Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-08
THE VAN NESS CASE.
Correspondence OF The Baltimore Clipper.
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Correspondence OF The Baltimore Clipperl
WASHINGTON, TUESDAY Dec. |, 1886.
Mr. Thomas KeIl, from Alexandria, who tor
merly carried on business in This city, was ex-
amined on The part of the plaintiff. He testified
that he furnished stove for the house in which
the plaintiff resided, and did other work, for which
Gen. Van Ness said he would pay him in the Sc
cond quarter. The lady refused to lake the stove
it not being large enough; and Mr.. Kel put up
one that suited her, she aging that The difference
in price would be made right. This took place
before last Christmas
On cfoss-examiDation Mr.. Kell testified that
Gen. Van Ness, when he called on him, said
that The Chimney smoked, and that a stove must
be procured 10 remedy The evil
Mr. Bradley adyered 10 The tact that he, ON the
pat OF The defence, had laid rule for the coun-
sci for the plaintiff 10 produce paper, which
was designated. ilhe paper should not be pro-
duced, they would have right 10 secondary evil
dence in which case the adverse party would
have no right 10 give the original paper.
Mr. Brent said he did no, wish 10 withhold The
(Mr. Reese, from Philadelphi } could prove, and
TO ask him some questions on the cross examina-
ton.
Subsequently, Mr.. Brent handed the paper and
envelope 10 Mr. Bradley.
Mr.. Reese, clerk in the Philadelphia Post
Office, was called To The stand, and underwent
long examination and ctuss.e1amilaiion, as 10
stamps. He said thai, on Tuesday OF last week,
MIR. Hepburn called Oh him at lhe Pos, Ofice,
and asked him TO show the two cent rale stamps,
which he did. Mr.. Hepburn then took from his
pocket This envelope, and asked Mr.. Reese whe-
Their the impression Oh The envelope was like it,
Mr.. Reese said il was moi, and afterwards sccon-
panied Mr.. Hepburn 10 The residence OF Mr.. Bin
ney, who made The stamp, and that gentleman
made experiments 10 test The gcnuineness Gi The
impression OF The stamp on Tie envelope, which
ne pronounced forgery.
On the crosscxaminaiion, Mr.. Reese endea.
vored 10 convince Mr.. Brent ot difference in The
stamps, but Mr.. Brent did not acknowledge that
he was convinced
Some lille excitement was produced by Mr..
| Brent exhibiting In the witness letter, with
| s'amps different in Two important particulars,
| from whaiih witness had testified. The witness
al once, casting his eye al The post marks, said j,
was manufactured for The occasion The letter
was jus, received b. gentleman from PhiIadel-
phia, and notyet opened. The rate was moi incorpo.
rated in the stamp, no, was The day stamp en- the
leil hand side, but on The right and the rate on The
lefi.
MIR. Binney, from Philadelphia, testified that he
had examined The figure , on the envelope, and
given his opinion that il was counterfeit The
was curved al The tail, and The rim single, where.
as, the stamp which he prepared for The post Of
nee had With straight tail and double rim.
The court adjourned until Tomorrow al Ten
o'clock.
Correspondence Of The Baltimore Americana
WASHINGTON, Dec. Q, Evening.
The Diplomatic circles have been engaged for
some days past in an earnest discussion Of Inc
effect OF The arrest oil The French Consul al Mon
terey. The nature OF his offence las moi Trans
pred here, but there ale appIehensohs that il
may lead 10 difficulty between the two nations
Ii is question likely al least 10 lead 10 a long
controversy.
Nations Tor long time have taken Nh the
quanes OF their agents, and without much re-
gard to the question whether they in The right
or wrong. II Is very probable that there has
been good cause for The arrest made, and tina, lbs
discussion has arisen here from The natural SEN
siveness Ul persons holding Offices OF Diplomacy
10 their rights.
In The Van Ness case The testimony has been
Of more interest though not vi sufficient imnor
lance 10 g'se interest 10 any long report The
Post Office witnesses were lett, alter brief re.ex.
animation OF Mr. Reese Of the Philadelphia Post
Office. Mr.. Richard Smith, Cashier OF The Me-
Topos Bank, was examined al length in rcie.
renee 10 The handwriting, habits and sickness CT
General Van Ness.
His convictions were, from his long official
and friendly intercourse with General Van Ness.
that The letters we're lorgerIes. Mr. S, had an i'm.
preston originally hat The lc,ers were genuine
as he was told su bnl upon examination he bro.
nounced them 10 be iofgeries Mr.. S. wasexam-
ined in reference 10 ill, and had no information
OF any, and ne was present when The private pa
pers Of Gen. V. N. were brought To ight.-iey
having previously been sealed up. A long ac-
count was given Of the illness Of the General and
OF his sudden death.
Several witnesses were also examined In refe-
renee 10 The hand writing Of Gen. Van Ness. who
seemed confident tina, the letters were genuine,
WAsHNoroN, Dec. 3, 1916.
The Van Ness trial commenced the third werl
Yesterday, and can hardly be brought 10 a close
before the expiration of another week. The case
has made but little Roadway 10 day-so lnle in
deed as 10 make one almost despair OF seeing an
end 10 the testimony. George Sweeney, who had
been for twenty one years Chief Clerk of The Civ
Post Office, testified 10 The practices Of the Post
Office, al this time, with view OF giving lesti.
mopy thatthe Green Valley letters could moi have
passed through he Offices, as they pnrpor,ed npon
their face. Mr.. Sweeney also testified 10 regard
TO the letters, and gave his opinion that these pur-
porting 10 he from General Van Ness were forge.
ries. He had looked al all The letters aud. after
a careful examination Of hem all, he was Of OBI.
MON that there was not a genuine on. in The
whole number.
George w. Davis, a teller in The Mx,ropoli,
Bank Tor thirteen years, testified that all The Mrs
Conner lellers, all The Mrs. Van Ness letters ali
the Green Valley and Wallace letters, were Ior.
geIies. lie examined them al in Cour as he
had previously examined them oul Of Couu and
pronounced them lotaliy unlike The genuine lei
ters.
The las, witness examined for the day was
Henry ID. Gipin, who testified that he had ex-
amined each OF The !orty.one Aldermen and As
sisianIs Of Philadelphia, and that each ofthem
testified that lhsre had been no marriage by Them
Of Gen. Van Ness 10 Mrs. Conner The counsel
for the prosecution resisted this testimony. but il
was decided 10 be in order
WARRINGTON, Dec. 4.
The Van Ness case has developed new testi-
mony to-day in behalf OF the Defence. Several
OF the Directors Of The Bank Of The Metropolis and
gentlemen who had known Gen. Van Ness Tor a
long series OF years, were examined, testified at
length that the letters To Mrs. Van Ness, alias
Mrs. Conner, alias Mrs. Wallace we're all for
geries.
Piles OF papers were examined by those Wit
nesses-some genuine, aud some, as charged by
the defence, counterfeit. The witnesses separat.
Ell The genuine from the forged with great certain.
~, and with almost invaTiable coneclnea.