New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-16
JEKYLL-HYDE, THE PLEA.
TRIAL IN MURDER CASE.
accused of Killing George Williams
Jury IN T1centy-fUe Minutes.

SomervilIe N j.. May 15.-The trial of George
H Wood for the murder of George Williams OF
Watching on a lonely ride over the mountains
last February, began to-day in the Supreme
Court before Justice GarretsOn. Within twenty
Ave minutes after court was opened the jury
had been chosen and Prosecutor Roger had be-
gun to outline his case. The prosecution Will
try to prove robbery a motive while the de-
fence will seek to prove that Wood possessed
JekyIl-Hyde personality. and that while the
Hyde personality was uppermost he killed Will
Jams.
Many alienists of national reputation have
been consulted in the efforts Of the prisoners
friends to substantiate this theory, and nearly
all admit its possibility. Efforts have been
made to bring this other half of Woods dual
personality to the surface while in hypnotic
state and to have him rehearse the scenes OF
the murder but even while hypnotzed his mind
appears to be as blank OF any of the details as
he asserts it Is in normal state.
Williams was shot on February on Wat
chung Mountain near Mount HOreb. Wood was
born near the neighborhood He lived with his
grandmother. Mrs. Sarah Pollock. whom he left
when he fourteen years old to go to New
York as an apprentice in the iron foundry OF
his uncle. After his marriage to a Mrs. Whit
ton, who lived on the farm next the Pollock
homestead, he started in the iron construction
business for himself. He finally failed and. with
a friend he calls Mack" started to raise $1,000
to resume, sending his wife and children to his
uncles house in New-York. Wood says Mack
deserted him after making him drink glass OF
beer which caused him TO lose consciousness.
The authorities have traced practically all OF
Woods movements the few days before the
murder He went to a Plainfeld hotel. where
he registered under his own name: The next
day he visited his grandmother and father-in-
law in MoUslt Horeb, returning to Plainheld the
next day. The following day, that OF the muir
der, Wood made a bargain with Williams TO
drive him over the mountain to Mount Horeo
where he said he had a chance TO work on
shares on the Pollock farm. They were seen
later driving along the road, and as they en-
tered small bit of woods half mile from
the Pollock farm a boy heard a revolver shot.
HAN an nour later, Eugene Pope, farmer
found Williamss rig standing in the road, with
Williams sprawled over the seat with revolver
shot in the back
Wood had disappeared. but footprints were
found leading to barn the Pollock place
and later he seen hurrying toward the
Wilmington station. near which he boarded q
tram Tor Network. When he reached the home
of his relatives his mustache had disappeared
ana ne seemed d physical wreck He has al
ways maintained since that his mind is per-
rect bank concerning the ride over the noun
tam and that he remembers absolutely nothing
of mis- visit to Plainheld
Prosecutor Roger said he would prove Will
Jams needed money badly being behind with his
rent; that ne bad just before the murder
ment had been stopped on a check for 500
when Wood lost the work on a New-York school
building which left him $26 short on his mems
wages.
As the prosecutor finished Mrs Wood entered
the court and took a seat opposite her husband
lie Is about twenty-three years old. but looks
only eighteen. She appears even Younger The
most important witness was Eugene Pope who
had followed the footprints which clearly
showed that one making them had run most OF
CT May 70 me F4ofk home Other witnesses
WOOD near the scene OF the murder