The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1839-05-16

This was shat I feared. The old
man Mas sworn in solemn form land me-
thought The clerk propounded The oath
with unwonied solemniiyl TO speak " The
truth. ihs whole truth. and nothing bur
iks truth; 90 help you God!" lie Was
then desired by my sdversary 10 tell. il
he knew. on what day Of THAT year his
son. tho defendant, was born!
| objeclsd 10 his answering she ques-
lion. if there was q register. any where.
VI the sons birth. The register itself
must be produced: no other evidence was
admissible.
The court assenled 10 my proposition.
The adverse counsel and client exchang-
ed sly looks OF triumph. Their wiiLess
too. looked wise and selfimportani. as
with an air which said " I expected i'll
am ready for you"-hs produced from
under his arm the Pursy book above men
toned.
." Here's my sons birthday. written
by me with my own hand in this here
Bible. It's my own hsndwriIe."
&" Read IT," said the counsel.
The old man put on his speetscles, and
read an entry, importing that At
E, son Of the above" (mcaning his
parents, whose marriage was noted on
The same psgs) "was born on" such .
day, I7''; being just nineteen years els-
ven months and six days. before The date
Of the bond.
When did you write .hisi" said the
counsel.
The very day after he was born"
said the old man. nOdding at his son.
4" You are clear and distinct In your
recollection Of hiatt"
40 yes; for I've had the Bible ever
since. and read over this register thou.
sand tines"
"very WE'LL" said the counsel again.
and with big, exul.iug look: |" | am sa-
tisfed-and so. | presume, arc the jury.
But perhaps, Mr.. W., you stiH wish to
cross-examine she wiinessi"
| certainly did wish 10 eross-examine
him; and said 90. Meantime. had scru-
iinized the old mans Bible. II had no
pages marked of between the Two testa-
ments. for a Family Record. ss modern
Bibles have: the register of marriages.
births and deaths, was written on blank
leaf al the beginning. II was observable
that all the entries, though purporling to
cover twelve or fifteen years. were not
only in the same hand, but made with
ink Of exactly the same color. Several
different pens did appear 10 have been
used ; but this. il struck me. might be
only fnesse. 10 make tho times Of .wri-
Ting seem different. The identity Of ink
and handwriting. was extremely suspi-
cious.
"Mr. E." said I, "upon your So
Tenn oath do you say. that you wrote
this entry of your son. It's birth. here
in this Bible. on the very next day after
he was born I"
ayes. il I was TO die this minute. l
say so :" -
"And did you write these other regis
ters !"
"I did--at the psrtikkler time every
one Of 'em bars date"
"Then. il so. why 10 the ink in the
last. exactly as cld-looking as the ink in
the first, which, you say, 10 fifteen years
older I"
Isl don't know--,he long time, sup.
pose, has made'em oil look old alike.
Can you see any difference in teeth, be-
,wixt horse that's fifteen aud a horse
that's ,wentyl Besides.--.the ink is
pale, and here was differen. pen marks |;
that's evident" Aud his counsel, de-
lighted with his reply, held the book os-
Ientatiously towards the jury; who
seemed bu. loo much Of The. old mans
mind.
Staggered but not desperate, | again
took the Bible and turned To the title
page where u my surprise and Joy, !
saw tina. il had been printed only ONE
YEAR before the bond Itself had been er.
scufed! The book had no. existed. uu-
ill nineteen years after the time when as
the father swore, he had there registered
his sons birth!
Hiding my joy. however. and COM
posing myself % much as possible, a.
gain, by reiterated questions. made the
poor old man repeat beyond all chance
for reiracticn or denial, his wei coaned
story |; aud then by reading aloud the
printed dale ia the title page, and show
ing il to the jury, satisfied them that
the book had been bought,> and the en-
tries made. in pale. Oldish colored ink.
with pens purposely varied. since the
presen, suit began, and for this very oe-
cdsion.
The wre,ched father sunk down in con-
fusion, upon the witness bench. Without
leaving their box and without another
word OF testimony. the jury found YER
diet for the plaintiff. i
EDITORIAL ADDRESS.
R;vinaton. aha Kiua's printer, IL is