
father as his friend Henry Wolff. Wood
said that Wolf looked both like his father
and himself Wolff met him several days
later and told him that he was the illegiti-
intended to get square with the old man
some day Wood said his mother was
i'll at the time and he told Wolf il he was
going to do anything to wait until his mother
around to see him while he was working
on job In New York on Jan 25. He told
Wolff that he was financially embarrassed
and could not carry on his business.
Wolff came around to see him two days
later and said he had a man by the name
Of $1,000 from Mack's father at Scarsdale.
Pa, II Wood would 60 there with him.
Wolff brought Mack around later and in
PRODUCED him.. The witness asked Mack
two lots which he owned ct Avon and his
goods and chattels. Mack said Wolf was
all the security he wanted.
Wood said he met Wolf as he came out
Of the house on the morning Of Jan. 80
He gave Wolf So to get q railroad ticket
and a suit case viii e he, Wood. went TO
barber shop to get shaved. Wolff told him
he would meet him at the Cortlandt street
ferry. They embarked at the ferry for
Scarsdale, and rode some distance on the
stops they made because no was playing
suchre with Wolf all the way out on the
train, They got OF at junction, the name
Of which the witness could not remember:
said 1t was a stone structure with q three
cornered interior and that there was
mound OF dirt near It and Q. town Of con-
siderable size back Of 1t in the distance.
Mr. Swaokhan,Iner requested Wood to
draw a sketch Of the junction for the jury.
On q large piece Of paper placed before
him on the Judges bench the prisoner
quickly made rough sketch of railroad
function which was displayed to the jury:
Wood said that when he and Wolff got on
into q nearby restaurant and had something
to eat. After the meal Wolf brought him
q glass of beer. He drank only part OF the
beer when his face got stif1and his vision be-
came clouded and he gradually lost con-
seriousness and remembering nothing more
until he woke up in the Tombs In New York
three days after the murder and was asked
II he wished to attend religious services.
Wolf Wood said. was counterpart OF
himself and it was he, Wolff who killed
Wolff responsible for all his trouble Wood
showed the first sign of emotion Lean
Ing forward in his chair he answeed with
spirit, II do. Why doesn't he come forward
like man and show hiniself?'
The prosecution tried to show by Ques-
tioning that Wood had left two or three
places because his business had not paid.
You say it was because Wolff was fol-
lowing you?'
aNo, sir. because he appeared in those
unhappy and he caused me great deal
Of trouble He didn't come up with the
money he had promised, He gave me q
bad check and was all the time threaten-
jag my father, 30 ] made up my mind 10
keen on. of his company
Further rigid cross examination on the |
rart of the prosecution failed TO break |
down Woods strange story or to disturb |
his childlike serenity.
Dr. Charles Lufburrow Of Plainfeld and |
Or. William Stelnarch Of New York gave
1t IA their opinion, ter careful examina-
ton, that Wood was insane Or. Geroge NJ.
Parker of "a West FCrty-siyth street, New
York. testified that he had examined Wood
1or Two hours yesterday afternoon ana had
come to the conclusion that Wood was
victim Of erileptic insanity. He considered
the man WoIf as the aura Of epilepto
attack" He believed that Wood could !
have committed the crime with which he
was charged while in state of epilepsy
Wood never saw Wolff except just before
be had fit Of epilepsy.
DR.. Peter NJ. Wise of New York eaid he
had made no examination of Wood. but
from his observation of him during the
day in the courtroom he had formed the
conclusion that he bore the marks of de gen
eracy, blu. he was not able TO state that he
had passed over the border line OF insanity. |
DR.. Sidney B, Wilgus of New York said ne |
had examined Wood and was Of the opinion |
that he was an epilep,!c
LONG CONFAB OVER WABASH.