American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-12-05

ndN6 lledIu IL stdteu tllHL IL Is OWlDB W lHe
perverseness Of some one or two of the offering
contractors, who are said to place their claims
to perform the work on political grounds.
This city is getting hourly more lively, and
hopes of business activity and stir here this
winter are every where felt, as the want of
something of the sort is every where acknow-
lodged. b.
Especial Correspondence of Baltimore Clipper.l
WAsHINGToN, Dec. 4, 1916.
The Van Ness Case The Court, yesterday,
having decided that Mr.. Glpin, one of the
counsel for the defence, should proceed with
his testimony, he this morning said that on ex-
aiming the books of the Aldermen of Phia-
delphia, he found no evidence Of the marriage
of General Van Ness and Mrs. Connor in that
city, in 1916. He described the appearance Of
Gen. Van Ness to the Aldermen, and did not
ascertain that any one ofthem married such a
person.
Mr.. Brent objected to a statement of the con-
versation, which he conceived Mr., Gilpin, by
implication, was proceeding to give.
Mr.. Gllpin, however, stated that, before the
petition was filed in the case, he made every
effort to ascertain whether General Van Ness
was married 10 Philadelphia, in 1915, but could
find no evidence Of the fact. He made the
search at the instance of Governor Van Ness
1t was in June, 1916. He stated yesterday
that all the Aldermen had records, in books, or
written on separate pieces Of paper. Alderman
Galway, in Spring Garden, and Alderman
Hoffner, in Southwark, had not the records in
their offices when he called on them, and there
fore did not see them. The former lives a mile
and half, and the latter about a mile, from
Mrs. Moulder's, lat which house the plaintiff
stopped in August, ls45,) and witness de-
scribed to both the person and appearance Of
General Van Ness.
On the cross-examnaiion, he remarked that,
yestesday, he stated that Aldermen Cook and
Smith married nobody in that year; saw no re-
cords of four of the Aldermen-Messrs. Cook,
Smith, Galway, and Hoffner Six showed no
books, but copies of certificates of marriage
Did not know that all the Aldermen were care
full in making entries, Had no personal know
ledge of a case where a lawyer or citizen, other
than clergyman or an Alderman, performed
the ceremony of marriage. Saw General Van
Ness in Philadelphia in August, 1915, and
July, he thought. The General usually called
on Mr. Gilpin when he came to Philade phia.
Mr.. Bradley. Did he tell you of private
marriage
Mr.. Brent 1t would not have been private
III ne nau lOlu any oOuy'
Mr.. Bradley. Did he say anything about
marriage, or what was the Generals business
there?
Mr., Gilpn. | am aware of one object Of
the visit.
MIR. Brent. OF your own personal know
ledge:
Mr.. Brent. can't state particularly. |
know that General Van Ness was engaged
81, I tbo I Iisprir,i.
nate between what heard from General Van
Ness and from Mr.. Longacre.
Mr.. Bradley. What was he doing theres
Mr.. Gilpin. He was having executed a
book plate, containing his coat Of arms,
Mr.. Bradley. Have you seen the coat OF
arms?
MIR. Gilpin. No.
Mr.. Bradley, (smilng.) Did he show you
how they were quartered.
Mr.. Brent. Net with the arms of Conner,
you say.
Mr. Bradley. Here is the coat of arms.
Mr. Carlisle. Yes, in my book. (The book
which the General loaned from Mr.. Carlisle
was then exhibited; on the corner was the coat
of arms, with the motto, ''Pro Dec, ct nobilis-
sma, patria batavorum.O
hlessrs. James Larned, Lewis Johnson, G..
C Grammer, General Thompson, of the Trea-
sury Department, Geo. Thomas, an officer of
the Bank Of the Metropolis, gave evidence as
to the handwriting of certain letters, which
they said was not that of General Van Ness.
MIR. j. G. Rives was recalled, and further
examined as to the formation of General Van
Nesss figure SIS.
DR.. Thomas testified that he attended Gen.
Van Ness during his sickness, which lasted ten
or twelve days The subject of will being
presented, the General said either it was atten-
ded to, or that he would attend to it himself
Witness would net be positive. This took
place on Thursday, and the General died on
Saturday.
MIR. Nicholas Callan, Jr., being sworn, testi-
fled that he was agent for Gen, Van Ness for
two years before that gentleman's death. On
the Esd of May last, Col. J. Fl. Sherburne, of
Philadelphia called at the office of the witness,
and spoke on the subject of the controversy, as
friend of the plaintiff. Witness saw Col
Sherburns at the house of the plaintiff on the
first of July. Witness went there on that day
at the request of Gov. Van Ness, when the
constable was to distrain for rent. Between
the ED of May and the LIST Of July, Col Sher
burne called on the witness, and handed him
= letter from Mr.. Dallas for Gov. Van Ness
7 After dinner the witness walked out; and wher
3 he returned he found Col. Sherburne with thu
9 plaintiff in the back parlor. Col Sherburn,
in speaking of the distraint, said it was strang
D proceeding on the part Of Gov. Van Ness, ant
3, produced letter, which the witness has sine
seen among the Orphans Court letters.
el MIR. Brent interposed, and remarked that tn