The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-04
The General Van Mes. Case.

COURT, WAsHfNGToN, LII
Morning very cold and Court assembled OF 10
o'clock.
til: Examined by Mr. Brent-sy name is Thomas
Ke testified to certain stoves furnished by him by
order request OF Gen Van Ness to Mr Corner. she
refused take the first stove brought because II was
too small told her a larger one would cost
ney and was not willing unless she would pay the
furnished stove and fixture. Of the size she wanted
quarter Witness testified TO lining several floors with
zinc around the stoves in Mrs Conners rscoect fur
nishing blower. dustpan SCI don't recollect lining
bedroom floor, near the stove, up stairs with zinc.
Mr. BsrNr requested MIR Kell go to the house Of Mrs
stairs room and the basement pSror and see II he
do the work Of lining the floors and fixing up the stoves
Cross.e1amfnti BY Mr.. BRADLEY-Yes. sir; she said
when she desired the larger stove and when said
would cost more that would all be right Gen Van
Ness told me would settle the bill in my quar-
ter's rent well as recollect presented the bill
A discussion here raised between Mr.. Bradley
and Mr. Brent on the question OF the production Of
plaintiff purporting be from General Van Ness which
envelope the counsel for the defendant Governor Van
Ness II was stated, witness or witneeses would prove
Mr. tOrs sustained Mr.. Bradley and was ably second
Mr. CARLISLE, who commended that the counsel for the
plaintiff Mr. Brent) had changed his ground since
terdaythat yesterday MIR. Brent maintained that the
defence had no right TO examine witness upon paper
which was not present in the court and that to-day
the other hand Mr. Brent argues for the secondary evil
Mr. NAY for the plaintiff desired that the Court would
decide
The CoURr stated the simple question BIO whether
the counsel for the plaintiff intended to refuse the paper
Mr.. MAY.-oh no, sir, only too willing to pro-
duce the paper.
The CouRr.-Thsn Why don't you produce III
MIR. MAY said he desired crossexamns the witness
in regard to the stamps OF which he spoke yeserdahe
seIamned in regard the envelopes and proceeded to
state reasons why the envelope not necessary to DO
A question to the point in the proceedings at
which the examination Of yesterday was suspended
The CouKr explained, from which it would appear that
the Witness at the adjournment In the hands Of the
defence
had not yet been decided upon.
The CouRr explained the case.
The Counr after some further contr oversia converse
don decided that the paper or envelope in question,
should be produced
Mr.. BHrsr.-vsry we'll. sir; and he produced the pa
per from his pocket book II piece Of paper,
Purorns to be the cover or envelope OF the letter
porting TO have been written by Gen Van Ness to Mrs
N W Conner, July Goth. ls,5, promising that he
would forthwith make her nj. legal wife, sc.
Mr.. REESE Of the Phil. delphia Post Office, recalled
Examined by Mr. Bradley.-On Tuesday Of last week
Mr.. Hepburn called the PhIadephia Post Office, and
to the witness He asked il would procure him the
stamp Of the two cent rae; produced the stamp after
PRESTON was made by that stamp told him distinctly
was not, he asked me if would make some impression
him piece OF paper and he tried and tried did
succes in making any thing corresponds blurred
the envelopes. There has been some change in the
stamp.
MIR BREST-Yes sir, Dr. Page man well known
believe, took the ink out of il last night.
Discussion arose rs to he Proprety Of making dis
own behrf and that that was enc reason WHY he had
made the obser' alton.
The Counr desired that the examination proceed in s
order
wrrrKs- Yes sir. We failed to mako q satisfactory
Impressions my attention attracted to the postmark
hat a
to tho place where we keep the figures; Mr. Hepburn
was standing at the rails don't know that he saw me;
set up the stamp with the figures used in lS45
spoke to the clerks OF the 6sures said there
larger that would not At the stamp different figures for
the day and the rats stamps day stamp larger MIR Hep
turn was standing about as far on as Mr. Brent and
presume he heard me, r Walk light"l Witness OK.
envelope with the senuns discovered diaofencs in
the size ofthe 6gures; called Mr. Hepburns attention
fur the investga,on was not very satisfactory Mr
Hepburn returned the next day, Wednesday, in the
morning; be remsrked that he there business
but don't recolect
M. BRKsr-Oh yes, he went at my request
WIISEss-The individual that made the stamp on that
occasion was Mr. Mott Che day stamp)
Mr. BRESr here raised obiecos to evidence Of
Versatons with third persons.
WiTSEss-i remarked, to an enquiry of Mr. Hepburn
stamp and that asho y ed somewhat out of the way
would 60 with him.
Mr. BsEyr raissi objection to going any further,
The cOuRr decided that was evidence for witness to
the he sS Of aa with the e
AMI BRENr-Very WELL he may state the conversations
Mr.. BRADLEr continued the examination The two
cent rate was made by Mr. Binney MIR Hepburn had
then The ~" cent rate in his hand that the stamp for
did Mr. Hepburn produced the envelope and asked Mr.
Bnney If that impression produced by that stamp
Mr. Binney, after examination said it was not; then
pulled out the impression OF the day stamp; that's it
tpassed to the ury;l then asked him to compare the
stamps; MIR. BInney then took a magnifyng glass and
compa'ses and said that the day stamp and the rate
stamp on the envelope were both forgeriesl
Mr. BRESr-He said they were both forgeries.
wrsk,,-Yes. sir; they were both forgeries The
figures 30, in the genuine stamp and the 25" in the
ton about advertising for genuine impression of the
stamps Of July or August, lSl5
advertisement shown 10 a Philadelphia paper for
genuine letter, envelope Of letter. bearing the Phi
latephia post ONCE stamps Of lSI5 about the last part
letter or envelope, bearing the genuine stamps of said
date Paper with tho advertisement identified By the
wines, aud then passed to the jusy1
WIINEss.-We had only Is >" cent stamp for 1915;
figures same in as us in 40, as far able to say
the figures were altered after july have stamp
Tor diop letters ana for letters that 20 of the
city sPecinens shown to the jury. Advertised list of
96h of July ls5 OF Phaieph, letters called for yes
~ A. w. Connor in the list OF the week folio wing
Had there been letter for her left in the Off the
day Of making up the list OF letters for Advertising IL
would have been advertised all the clerks the Office
are employed in making up the advertised list have
peen IN the post ofice Tor about twelve years
land here psuse ia report to remark upon this
wonder AIR. Reese must be most unexceptionable Of
hcer 10 nave stood last Tor twelve during all the
mutations Tor that time in the Phadelph!a post sice
WIrSEas.-There is no double ring the genuine
two cent stamp. there Is the envelope. Summing
upthe evidence, II appeared that the " cent stamp
wa, IN the wrong place the wrong side Of the let
ter AMI tae date also that the figures atoge
Their bstwsen tho genuine stamp and those of the
lope There Is sufficient space for 8" to have been
put in.
Capt Eassr, Of the jury. inquired why. letter for
instance put in the Philadelphia post Office to-day,
AMI aiyertl,ed tomorrow morning, why II would be
charged I" s. eents7
Witness exp aimed that was to pay the costs of ad-
vertising in too papers
Jury retired awhile TO patronise the cake stand In the
vsstibulel
Cresrssaniasi " Mr.. BsrSr--I nothing Of
envelope when you called; that envelope be-
lore last Tuesday; Mr.. Reese subjected by Mr..
Brett TO most severe and prc~scsd esoning,
as us rule Of stamping the letters-ths respective