The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-04
HIS MIND A BLANK.
New York Citizen Suspected Of MUIR
der Becomes Insane.

New York. Feb. A physician who
examined George H. Wood, the iron
structural contractor, before he was
given over to the police last night in
connection with the murder of Grocery
man Williams of Plainfield, N. J., said
that while there were certain symptoms
suggestive OF aphasia about Wood ii
would require a long and careful exam
nation before the fact that Wood was
suffering from any mental disease could
! be established.
Wood, when tested by the physician.
said at first that he could not read the
headline in a newspaper put before
him. Later he read the words with
| some difficulty. He could write his
name without difficulty.
Until recently Wood was engaged
with a man named Stevenson in tax
ing contracts for putting up fire es-
capes and doing other iron work in this
city. Business troubles are said to have
placed him in need Of money as he stat
ed in the story of his movements since
the day before the murder.
Newspaper reporters traced Wood to
the home of his wife's brother in West
Twenty-seventh street. The detective
bureau was notified but took no action
and finally a patrol wagon from the
nearest station was called which car
rie1 Wood, his wife and her brother
to headquarters where Wood is de-
tanned.
Wood repeated his story to the eff
feet that his mind had been a blank
since Monday when he left here with
a civil engineer named Mack who was
to procure a loan from his father to
assist in Woods business. He said
they left the train near Trenton and
drank some beer. He remem bered
nothing afterward until Wednesday
when he found himself in Trenton
with only 81 He started to walk to-
ward New York. 'sThen came an
other blank in my memory" he said,
"and, although I have a faint recol-
lection OF having stayed Thursday
night in Elizabeth, N. J., and of hav-
ing gone about among the iron works
in Jersey City Friday morning looking
reached my brother-in-law' fiat at
o'clock Friday afternoon is clear to
me-"
In answer to questions he denied
that he had any recollection of hav-
ing visited Plainfield, or having stop
ped at a hotel there. He also asserted
that he had absolutely no remem-
brance of having called on any of his
relatives in the neighborhOod of
According to the Plainfeld police.
Wood reached there Monday after
noon and engaged room for a week,
paid for it in advance, and made no
attempt to conceal his identity. His
name was found in a large hand on
the hotel register. To the proprietor
who had known his father. Wood said
he had come to look for some bridge
contracts.
After visiting Mrs. PoIlack, his
grandmother, Tuesday afternoon
Wood crossed the road to the home Of
his father-in-law, G. E. Written
Speaking of Woods visit, the latter
said:
7 hadn't seen him in seven years. We
were in business together seven years ago |
after he married my daughter. He came /
close to failing and since then we haven't |
gotten along together Wood told me that |
he had come to settle up our differences. |
He promised me good job in New York |
II would forgive my daughter for marry /
ing him and we would change my viii in |
which had cut them out. I refused and |
we had some words. He STAYED all night |
and went away The next morning.
The police learned that Wood got back
to Plainheld on Wednesday and left on l
q thursday morning. they claim. for /
Watching. not far from where the mys- |
ferrous crime occurred.
Mrs Wood said to have stated that |
her husband returned to this city at 5 D. |
m. Thursday without his valise and wear !
ing a new cap. Two hours later he went |
out again, saying he had an appointment |
with his friend Mack He did not return |
until o'clock Friday afternoon and then |
disclaimed all knowledge of having been |
there the day before
Questioned about Williams the nun der
that he never heard of MIN and repeated |
again and again that he could not under /
stand the affair at all.
Magistrate-Ah, they caught you drunk |
cb9