Cora and The Doctor Part 43

"You have said he was often wild and wandering. Do you mean he was so most of the time, or only now and then?"

"Only now and then."

"Had he ever appeared so before this sickness?"

Witness bursts into tears.

_Mr. Curtiss._ "Your Honor, I claim the protection of the Court in behalf of this witness."

_Mr. Marshall._ "Your Honor, we have no disposition to impose upon the witness, who certainly has our tenderest sympathy in these trying circ.u.mstances. But the question of my worthy colleague was designed to elicit from the witness, the fact whether or not her lamented husband previous to his last sickness, had ever exhibited signs of insanity?"

_Mr. Burke._ "Your Honor, I object to the question as irrelevant."

_Judge._ "The question is pertinent and the witness will answer according to her best recollections."

_Witness._ "I cannot say that he did."

_Mr. Willard._ "Did he ever appear depressed in spirits?"

"He did."

"Can you recollect what he used to say at such times?"

She weeps.

"Take your time, my good woman." The sheriff at a motion from Mr.

Willard brings her a chair. "Try to recollect what he said at such times."

"He used to fear we should come to poverty and disgrace."

"Did he ever explain the ground of those fears?"

"He did not, when awake."

"What do you mean to imply by that?"

"He sometimes talked about it in his sleep; but I couldn't always make out what he said."

"Did the drift of his conversation at such times correspond with that when he was wild and wandering during his sickness?"

"I think it did."

The Court was then adjourned until nine o'clock the next morning.

CHAPTER x.x.xI.

"As lawyers o'er a doubt Which, puzzling long, at last, they puzzle out." COWPER.

_Wednesday, November 6th._

_Nine o'clock._ The Court met pursuant to adjournment. The excitement has much increased. The court-room is crowded to its utmost capacity, and the most intense interest manifested as to the decision.

Mr. Andrews was called and sworn.

_Mr. Curtiss._ "Did you frequently see Hugh Fuller during his sickness?"

"I watched with him twice."

"Have you often watched with persons in this fever?"

"I have."

"How were their minds affected?"

"They were generally deranged."

"Did you witness any appearance of insanity in Mr. Fuller?"

"I did."

"How was it manifested?"

"He once imagined I was his mother, and that I was instructing him.

Another time he thought he was building a house, and called out to his workmen about the work."

Before the cross examination, I noticed Mr. Willard speaking in a low voice to Mr. Marshall, when he took his hat and retired from the court-room.

_Mr. Marshall._ "Do you mean to convey the idea that Mr. Fuller was not rational during any part of the nights that you watched with him?"

"By no means, sir. I mean that he was a little out of his head."

"Did he recognize you?"

"He did, and often called me by name, and told me what medicine he was to take."

"When he thought you were his mother, what did he say?"

"He said he remembered my instructing him to tell the truth, and how much happier he should have been if he had regarded my instructions."

Mrs. Andrews was called.

_Mr. Curtiss._ "Did you see Mr. Fuller during his sickness?"

"I watched with him the night before he died."