, 1862-08-27

yesterday. Mr.. Brackett appearing for Coates,
and Mr. Samuel Ashton for the prosecution.
The first witness called was Mr. Uaderhill
TESTIMONY OF s. E. UNDERH1LL.
Mr. Samuel E. Underhill testified that he
with several other parties, creditors OF Nj.
Coates, the accused, met him at the Sherman
House. Coates there showed them the vouch-
ers now In controversy, and said they were all
right, and that all Of them could get their
money out Of the documents. The witness
WAS to 20 to st. Louis, and draw the funds on ]
them, aud pay 1t over to the others. Coates
then delivered the vouchers to witness In
trust The witness testified that the sigma
lures we're not those OF Fl. s. Fitch, and that
he knew OF their having been presented to
Fitch, and that Fitch stated positively that he
did not write the signatures, but that they
were forgeries.
On the crogs-examination no new facts were
elected, the witness stating that Mr. Coates
acted during the negotiations IS though he be-
leVed the paper to be good and valid The
claims which the several parties present at the
interview, alluded to in the examination In
chief, amounted to s1,Go0. The witness and
Mr. Ashton, his attorney, had been to Mem
phis and had q conversation with Captain
Fitch, when he denied that he had signed the
vouchers in question. 4 clerk in Captain
Fitch's Office told the witness that he had
signed an order for tarpaulins in the name of
Captain Fitch, which order was attached to
the vouchers
CAPTAIN PAUL1soN's TESTIMONY,
Richard J. Paulison testified that he was
one Of Coates creditors, and was present at
the Sherman House when the vouchers we're
handed over to Mr.. Underhin.
TESTIMONY OF SAMUEL ASHTON.
Mr.. Ashton said that he had taken the
papers and went to st. Louis. There he had an
interview with Captain Huntoon and Mr.
Mather, the owner Of the steamer Jacob
MusEelman. He would not detail the con-
ve1sation unless the defence desired it. He
also saW the Quartermaster Fitch, and he
stated the signatures we're s forgery, and that
he had never seen the papers before. Tue
witness knew Fitch's handwriting, and these
signatures were not his. Captain Huntoon
had given the original claim against the Coy
ernment to Mr. Coates, with Instructions to
collect and take half the proceeds for his
trouble. Captain Huntoon said that he had
stated to Mr. Coates at the time that the
Government had paid him the sS55 item and
the $lS9, and Of course he would not receipt
for them, the remainder Of the voucher W,as
to be collected. The voucher Was not signed
at the time The clerk who said he had signed
the order, the witness had met in St. Louis,
could not remember ls--name; he told wit
hess that the signatures were forgery, and
| that he had never seen them before.
| The prosecution here closed their case.
| Mr.. Bracket, for the aecused, stated that
he objected to the requirement of any bail
from the accused on the grounds, first, that
! no evidence had been introduced to show
that ano forgery had been committed By any
body. Secondly, that IL Fitch's clerk or
Captain Huntoon were guilty Of forgery, the
defendant Coates WIS not responsible, and
should not be held accountable as an innocent
holder. Third, that the paper in question is
not g Government certificate, under the act OF
Congress, AID therefore the forgery, II any
has been committed, is not crime against
the United States.
The defendant then introduced Isaac D. Har~
mon as witness who testified In substance as
follows:
| ME. HARMoN's TESTIMONY.
1know Captain Huntoon, have known him
for nearly two years; know his hand writing;
the letters shown me are In the hand writing OF
Captain Huutoon, and 50 is the address % the
envelopes. The witness Was present at con-
versation between Coates and Hantoon ia the
latter part Of June last, at which time Hun
toou said that the Government owed him G
certain sum, and il Coates could get it, he
would diyide.with him. [The letters referred
to, we're Written In connection With the send
ing Of tie vouehezH from Hantoon to Coates.
They we're offered In evidence and admired. |
TIE Commissioner stated that he was not
satisfied In his own mind, with the evidence
already Introduced, and the case was contin.
ued 1or ten days to enable the defence to se
cure the attendance Of Captain Huntoon, ani
; If possible, A. Q. M. Fitch.
TIE OVERLAND MAIL 70 GREEN BAT-
, The first overland mail stage arrived at MAT
quette on the 18th, bringing Milwaukee ani
, Green Bay papers Of the 10th. This was ths
first Of tri-weekly line to run In connecdo1
| with the Chicago and North sestern Railroad
4 which is nearly completed to Green Bay. Th'
/ stage road is row so far completed as to be i,
b good condition for travelling, and this lin
+ ~il offer safe, easy and pleasant means o
i travel to aud from Marquette, and point
above. The coaches a1e buils on purpose 70
the route, and are well adapted to secure th
Il comfort Of the traveller. They are proylde'
l. With q good covering Of oil cloth aud arrange
+ with easy spring seats for sf1 persons Inside
, the whole resting on spring board bottom.