The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-07

Alison, Cumberlege Co. Cavsn, Brothers.
MCalmont, Brothers& Co. Russell Ellice
Hilbert & Co.
London, Oct. 90, 1896
| The Van Ness Case.
CIRcuIr CouRr, WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 1896
TESTIMONY ron
Court reassembled at 10 o'clock Fine sparkling day
Mr. HENRY D. GMrrr, Of the council for the dc.
fence, resumed his testimony from yesterday He said
did not find in the records orooks Of the Aldermen Of
the forty-one Aldermen which examined in Phiiadel
pha any evidence of the marriage Of Gen. Van Ness and
Mrs Conner; in the year 1885, described the appear
ance Of Gen. Van Ness to them but did not ascertain
that any Of them had every married such person.
Mr. BRrNr objected to the detail Of the conversation
| the results Of his diligent search. ~ ~
Mr. BnEsr insisted that Mr. Gilpn was stating mere
Mr.. GiLPN observed that he was not
Mr. BRESr persisted that the drift of the testimony
% to the same thing as the giving
what done by the witness himself his res earches
the Court remarked that conversations in such
Mr.. GLriN-Before the petition was fled in this case
made an effort to ASCERTAIN whether Gen. Van Ness was
dence of He made the search at the instance Of Gov
Van Ness This was in June, 1886. stated yesterday
that all the Aldermen had marriage records either in
DOCKS or upon separate pieces of paper filed in their Of
fees Two Of the Aldermen, Mr.. Galloway, in Spring
Garden and Mr.. Hoffman, in Southwark dd not show
me their records They hadn them in their offices the
time called Aldermen Galloway lives about mile and
half fro Mrs Mouldsrs, in northeast direction. AL
HOout mile eOutn OIL Mrs. M0udorD. Neither
Of them live in the city proper described to both Of
them theperson and appearance of Gen. Van Ness.
CresseTamined BY Mr. BREsr.-Aldermen Smith and
Cox mad married nc6ody saw no records Of four Of the
Aldermen, to wit Sfessrs Smith, Cook, Galloway and
Hoffman, six had books but kept copies certificates
on le one had his marriages. upon loose paper but
cords kept with than most other papers
they are locked up most other papers left the
ble do not know that all the Aldermen alike
full the certificates referred to were in pigeon holes but
the Aldermen unlocked the to show them; the diff
ference between the city and the districts would moi
strike stranger; the Aldermen whom called lived
in the inhabited parts don't know of private citirer
soemnizing marriage, or having done in Phladel
came to Philadelphia; be called at my house in july AMI
August lsaS. fae f. 'Hrl ~ h -. =
BY Mr.. BRADLEY-I did not hear him talk of private
marriage; knew he was engaged with Mr. Longacrc in
getting the Van Ness arms engraved for his books.
Mr. BRxrr--Of your personal knowledge7
MIR. GiLPIN-I can't state particularly; I know that
Gen Van Ness was engsged with Longacre the ergra-
yer, but can't discriminate between that which may
have heard from Longacre and Gen Van Ness.
Philadelphia M
Mr.. GLr'S-He came to SEQ Mr.. Longacre about a
| book plate, containing coat Of arms.
Mr.. BRADLEY--Have you the coat of arms
Mr. GILrrr-No sir, not that recollect
Mr. BRADLEr-Did he show you how they were quar-
tered \
Mr.: GILrr understood to say something about the
Mr. BsEST-Not with the arms Of Conner, you say'
Mr.. GiLPrN did not say.
Mr. CAnImIr,Heres the coat of arms in my book
lthat which the deceased had borrowed from Mr.
Isle Roberts on the form Of wills)
The coat of arms shown to the jury and Mr. May
examined 1t with apparent satisfaction The device is
shield of dark ground with white stripe across it, and
verucai stripe intersecting this line from the top with
three stars In the quartoring tie whole mrmounted by
| coat Of mail and helmet, the pumcs flowing of on
both sides very graccfulyundern the shield in
flowing riband Is the moo-"Pro Dec ct nobiiEssinp
Pstria befovorum and below this the of j. r. Van
| Ness is written.
JAMES LARrED, Clerk In the Treasury Department
sworn-Direct cxamination--f have known Gen Van
Ness for mary yearsstated circumstances of business
relations. from which he thought himself enabled to OK.
press an opinion upon the hand writing of General Van
Mesa 6ed in the orpbsp IS sb ss nsn p
this cause, and the other letters laido before this
Court, all Of which, he gave his opni n spI
Gen Van Nesss in.crmingied in the examination with
the plaintiffs istters had some doubts most other Of
the witnesses had to the signature to the Mattngy
ceipts, admitted to be genuine. s.
MIR. BaKSr waived any partcular examination.
Gen. THoMPsoN, OF the Treasury Department. sworn
ssa er e under 1 Ssn Van Ns; Of Ii. District
Of Columbia; while he Mayor of the city served
az Aldsrmsn as.ocisted frequently with him IN private
life thought he had formed pretty correct opinion Of the
Generate hand writing Was presented, by for
examination the plaintiffs letters laid before the Court
handwriting Of General Van Meas Recognized the
other letters of genuine character, laid before him for
an opinion
Mr. MAY waived any heightened rossexamination
LEWIS JOHNSON. director in the Bank of the Metro
polls, sworn-cxamned by MIR. CAaLnLx.-Teslimony
ness pronouncing respectively against the plaintiff
letters on hle, purporng to be those Of General Van
Ness.
Crossssaminsd by Mr.. MAIL called at General Van
Ness residence TO enquire about him during his last i'll
ness never was witness to will by him a wit.
ness to Q deed AZ one time. a
Jury allowed to retire while. Hon. Solomon Foote,
Of the House and Hon. Mr. Uphan, Of the Senate, who
also retired. The jury returning
Mr. SwEHSv was recalled and gave information an to
the regulations Of the department in cases Of letters
miss sent BY the mails how they were marked, and
how registered on the post hills 80
BY Mr.. BaxSr.-There q box at Baltimore for
way letters n-they marked after they came 10
washington, or on the way, (as updsrxtood) -tfE
oyoReE TuoMAs, sworn-Examned BY Mr. Brpdlev-
was acquainted with Gen. Ven Meas; was in the Hank
9. .ns Msopols a. discount clerk from 1914 1889
think could distinguish the handwriting of Gen Van
Ness letters Of the plaintiff purportng 10 be Gen Van
Ms shown to witness, who gave his judgment against
them. all and several. as.l'-'. I - y
Cyosseraminsd ~ Mr. BsrSr. With regard 10 some Of
the psculisriiss Of the plaintiffs letter. compared
WIN the hand writing Of Gen. Van Ness.
Mr.. JOHN c. Rvs, rccalled-Examinsd by MI. BsAp-
hsr WIN regard to the peculiarly of Gen. Van Ness's
,oD-in the examination Of many papers have never
iouns figure "5r OF the Oepei ais with in the
tail like SICKLE a. thoss in the plaintiffs letters signed
Wsliace" purporting 10 be from Gen Van Ness, are
made isund some discrepancy ~ the small 20" OF the
teesburg Wallace" letter. The "Lessburg" letter,
with the hyphen at the end Of the Line 10 the only
style. " ~ .
Cross.ersmined Nv Sir. Bsssr-shcwsd to the witness
several genuine papers that had the figure "sn 10 them
in the sOphan Court" letters Of the plaintiff IN one
Of the 20 O." letters, and in Of the "Green Valley"
letters, the body Of the rs" like Gen Van Ness
Mr.. Rivss could not be made 10 undcrstsnd why the
General should dsguiss his hand, and then sign his
b0etcD1 To anofher aucstou hc sal Ia