The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-05
The Van Mesa Case.

The Van Ness Case.
CIRCUIT CouRr, WAsHINGroN, Dec. 2, ls4s.
TEsrIMoNY FOR The DErEEcE CONTINUED.
Court met at 10 o'clock in the morning Fair for the
Mr. BRrsr desired to examine Mr.. Reese, of the
Philadelphia post Office. Messrs Brent Bradley Coke,
May and Csrlsle discussed the question Of order The
upon matters of his testimony not YES.
tsrdsy but the honorable the Judges desired that the
case might proceed so as that there should be prospect
OF finishing It before the expiration of the Of the.
would be finished Mr. Brent asked questions
EXAMINED By DsrEScE Witness stated that in the
conversation with Mr. Morris at Colemans, after they
caution in stating anything about this trial. because
there were spies about Mr. Bradley take out the
rs" from that letter. lpssaed to him by Mr. B saw
him take out with causc Of potash last night From
examination think the "5o must have been inserted in
the large stamp in April, 1886
Mr.. RICHARD sMIrn, Cashier of the Bank of Mstropo
Lis, (of which Gen. Van Ness was Preaidsnt) examined
by Mr. CarseDeclared his opinion In detail of the let
teIs filed by Mira Conner as letters received from Gen.
Van Ness and purportng to have been written to her in
genuine letters Of the General as more OF less differing
records the letters las understood in the hands
Of Mr. Dallas and Mr.. Lee last April 26h July letter.
would not suppose i to be genuine. '-f
taken by Mr. smith at the bank said he did mot rscol
In the Of his examination Mr. May asked
the opinion Of witness respecting certain signatures
ter to which was attached genuine written by
Van Ness.
Mr. BRENr inquired respecting the last illness Of Gen.
Van Ness, and Of his visits to him had conversation
with him witness said 1t commenced by his asking Gen
Van Ness there any thing he (the witness could
anxious about; desired to relieve him from any any
uneasness in matters Of business told him to make bis
So TO- for III! %
Gen. Van Ness had spoken to me two before. in
respect to the settling upof the estate In regard his
property he said would all be taken Of and spoke
Of thirty or forty branches and then spoke Of forty
thousand, but without saying what; then asked him
became little excited, and said, Mr. Smith, am not
going to die; shall be up in three four days. told
MIN sincerely hoped would be 30; none wished
than did, but told him too that merely wished to as
sis him any matters he wished arrange he then
answered me that his property would be taken Of
versaon dropped he expressed desire to see his
papers; don't remember that saw the privse papers
illness; the first time him at night; saw him
afterwards in the morning; did see nor hear of this
lady coming there at the time.
By Mr.. CARLIsLr-Gen. Van Ness on his death bed,
did notspeak OF wife and two children living thought
had irritated him with my inquiries about his will but no
afterwards manifested the greatest kindness. On the
his Offices observed that his papers were very much OK.
posed then suggested to the members of his family that
in the presence Of Gov Van Ness and the young man
who acted clerk to Gen. Van Ness tMr Holcomb) we
went into the Office and Mr. Holcomb put all the Papers
hardly what was done with the keys while we were
in the Office Miss White brought from the vest pocket Of
pers from his vest pockets Gen. Van Ness died on Satrr
day night and Monday following suggested il
he had left will, it might be in Of the drawers Of
that table; IT proposed that that table be examined
forthwith; that was before the funeral because 1t was
supposed If there will, there might be some d.
examination ofthe table; when Miss White brought ne
the key and loose papers from the vest pocket Of Gen
kept them in the Bank of the Metropolis; Monday
took the key down for the purpose Of opening the draw
ers as decided upon; is that the drawers
were not sealed; We found nothing like viii the
animation of the drawers examined after that the 6les
and pgeonholes Of the bank, but without success;
discovered mo will nor any one who had ever wit.
reach; it was the great desire OF the other men,
bers Of the family besides Governor Van Ness) and
unless they provided for they would be left
in destitute situation. There left OF General Van
Ness family four branches I'll Gov Van Ness. bro.
ThJee nephews. brothers. John Van Ness Edward Van
Ness. Eugene Van Ness, and niece. sister of these
deceased brother (whose wife is also dead Of Gen. Van
Ness. A. A married sister named Van Allen, who has
BY MIR. CoxE.eI was present when the drawers were
opened in the table, not when the seals Of the
opersd.
clan had said he could not survivethat Wednss
day suggested that the papers be exsmiEed Friday
S.ss was NOT present when MssWhite brought
@ hsy " .ue ano tne ,oose papers rom me vest
poonU. - Sesa Key We did not come across pa
PSI WIN .. VI asAs ~ NJ oio NOT open any Oh the
psPe.' ooJsc, was 70 open sucn az looked IKE Will;
ola no, see iocx OF har among ms papers; was not
nS ~ s ~ 'asSi we're sesscnea oia NOT zee
ooox o. oims o. WIZ a. any ume did not ma any pa
per providing LOT manumssion o. his negroes under
stood they had been manumed; the Christian name OF
Mrs Hoffman is Gertrude; hislnece, Matilda, had lived
~ nus amy LOT many years Charles brother OF Madl-
"a go an appointment IN me New YORK custom house;
s W. e cousin Oh inc 1enerais former Wiie;
uoh Know ,hat any pfoner Of the relative Van Alien
vas 40 the aims mouse Gen van Ness never spoke 10
me ON s supJec' OF engagement years ago win
III. oro'neF, Gov ' an Ness
By Mr.. CARLfsLr.-I heard General Van Ness say he
was bondsmsn TO his brother Collector of New York
in the sum Of $500 oO0 1.-The Court thought the testi
mony wandering of the track, but waived their OBJ
jechons in his instance
MIR. BRADLEY showed TO witness one of the Walacev
letters purportng have been written by General Van
Ness under the assumed name Of Wallace It has the
of Gerirude in (as UNDERSTOOD upon piece of
paper pasted in Witness thought 1t written in diff
ieren coored ink, kc-thst is the name off, Gertrude