Mr. Balfour handed to the witness the assignment, and then said: "Be kind enough to look that through, and tell us whether you ever saw it before."
After reading the document through, the Doctor said:
"This is the identical paper which Mr. Belcher showed me or a very close copy of it. Several of the patents named here I remember distinctly, for I read the paper carefully, with a professional purpose. I was curious to know what had been the mental habits of my patient."
"But you did not give the defendant liberty to procure the signature of the patentee?"
"I did not. I refused to do so on the ground that he was not of sound mind—that he was not a responsible person."
"When was this?"
"I have no record of the date, but it was after the 12th of May, 1860—the date of Mr. Benedict's admission to the asylum."
"That is all," said Mr. Balfour. Mr. Cavendish tried to cross-examine, but without any result, except to emphasize the direct testimony, though he tried persistently to make the witness remember that, while Mr. Belcher might have shown him the assignment, and that he read it for the purpose which he had stated, it was another paper to which he had wished to secure the patient's signature.
Samuel Yates was next called.
"You are a member of our profession, I believe," said Mr. Balfour.