The Sentinel=record., 1909-11-27
WITNESSES ARE INTRODUCED THAT HAVE KNOWN HIM ALL
 HIS LIFE.
Carrying a Revolver is Accounted for Because He Had Special Police Commission in the City of
 Pine Bluff.

Little Rock, Ark, Nov 26.-Back ing up the theory that w, Y Ellis was temporarily insane when he killed N. P. Willis last July, and is subject to hereditary tendency to- ward mental unbaiance relatives of the man on trial for murder, took the stand today and unfolded painful story of family affictions.
 An indisputable hereditary strain of insanity was proven to exist on the mothers side Of the family of the defendant and mental wtakness was established on the fathers side
 Every line of evidence offered today by the defense conyerged toward tn idea of insanity. with the single exception Of the proof that Ellis held a special policeman's commits sion in Pine Bluh, accounts for his carrying revolver. Witnesses testi- fled that Ellis acted unusually on the night before the killing and the morn ing of the tragedy. Others claimed that his general demeanor had changed from cheerful to morose some months before the killing, ap- parently from worry over private matters. Character witnesses swore to the previous good reputation of the man on trial.
 Judge George "A. Grace, who former ly resided al Fayetteville and married II great -atifit of the defendant, ;;Eso.d- ed a story of lifes sorrow that is un- usual He told of the insanity of his wife since few months after their marriage. and of the insanity of a son whom he idolized. His wife is now just recovering and is at home. He said that for the last twenty or thirty years she had spent half of ev- cry year in an asylum.
 The brother of the defendant testi. fled to the mental condition of George Grace Miss Lima Reed, both cousins of the defendant, and also to the Tn. sanity of the aunt Mrs. Grace.
 Guy Watkins, a former schoolmate of the defendant, testified that he saw him the morning of the tragedy and that he acted in a peculiar manner.
 Hon. R. J. Wilson of Fayetteville testified that he knew the defendant from childhood and had known the family for number of years. lie tes- tified that a sister of the defendant was mentally unbalanced and also that his father was peculiar and eccentric. He also stated that the aunt and two cousins were known to him and that he had known of their insanity.
 Letters were read yesterday after noon from Parker Willis, the deceas- ed, to his child, his wife and also to Mir Bell and Mir. Ellis. It was ex- pected that the replies to these letters would be read this morning. but in- stead the attorneys for the defense put on the witnesses that testified to the mental condition of the relatives Of the defendant It Is understood that the replies to these letters and some other letters written by Willis to the parties named will be read during the trial
 The defense was conducted this morning by J. Wythe Walker of Fay ettevile and the cross-examination of the witnesses for the state was con. duoted by Governor Johnsons
 Guy Watkins of Little Rock, civil engineer, with Dickinson, Kingsley 6 Watkins, was the first witness intro duced this morning. He had been a schoolmate of the defendant at the public schools and at the State Uni versity. Witness had known Ellis seventeen years. He said he ssw Ellis for the first time in several years on the day of the tragedy and had d
 conversation with him just before noon, and noticed something peculiar about him. He said Ellis did not seem to he interested fin talk of old times and old friends, and took no interest