The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-16
WOODS TRIAL MOVES SWIFTLY
MUCH EVIDENCE TO SHOW HE
KILLED GROCER WILLIAMS.
Woman witness Identifies Wood as the Man
who Stopped NJ Her Door An Hour
After the Murder-Plan OF Defense
G Not Revealed by Prisoners Counsel.

Attcr tne MurOeT-flen OF DcIcuSe
e Not Revealed by Prisoners Counsel.
SoMERvILLE. N j.; May 15.-George
H. Wood Of New York city, charged with
the murder on Feb. of George Williams.
4 grocer on the Watching Mountain, was
Out on trial before Justice Garretson in
the Somerset Court here to-day. County
Prosecutor John Roger assisted by former
Congressman Avah A. Clark, is conduct
ing the case for the State. Wood, who would
pass for a youth of TWENTY, but is much
Older, sat with his wife, a frai little woman
with a determined face, who has stead
tasty stood by him.
The case is attr citing unusual interest
because of Woods alleged dual personality
based on his unsupported statement that
he left New York Oh the morning Of Jan.
30 with a mysterious friend whom he calls
Mack, for Scarsdale, Pa. He alleges that
the object of their journey was to secure
q loan of 81 900 from Mack's father to enable
him to resume his business az an iron con-
struction contractor in New York, in which
he had failed.
Wood says he got off of the train with
Mack at railroad junction near Trenton
and they had several drinks Of beer to-
gether. After drinking the beer he de-
clares that he became dazed and there
after his memory was a blank until he
again found himself in New York at the
home of his relatives.
Against this strange story the State
to-day arraycd a mass Of evidence by
which it seeks to prove that Wood in his
normal mind murdered Williams and that
the motive was robbery. Jacob Blumm.
the proprietor OF Plainfeld hotel, testified
that Wood arrived at his hotel on Jan. 30
and registered as George H. Wood, New
The witness told of Woods trip on the
day after his arrival at the hotel to visit
his relatives who lived in the Watching
Mountains near Mount Horeb. He said that
Wood returned to the hotel a day later
and appeared to be in a normal condition.
He LETT the hotel again on the morning OF
the day that Williams was murdered and
said he was going to Mount Horeb He
lett his suit case and clothing at the hotel.
but never returned.
Eugene Wood, hackman. testified that
he drove Wood to Mount Horeb, to the home
of his relatives, on Jan. 81. He acted in a
natural manner and stopped at a road
house on the mountain and had several
drinks.
Edward Whitten. Woods father-in law.
swore that Wood visited him and spent tn,
night OF Jan. 81 at his home. Written said
Wood appeared to be in his normal condi-
ton. He returned to Plainfed on Feb. /.
number of witnesses testified that theys
had seen Wood on the morning OF the MUIR
der, when he started on his second trip to
Mount Horeb in company with Williams
with whom he had struck a bargain to
drive him there for 50. Charles Frono. a
clerk in Williams's grocery store, swore
that Wood had seen Williams take some
money from a drawer in the store and place
it in his pocket before he started on the
trip.
Eugene Pope and six other witnesses
told of the finding Of Willia mss body with
bullet hole in his back in the sleigh by the
roadside in the woods near Mount Horeb
about hall hour after Wood and Will
liams were seen to enter the woods to-
gether
Miss Emma Marvin testified that man
answering Woods description had stopped
at her door near West Millington an hour
after the murder and asked the way. to the
Millington railroad station. Wood was
ordered to stand up for identification.
After scrutinizing the man closely for fully
a minute. Miss Marvin said in a steady
voice THAT is the man who stopped at my
door but he looks little different now
because he has his mrstache shaved off
The trial to-day was remarkable for the
number OF witnesses sworn and the speed
with which the case was conducted. The
counsel for the defense interposed few
objections and gave no intimaticn Of his
limo &c IefnpSo