Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-04
o. E. HAMBLEToN, Sec'y.
Correspondence of the Baltimore Clipper


THE VAN NESS CASE.-This morning,
Mr. Hoover, The celebrated Ink manufacturer,
who resides in Philadelphia, was examined on
The part of The defence. Mrs Van Ness, in May
last, came TO his store, and after pricing bottle
OF INK. began 10 talk about The deceased aldei-
man, mir. ChIislan;) she asked questions about
the appearance OF The Alderman. Sine called
twice afterwards, 10 examine the rooms 10 The
house, which was occupied By tie family OF Mr..
Christian before his dealh) When the lady
reached one Of he rooms, she remarked, that she
had seen il before.
On The cross.examinalion, the witness said he
thought The lady made enquiry about The lirni-
ture, &c.
MIR Hooyer, The wife OF The first witness, saw
The lady al her house On ,lis first OF september
last, where she made enquiries a 10 The arrange
nenl o the several ROOMS, and The appearance
Of The ae Mr.. Christian.
Mr.. Samuel Christian, son Of The deceased
Alderman, said lie had seen the lady, The PLAIN
TIL, 10 Philadelphia. His father died on the ll'h
Of ebruaIy last. The lady called on him on the
2 OF September last, and slated The object OF her
visit--lhat she was married 10 General Van Ness
on III 9th al Au9n>t 1915, ana thought that the
iaher OF the witness married them. lie told her
that his sister received an anonymous note three
days before, offering five hundred dollars iewart!
nothing about il. The witness searched his IA
ihers record. bnt could find 10 evidence ot inc
marriage. She DESCRIBED The appearance Of his
father better than he could 10 II himself. lie
thought that she approached him in a CORRUPT
way, nom The tact that she said in making en-
quiry of him Tor The evidence oi marriage, that
money was no object, which She frequently Ie
pealed.
Alderman Buckley, Of Philadelphia. testified
that lie lady had called upon him in Philadel'
phia, and that he had assisted her. but without
effect, to find the person who performed the mar
Iase ceremony; finally, she said she could get
along without The certificate, as She had other
proof.
Alderman Elkinon was sworn. He brought
with him book, in which there were marriage
entries.
Mr. Bradley read several OF them, and offered
the book in evidence, 10 show that there is no en-
try there OF Gen Van Ness having been married
10 Mrs. NJ. A. Connor.
Alderman Elkinton said, that the book was
handed To- him by constable as The marriage ie-
cord Of Alderman Christian.
The counsel Tor The plaintiff objected 10 the
book being offered as evidence; lhs law does mol
require The record, and The entry may be made Of
not as The Alderman may please.
MIR Carlisle addressed Tie Court on the other
side.
MIR. Brent was about to reply, when Mr. Chris
lan was recalled, who said mat his father was
So particular, that whenever he married any BODY,
he Immediately made an entry in The book, BE-
fore he would say word 10 any body.
Mr. Brent remarked that as il was so strongly
insisted on, he would consent 10 lei the book go 10
the jury.
And al 4 o'clock The Court adjourned until to-
morrow.
Correspondence Of The Baltimore American
WASHINGTON, Nov %, 1916.
The Van Ness case opens with new interest
today. Witnesses have been examined from
Philadelphia and the District, and important lesti
mony adduccd in behalf of the defence. Mrs
Susan Hagan, who lived in Philadelphia al Al
lerman Christians, in August, lS45, and long be-
lore and after, gave important testimony as 10 he
efforts OF Mrs Conner to obtain testimony Of her
marriage. She claimed 10 have been married by
Alderman Christian on The 9Th Of August buI
asked so many questions preliminary 10 the mar
riage, the manner in which the marriage service
was performed by Alderman Chrislian-wheihef
with ring or nof-how The hands we're Joined,
The place and persons The dress and other circum.
Stances, that witness did not believe there had
been any marriage performed by Alderman
Christian.
Mrs. Conner witness testified, offered her 81 900
10 prove the marriage. Mrs Conner said she
wa 8 staying al Moore's or Nowand's when she
was married. Mrs. Duran Of Philadelphia
daughter of Alderman Chrislian) also testified
as 10 visits from Mrs. Conner 10 her sister and
mothcr-lo her offers OF reward Of $1,000 TO
prove a marriage. Mrs. Conner assured this
witness that she was married al Alderman Chris
Iian's. Mrs. Conner said II my younger sister
could prove the marriage, she Should have a
thousand dollars.
Mr. Thomas Carbery, director in the Bank
of The Metropolis Tor twenty years when Gene
raj Van Ness was President, and his next door
neiehbor since 1918, testified that Gen. v. ". was
an indecendent sellwlcd and stern man-lhai
he had a wite ard child, both ot whom were dead
tina, all The nine letters addressed 10 Mrs Van
Ness b. General Van Ness were torgeries.
all the "WaIlace letters" alleged TO be writ
len by General Van Ness were also forgerics.
Sc was a receipt purporling TO be in the hand
wriling of Gen. Van Ness. He had applied to
hem carefully all possible tests, and was con-
WINGED that all those "Wallace" and "Mrs. Van
Ness" letters were counerIes. AT the same Time
Mr.. Carberry distinguished and pointed out seve.
raj OF The genuine papers OF General Van Ness
which he had not before seen.
The counsel for defence next came 10 the "Green
Valley letiers," alleged 10 have been written BY
Gen. Van Ness. Col. Gardner, Postmaster OF
Washington, and his assistants, were brought in
with sway bills, !" "posl bills" "mails received"
&C., 10 show that no letters had been sent on The
DAYS in August, l645, claimed for these letters
and particularly tor the letter Of Miss Fowler
They were SEM, il was inferred, in August, 1916.
after General Van Ness had died, and then altered
to August, ls45. All this was very palpably
shown 10 all but The unbeievipg and OF course il