The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-11-27
The Van Ness Case
CIRCUIT CouRr, WAsHrroToN, Nov. ~ ls&o.

C06es
CracuIr Couar, WAsarseros, Nov. "a, ls4o.
The interest in this case far from subsding seems
usual. to-day. although the testimony not excit-
ing as yesterday No ladies beside the witnesses
proceedings through the public prints without hazard
Ing the ro.siby Of blush by testimony which might
be elected
Miss vlsorSrA FOWLER the step-sissr of the plaintiff
s(Mrs Van Ness) q young lady not out Of her teens y
and Of remarkably sweet delivery Of speech, came into
court few minutes after the crier had warned all hay-
ing business to draw and give their attention y
and having the stand which was never oc
crosssxaminston BY Mr. Bradley, counsel for the de-
fence She was shown several notes letters which
.hs sad she would take for her sisterss Mrs Van Nss
handwriting and then uttered the following language
think sister went to resds Missouri avenue July
lsAs or lsA4 was in the city but did not live with
Of visiting frequently; my sister had boarders she had
not beardsrs generally; only mentioned the names of
three or four OF them yesterdays the house was well
iuIsned and to all appearance sister lived comfort
shs received inooms in isas understood that the
when General Van Meas left here; DO not know whe-
Their sister recsivsd letter from him whom he here
18th h ~snsd M 70 me vast
seat at the interviews General Van Ness told her he
wanted her to meet him in Philadelphia the first week in
August and that if she did not dsappoint him
he would not disappeint her; | my sister at
her house in October ls4S, but do not know what
time bad conversation with her about the marriage
asked her il sheas married; she said. To be
ann" asked, +" VINO married your, She replied, AN
alderman" ahe described him. and that he was
man somewhat advanced in years. and had face "a.
red; he wore long, brown coat and had intell.
gent countenance; she did not mention that he wore
spectacles and ssid she married in parlor sit.
ting room; the alderman had book in his hand; she did
not state the distance between Mrs Mouders and the
Van Ness had tho certificate; did not ask her whether
she could recognise the man; this in the evening;
the 6rst time saw my sister after her return.
INYoaHArioN IN RELArroN TO THE MARRIAGE DESIRED.
Ins m1nu,crips copy Of the suotoined advertisement
$1,000 reward will be given by the undersigned to
the person who married General Van Ness and Mrs Ma
~ Ann Conner on the sh of August, A. D. ls45,
z:y nay 10 b Ic at this once 'n'' ~A''
Sept 2, ls46. MARY ANN VAN NESS"
THE LADY rUr TEST.
M 1.ADIxr-Miss Fowler, will you please st down,
Miss FowLxR slightly inclined her head in token Of
One Of the gentlemen who sat at the table, very gal.
anty surrendered his seat and three at the
tine presented paper. Tho lady threw aside her VEIL
and taking up the pen wrote the following at the dica
non OF Mr. Bradley, being extract from tho sdys
letter, written to her p-sister at Greenvaley:
he was here dsy before Yesterday and should have
was fssrs"i deliess with company in the capitol
dul the ink not dy il this your ordinary
handwriting, Miss Fowler7
Mas FewLraIt sir, but usually write with steel
steel after short search for one was presented
to her, and the lady began to write.
borsood said in vrs shs n'sh
Mr. bsADLEY-Take your time land every eye was
directed towards the table, where the lady was writing
Miss FowLsA, having finished the task which MIR.
Bradley imposed reascsnded the stand. Tho letter,
from which she had copied the extract was written on
had sent 10 the postoce the night of that day;
was then addressed as it now was is the Green Valley
letter.
MIR. BRADLEY-Miss Fowler, if you write one moro
sentence ! will be obliged to you four old Quaker
schooi mistress used to say, obliged by thee y
the words" The ceremony was performed by Mr.
Ketchum This referred to the marriage Of her
~ Mr Bp"s.yTh. da,e Of the nsl iss
Ter altered the Gate originally was the Isth but
changed to the 18TH; mailed it before nine o'clock at
night; have seen letters from Col Lee one of the
counsel for the PLAINTIFF this advertisement holdng
in her hand] is written by Col. Lee, and endorsed or
Mr. BAENT You were asked yesterday, Miss Virginia
thing with regard to conversation with the Rev
Isaac hstchum and your sister on the subject OF
Miss FowLER.- She asked him whether he did not re-.
member her asking him to procure the information for
cense; he said he remembered il well; Twin youn she
asked state that ~ he replied: "Freey ~ said: she
will thank you flor SO doing" he remarked, "shs
aid ne, am needy;" sister replied, 81 can't say
any thing about that now" this conversation was on
Tuesday evening, about two weeks ego; Mr. Ketchum
the counsel in the case.
Constants LETTER DE MA rpEp--wHy Rrarsrrn
a Ter.
ter shown to her. was in the handwriting of her sister
Mrs Van Ness and the counsel for the defence
that the suPerscription might 20 to the jury.
Mr. kRENT-Lets see ii.
tir. BsADLKY.-Hers (hsnding 1t to him.
Mr. Brent Immediately opened it, and looked for one
momsn, over its contents. That long enough for
him to know what the paper was. ''-
Mr. BxAoLEr.-Did you look into itl
Mr.. BRENT.-Yea
Mr. BRApLEY.-You won't look inside ofth;s. nola;no
out snother)
Mr. BsEsI.I can't cross-sxamine the witness, unless
the whole Of the document il exposed.
Mr. BRApLEy.-l said nothing about the inside IL the
outside Is the direction OF Mrs. Conner or Mrs Van
Ness or whatever name she may bear, is all We want
Mr. BREHr--l shant crosg-examine the witness uu.
less we have the whole Of the document
Mr. BKADLEr.-If prove capacity for writing large
to perpetrate forgery This was my object in asking
the witness 10 write Our charge is fraud conspiracy
Mn Bassr-Mr. Bradley proves the supcrscriptior.
and then proposes to stop have right to
ine no, only as to the superscrpton but the body
Mr.. BRADLEY.-Ih have not offered the contents
Mr. BnkNr-I protest against merely offering the ST.
perscEpuen and not the contents 1t is doctrine alb
horrent 10 tho broad system of justice the Court
cannot sustain 1t without case in point will not
cross examine the witness unless the contents Of
the letter.
Ma BRADLEr-All this so far as goes rests on the
similarity Of ritins II we show that she could
gerry and fraud We care nothing about the contents
DEyEscE OF THE wIrsEss--A ooRnxcrIos
discussion ensued on this point in which Messrs.
sion to q remark Ut AIR. Bradley,
Mr. BRksr said, claim the privilege Of defending the
witness.
MIR BRADIEY.-I will always speak Of a witness with
perlec, freedom have not said word to prejudice her
Mr. BRENT.-I will answer.
Mr. BRADLEr-Whst said was as an illustration
Mr. BRxNT.-I will defend the Witness Mr.. bradley
has urged because the lady has this morning
mistake, that 10 Jumping the fence and re.
mark that the witness heard sister say here that
the handwriting Of the paper is that OF COL Lee Such
conjunction IL natural Tor the gentleman place on
ran WI fhar n,f . -. -
mistake. Colonel Lees handwriting is similar 10
that OF Mrs. Van Ness, at slight glance. The
witness discovering that she lad made a mistake,
honestly corrected it. 1t is TO her credit She
proved the handwriting against her sister, but find
ing that she made mistake, corrected il. And is
NOT witnsss allowed to correct her mistake And II
there be rule to prevent it, the it abolished
the better In the agitation confusion and excitement
OF court room, alady especially, might very naturally
be led TO the commission oil error and innocenuy.
The CouKr-Wc do not allow personalities.
Mr.. BsEsI-l dsclaim personalities; and I trust Mr..
Bradley will not eudesvor destroy the credibiIty Of
tho witness
Mr.; BRADLEr-I thought it was my duty to say what
did, though was reluctant thus to illustrate my argu.