The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-04
MAY TRY TO PROVE
MRS. WILDER INSANE
Alienists for Both Sides Are
Ready in Suit for
Lost Love.
HUSBAND TELLS STORY

M%oRRIsrowE, N. j., June 3.-That an
attempt will be made to prove Mrs.
GEORGE n. Wilder insane n to brand
a. Authorizations her charges against
Or. George 8. Willis, her family physi-
clan, whom her husband. a New York
broker. IL suing for alienation Of her
affections. was limited at In the proceed
mrs to-day. Or. Brltton d. Evans. d.
rector Of the New Jersey state Hospital
at Morris Plains. who wat Harry X
Thsw's leading a~lienist. has been en-
gagged by Mr.. wilder to combat any
testimony OF this sort. Dr. stephen
Prout, a pathologist OF summit. y. j..
who was present at the trial to-day. Is
understood to be a possible witness for
Or. Willis.
DR.. willis during his examination was
asked II he thought Mrs. wilder insane
He replied. NO. l would not say she
was insane, but I think she Is erratic."
When tho case was opened shortly
after II 80 o'clock Mrs. Wilder took
the stand. She was crose-examined at
length as to why she did not tell her
husband AT once of the the
Doctor made. To all those questions she
replied that DR.. Willis had forbidden
ner to tell and she was afraid 20 disobey
him. She told at length of her alleged
relations with the doctor. When she
had finished she was asked Didn't
ysu feel sorry for Or. Wllliss wife,
Says wins Called wife q Not"
NO, not after what he told me- she
replied. "He told me she was a nut"
Mr.. Wilder took the stand during the
afternoon and told OF his marriage In
1900 and said he knew Dr. Willis both
a. n physician and socially n had
considered him his hes; friend. He
told how. beginning on February |. 1914,
his wife lost interest In him n refused
10 be with him. On April 80. he said.
che confessed her relations with the
doctor. He went tn see THE Defendant
that night, but pr. Willis was not there.
The next evening he found him at home
and demanded an explanation. saying (:
II ought TO shoot you for II. | have
given you the entire confidence OF my
family and any mar who would do what
YOU have In abusing that confidence
shooting Is too good for him."
According to wilder. the physician adj
mitted the accusations. but added: IT
was you wife's fault that she told you"
Wilder told Of another interview the
next day. when he demanded that the
doctor repeat before Mrs. Wilder what
he had said the day before. but DR..
Willis. he said. refused. with the state
ment: mo. I'll take all the blame for
our relations
Following this interview. Wilder said,
the two couples got together and tried
10 md q way TO keep the matter from
becoming public. Wilder was WILLING
10 have the doctor call at his home.
providing he did not meet Mrs. Wilder
alone. but his wife refused.
Wilder declared he called On the doc
tor on May 3 and made him sign an
agreement not 10 Willis Mrs. Wilder.
This agreement. which was on the
physicians tote sheets, was produced as
evidence, and read: ~ will not cay
anything in a detrimental way about
Mrs. George II. Wilder. George Stuart
willis"
Money TO Charity ~ wilder wins.
Under cross-examination Wilder
denied hat he placed any money value
On his wife's affections. He was suing.
he maintained. 10 protect other women
Who might be tempted rs wat his wife.
He regretted that his wife had had to
tell her story publicly. and declared that
no did not "a the $4,000 for which lie
IN SUING, Dut Woulu give " 10 'Hbrlty,
and II charity refused II as tainted he
would not accept It.
~ am not going 10 enrich myself"
he said. hut un maintaining this action
because of the hanger III. Willis might
do in entering houses other tina mine
DR.. Willis took the stand In his own
defence during the afternoon and de-
MED the charges, He admitted signing
the note. but said he did II because Mrs.
Wilder was suffering from nervous
breakdown and he thought IL would be
a tactful way out OF the trouble. he
said he had never kissed her or called
her Sadie dear" He added:
"In the latter part OF April Mrs.
wilder called me to her home and. IN
the presence of her husband. accused me
II circulating stories about her. ! denied
his and Mrs. Wilder told ma a wOman
friend OF hers had informed her. l went
10 this woman later and she denied hav-
ing said this. In the early part Of May
Wilder told me he had a written con-
fession from his wife In which she made
accusations against ME. I told him Ia
tell her ] admitted II was 80. l did this
because Mrs. Wilder was suffering from
. nervous breakdown and I did not want
her to worry over H."
On cross-examination DR.. Willis ad.
mitted visiting Mrs. Wilder on February
and 3. When asked IL he had put
his arm about her he said
II might rave placed my arm on her
shoulder In a friendly way. I meant
nothing by It."
"Are you In he habit Of placing
your arm on YOU women patients' shoui.
dNrsr' he WA asked.