The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-01


which Gen Van Ness was prssdent for twenty years;
not there with Mr. MIntyre; ! think compe.
after so many spectacle witnesses had testified TO the
genuneness Of these letters at first led TO suspect
csrefaly and am satisfied that they all forgrries-
Witness then examined the the plaintiffs Van Ness let
tiers, one by one and pronounced them without an
ception, to be torgeres Gen Van Ness wrote uniform
hand; he never made hourishes him scribble
upon piece of nor write except for some useful
purposes doubt whether Gen. Van Ness could dis
xuise his hand that could not detect it these letters
written with freedom and ease not peculiar to Sen Van
Incompetent recognized several genuine papers Of Gen
Van Ness the Green Valley Depot letters to
be foyeriesi, pronounced the nine letters filed by
pla ntif in the Orphans Court, to be forgeries;
witness described very minu,ey how sigma
tnre might Sa be exactly either by hold
or by tracing it with steel point, TO make i'm
preston upon piece OF blank paper the other side
sometimes, however, in the process in the upward
strokes the lines indicate trembling, as may probably
these letters to several different taking or an
oil genuine paper and comparing it with these in
these the tail OF the is cured round with heavy pres
of the pen in the genuine papers the is brought
straight down with light mark there is something OF
the same difference in the capital W Gen v. n was
very tenacious OF his dignity and when he undertook to
do any thing would go through with it,
Cross eronrined by Mr. MsY-Gen Van Ness married
married OF Gen Middleton Of South Carolina but
she died many years ago have been living near Gen
was sick from the a5th February his wife was daugh
ter Of Patrick Burns Mira Middleton died in Childbirth,
believe sir witness detailed the particulars attending
cluded excep his immediate attendants wondered he
had not made a will saw him the last day Of his
life he died about sunset his niece, Miss White, and
his brother there Mr. May showed two letters Of
Gen. Van Ness-one in large hand-and the other in
small hand-to show that ho was not uniform wit
ness detected the same characteristics in both
shown several receipts; hesa'ed confessed that they
means Of coane rfeiting; there was difference in the
capital between these letters and the genuine there
difference in the capital OF the genuine and the
| false letters
Ma. BRENr exhibited several genuine papers showing
difference in the capital NJ as made by General Van
Ness and subjected the witness most rigid
animation from which il appeared that the knowledge
Of CAPT Carberry Of the hand writing of Gen. Van Ness
was not positively nfailble in some particulars.
FIRST
Mr. Bradley introduees several of Uncle SANS function
aries. 0ih certain o6fcol records of the Post Office
Department. to shoD that esrfafn Of Mrs Corners Yan
Ness letters tcrttfen tweipe months their dste
and since the death Of Gen Pan Ness
Ma. BRADLEY desired to make brief special explana-
ton to the Court and the jury.
Ma BRADLEY said there three Of the letters pre-.
sented to the Court the genuine letters of Gen Van
and the Sth October which from the dates inside, pur
ported to have been written in lSl5 Now he proposed
70 sow that tines. letters aS d not sn the rS
tho checks which they mutually have upon each other
in the prevention of frauds such the register kept
by each Post Office Of the letters despatched from
II. and their places Of destination in the daily az
gregate to each of such places and the other
check of register (pos billy each post office of
number of received and where FROM day by day.
which records quarterly returned the General Post
Office.
MIR BRrSr-Well, sir, we are prepared to meet it.
Col z. X GARDNER, recslled-l am Postmaster Of the
city of washngton explained the regulations of the de.
partment in Keeping adaly bill at each post Office Of
the letters received and the letters dcspschedand the
amount of postage and the aggregate number OF five and
ten cent letters to each place how the letters from
Washington stamped with the Of the post Of
dee and the day ofhe month at which they are received
e.. Sa of
the 10Th August, 1885, and dated inside the 18th Au
@ S nSSas w ss
the inside date being stamped for instance the letter
were put in the next morning, washington. d. C., Au
tCol Gardner produced file ofpost bills for the
ngton City post office lsa5 and 1896 and for the
ianother post Office in virginia showing the transmits
sion and receipt Of letters these every
Mr. BaApLKr-L Look, Col Gardner, and see II there Is
letter record for August Goth, ls45 eupposed to be
Miss Virginia Fowles letter to her sister, Mrs Connor
amsng the letters egered for that daysee II there Is
one, sir, for Green Valley Depot
Mr. BhrNT.-Wel, now, MIR. Bradley, would just
Mr. BRADLEY-Oh! wait while, Mr. Brent; have
little patience, unless you are 30 full that you nave to
wIrxE"-No. sir nothing mailed that day for Green
Valley Depot, lS45 -
oce DsSsrmsn a"a SWAIN and Mes,s Gadosr Rev
nolds and Lawenson all at the witnesses stand together
with their postofico files.
Col GARDNgR- find letter for Green Valley, marked
ten cents, post marked Washington, Aug. 49, Identified
the post genuine the Van Ness letters, but
judged them he impressed with the stamp OF 40 and
not that of lS45 There difference in the stamps
No letters registered this office for Green Valley De
pot 27th 2sth 18th August l6l5. The register shows
letter for 2sh August, 1916.
[Some conversation here followed between Mr. Brent
and Mr. Bradley which indicated the greatest interest
both parties in the examination. The auditory, which
up to this hour had been almost unanimous in their sym
pathy FIR Mira Connor. and their implicit belief in the
justice of her claims began to evince symptoms Of
alarm, and of the most intense concern Whispering
and exclamatons passed through the rowd and gene
raj low muImuring prevailed e. silence in court gen
tIemen" :" silence" " Walk light" Never mind
Just wait till Brent gets q hold OF him he'll bring hin
down-yes, all three of EN- books and all" " Yes
d--n Il. she married, and your books won't heil
you" e. silence y Tho trial was approaching crisis
The witnesses and Mr. Bradley were examining the
post'oface files.
| Mr.. BkENT-Let the jury look-let the jury look.
Mr. BRApLvYThe letter to Green Valley Depot, datet