The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-06
FIRST EDITIO N
TEE SUPREME COURT
The Case Of the Fraudulent Ger
tiflcates of Naturalization.
Testimony for the Defense.


che appointed hour, and Mr.. Cuyler, who yes
serday proceeded no further than the reading
'of Colonel Snowden's return to the rule, began
the examination of witnesses la support OF the
return.
Mr.. John O'Byrne called by Mr.. Cuyler and
sworn.-Question. has your experiences given
the impression of seals? Answer. On reading
the testimony taken In this matter, 1 was
witness as to the indistinctness. L was re.
minded-tobjected top Well, paper was sent
me scaled with the seal of the court. and look.
Ing at IT, proceeded to moist en- the upper portion
of q paper, hll the impression with wax, and
putting 1t under an or1lnsry letter press, r PRO-
Charles b. Ross sworn.-Q. You are employed
in Che Office of the Prothonotary? A. am, at
present as Search Clerk; have occupied various
positions in the Office since December, 1856.
q. Have you any knowledge OF the issuing OF
blank naturalization papers signed by the Pro-
thonotsry A. have not. SIR; never knew
in the etice is Invariably to iii every blank
before signing and sealing; that Is the rule
q. When did Colonel snowoen enter the
office? A. In May, 1861,
mas there peen any Gnange rd ~, ,tne mode OF
Sncwden's administrations A. None sir We
have q new seal, but it is kept In The same
room. It was SO when Mr. Tyler, Colonel SNOW.
den's predecessor, was In office:
have any knowledge of any papers being sealed
in blank and taken away A. No, sir.
any one else than Colonel snowden to sign the
Prothonotary's name TO any official paper. A.
q. Whose name was signed? A. Colonel
Snowden's alone. 1t was by Mr. Blair, in the
office, during Colonel Snowden's absence in
O. When did he return from Colorado? A. On
the 9th of September last:
pers. They were signed by Mr.. Worrall and Mr..
20 n, ,,o,, .,xno,v of oo- othnr ,,.u.-. 49,.
signed SO at any timer A. No, sir.
Q. Since this Investigation has begun have
den's name to any naturalization paper. A.
CLIFFORD s. White. sworn-1 am employed in
g: How long have you been there? A, Four
q, Do YOU know of the signing of any natu-
ralization or other official paper in blsnk9 A.
8. Do you know of any being sealed in blank.
A. Yes; there were different orders OF the Court,
hrs {, to seal before signing and next to seal
only afterwards; both these orders were fmpii-
Judge Snarswood here explained that he was
after Signing, because he found the practice In
his opinion 10 be dangerous
Upon cross examination the witness said he
never knew any one else than Colonel Snowden
Charles Mccarthy: sworn;1Q, Are you sm-
r. have been there several weeks.
@. Have you any knowledge of the signing
they were filed dup2 A. No, sir, in no Instance.
@. Have you charge of the seal? A. have.
before it was filled up? A. never sealed such
paper.
lor have you been in the office? A. Several
weeks. -
Il 81 employed in the Revenue DEPARTMENT.; but
v as out of employment some time before OBJ
t. ined this situation.
@. Are you permanently employed, or are
you TO remain there until after the election?
A. do not know.
eeks9 A That's all, sir.
And the seal Of his Court has been given
q Do You keep guard over that seal all the
timer A. do, sir.
O. What time do you leave the Officer A.
@. Who has the seal then? A. leave it with
MT. Ross, who mas charge Of the Office
d. And 1t remains there until you return in
the morning? A: Yes, sir.
@. Do you seal only naturalization papers?
A. L seal other official papers,.
@. How can you tell whether the paper is
10 @ see that it has been properly fIIed up. up " y
@. Who generally presents you these papers?
A. They are transferred to mefrom some OF the
q. And you say you have never known a
blank to be sealed? A. l do. sir.
OF the District Court office; have been in the
office twelve years;
@. You are familiar with the practice OF that
@. Has 1t not been the custom in a rush OF
business to- seal writs and other papers in blank?
@, Is il not the custom preceding elections to
send out blank naturalization certificates to the
different naturalization committees? A. Yes,
sir.
blank naturalization papers to be sealed, have
your A. have; but they were kept locked up.
Rs.ax amined-Q. Subpoenas are always sealed
in blank? A. Yes. SIR.
Euaene Blair sworp.-I am employed in the
Prothonotary's ONCE. and have been for two
Q. Have you known any papers to be issued
from the office signed In blank by Colonel
@. Did you ever know any papers to be signed
by any one for the Prothonotarg? 4. Yes, Sir:
While Colonel Snowden was In Colorado
knew baok'pay and pension papers 10 De signed
pefs to be signed by him, or with his name in
blsnky w, a. No. No. sir hr.n ,na rn,a ~ rs.o,d 70 ,ns
sealing OF the papers? A. Never to seal them
without first seeing tnat they were 1lled.
(The fraudulent papers were shown the wit
Q: DO you know anything of these papersP
Cross. examined-Q Did you ever know any
blank7 A. Last year, at the beginning of the
NATURALIZATION season, some were sealed In
that was soon stopped, and since then know
seals upon them might have been stolen? A. /
said that they may have been stolen; for before
we nad psssn tba ssals6 sI 9e S9sy we had small
desksin order 10 get hold of them conveniently
when needed, and some one might have stolen
q. How many of these were there9 A. do
@ q. Was colenel snowden then at homer A.
@. Did ne know thisY A. do not know.
q. Who sealed the blanksf A. When we
he hsaoxr I hall naQ