The Washington times., 1921-10-26
SAYS SON
INSANE AS
RESULT Of
ACC|DENT
Physician Drugged Wife and
Threw Her in River, Con-
fession Says.

RICHMOND. Va. Oct. 26.--That
her son suffered a nervous break
down while a student at a medical
college in Galveston. Texas. and at
intervals since then had not seemed
normal, was the testimony today
of Mrs. Elvira Hadley. Of Friends
wood, Texas. at the second day ses-
sion of the trial of DR.. Wilmer A.
Hadley, former reserve army sur
geon, charged with wife murder.
Fell From Horse.
She also testified that injuries which
he suffered in a fall from q horse in
Colorado not long before he enlisted
in the medical corps of the army for
service during the world war seemed
to aggravate his condition.
Although he was eager to go over
seas to aid the boys in the trenches
she said that his failure to pass the
psy psychological and mental tests
prevented him from doing SO.
This disappointed him greatly. for
he had volunteered with that special
end in view, despite the fact that the
tenets of the Quager church to which
he belongs prohibit its members from
engaging in any but peaceful occupa-
tions.
Is Only Child.
Mrs. Hadley went on to say that her
son, who is her only child, seemed al.
ways devoted to his wife and espe-
cially proud of her because of her mu-
sical accomplishments, while she
seemed equally proud of him because
Of his surgical and medical atain-
ments. Once during the war, she re-
called, he broke quarantine to go to
the bedside of his wife when he learn.
ed that she was sick
DIR. Hadley showed practically no
effects of the ordeal through which
he passed yesterday, when the Com
monwealth apparently made out
case rarely equalled in it's complete
ness in every detail against an al
legged slayer. The former army sur
geon slipped into the courtroom al
most unobserved this morning, when
the trial was resumed He seated
himself beside his two attorneys,
Julien Gam and Gray Haddon.
Smiles at Mother.
With a smile he greeted his aged.
gray-haired mother, Mrs. c. j. Had
ley, from Friedswood, Tex, who ac-
cupied a seat Immediately behind
him. She patted him lovingly on
the shoulder in an effort to give
changed few words with his law
yers, and the second day of the trial
was on.
Defense Battered Down.
1t was admitted that the bulwark
of their defense was battered down
yesterday afternoon, when Judge
Scott overruled their action to exclude
the signed confession of their client
obtained from him at Denver, Colora-
do, a few days after his arrest two
months ago on a ranch near Farming
ton, New Mexico. Judge Scott ruled
the confession admissible as evidence
In the face OF strenuous contention
that the Corpus Deficit, or actual com
mission OF murder. had not been es.
tablshed, and that the confession
could not be admitted until the crime
was proved
That the grave aspersions which
DR.. Hadley cast upon the character
OF his dead wife were calculated to
prejudice his case greatly in the minds
OF the twelve Henrico county farmers
sitting in judgment on his case, was
apparent to even the casual observer,
for the testimony OF those who knew
Mrs. Hadley during her residence In
Richmond in 1918, while he was sta
tic ned at the Government Base Hosoi-
tai at West Hampton, was to the effect
that she was a trusting and loving
wife, and that her character in every
respect was above reproach.
Criticised for Marrying Wife.
DIR. Hadley even went so far In the
confession as TO assert that he was
openly criticised in his home commun-
lty in Texas for marrying her, and
that he was 80 ostracised that he
, gave up his practice there and moved
TO Colorado.
He also referred 10 the subsequent