The New York herald., 1869-03-16
BROOKL YIN CITY.
The COURTS.
UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS COURT.

| Tho Aue8e0 OfhWUhcA OssAnAony
for the Defence.
Before Commissioner Jones.
The examination OF the parties charged with being
| concerned In the great drawback frauds that have
recently come to light continued yesterday. The
case was closed BY the government and the test
mony for the defence opened. Evidence on the part
OF the defence was first put in BY Mr.. Hollis,
the counsel for L. L. Laidlaw, the de-
putty collector OF the Second district. charged
with giving false certificates by means Of
which the claims for drawback were allowed.
Jerome H. NJ. Reisenberger recalled.
TO Mr.. Goldsmith counsel for Theriot-Mr The
riot received altogether for givnglthe Custom House
certificates the sum OF $1,000.
To Mr.. Mcdonald, counsel for Wilson-Mr. Wilson
did not receive any commission for dscountng
drafts except the four testified 10 on Saturday, so
far as know.
saton with Wilson at No. Barclay street, last fall,
and he said that he had heard that there was 70 be
an investigation Of these claims.
To- MI. Noyes, for the governmental handed be-
tween forty-1ye and 1lty claims to Whimster for
Barr's signature; to my knowledge Wilson had CON-
mission on paying four drafts; saw Wilson'S name
on fifteen or twenty claims while examining the
claims at Washington, but these were claims with
which had nothing 10 do.
To Mr.. Hollis, counsel for Ladlaw-These last
claims were put through after the second visit to
MIR. Young when first heard that the claims were
to be prosecuted went TO Mr.. Noyes, the counsel
VINO now appears III the case for the government.
To Mr.. Webster. counsel for Korn-I could not
give any idea OF the amount OF the forty or fifty
small as 5000 and some amounted to several thou
SANDS; got on these forty or htty claims about
fourth; from the gross amount received on these
Gains had TO pay part OF $4,000 hush money.
To Mr.. Noses-lhe drafts, Nos. 1883 2,3S3, l. ia
were received In payment Of claims subsequent 10
the four already testified to; these three drafts
endorsed by Wilson; the claims for which the drafts
were gwen In payment made up and gave to
10 the Commissioner don't know whether
Wilson got share OF. any OF the proceeds Of the
claims. except by suppostion.
TESTIMONY OF COLLECTOR wooD-CALLED FOR
LAIDLAw.
To Mr.. Hollis--I was Collector from September,
1862, to August 1895; had branch otiice in New
York. under charge OF Mr.. Walker; 1t was IN the
lEsports: / | pu. MI NJ. Laiaiaw r1, there fG
TOOK the business connected with exports from
New York and brought 1t back to my office
in the early part OF 1906 Mr. Ladlaw after that had
charge Of the bonded account IN the home Office
until the lst Of April 1867 when ne was appointed
storekeeper Of tobacco warehouse; Mr. Birkett
1881, Mr.. Amor was deputy; have known Laidaw
twenty years; my first association with him was in
the Fourteenth reg regiment: hr & Ladaw h,l was my
have had good deal to do with signatures
50 that ! am Judge Of their correct.
been signed by LaidIaw in La Fiura's, shown wit
ness; that Is not Laidlow's handwriting; II is q
IN La woss hsn the
lcalm No. 346, also signed In La Fiuras; THAT Is
not Laidlaw's; tclam No. 47379); the signature OF
Laidlaw's signature Ii also counterfeit; 80 much
counterfeit this; II those signatures were brought
TO me as Ladlaw's would not recognize them; Mr..
Mnln0use was Laidlaw's assistant; he is now dead
CR0ss-ExAMINATI0N.
To Mr.. Parris-I do not see any characteristics
at all in the signature Of Mr. Laiaaw's nandw rting
from the knowledge have OF Mr. Laidlaws sigma
ture should should say they were f0rgertes; am
not an expert In handwriting clam No. 49, 741 that
signature IS better than the others. but st should
say 1t was forgery.
10 the Commissioner handwriting looks like
THOMAS 5. pAKIN's TESTIMONY.
To MI. HolllS-I have known Laidaw about ten
past few years, and In connection with the internal
revenue; | have had business with Laidlaw and
know his handwriting; have had his notes ana his
| witness The name of Laidiaw on these papers Ii
not MS signature; do not know whose handwriting
it's.
| MR.. WOOD RECALLED.
To the COMMISSIONER cannot tell whether the
seals on these certificates is correct or not except by
comparison with those know TO be correct.
Mr.. DAKISs TESTIMONY coNTNUED-cRss-ExAM
To Mr.. Hollis-I have for the last thirteen years
made the characteristics OF handwriting study;
know the name OF Mr. Laidlaw on these papers as
easily as know you from the Commissioner.
JOHN L. sPADER's TESTIMONY.
To MIR. Hollis-I have lived In Brooklyn forty
years. am cashier OF the Central Bank OF Brooklyn;
/ know Laidiaw; lie has an account at that bank;
know his signature; claims already testified TO
shown wiiness;) the name Laldlaw ON these claims
Is not Laidlaws signatures; would not pay check
on that signature; have been in the banking bust
! ness sixteen years; have been teller in abank.
CRoSs-ExAMISATIos.
limitations; In one two or the signatures the "r
looks like Ladlaw's, but there Is a general lack Of
character IN the whole signature, that would indi-
To the Commlssioner-n papers coming to our
bank through exchanges with such q signature, or
| these purportIng to be Laidlaw's, should reject
| them.
To Mr.. Parris-A man might disguise his hand 50
that would not be able TO detect IL.
| SAMUEL ). ARyoRs TESTIMONY.
To Mr. HollIs-My business from March, 1896, to
May, 1867, was deputy collector under Colonel
| also deputy: Dir Mullhouse was his assistant; II
| Mr.. Laidiaw and MIR. Wood were absent would
give the oricia signatures have signed certificates
OF bonds filed; deputlzed do that Mr.. Laid
law had charge OF certificates that bonds had been
ned; Lad charge Of yhe certificates tnai tax had
myself the one present would discharge the others
| duties; In the faii Of 1866 business IN our
Office was very great; Mr.. Laidaw depended on
Mlhouse very much; Millhouse made out the papers
and passd them over to Ludlaw IN 1896.
To Mr.. Parris-The certificates l gave for Mr..
Ladlaw In his absence signed my name to-.
To the COMMISSIONER signed FOR Mr.. Baidlaw on
the assurance OF his assistant that the papers
tIfcaIes with the signature OF Laidlaw handed wit
nessl; Ladow's name Is not In ms handwriting;
TIE seal Oh the ONCE docs not make very dftlnct
impression 1t was never the custom or the once TO
anix the seal 10 the papers In blank.
| q. A. HESRIQuEs' TESTIMONY, CALLED FOR DIcKIN-
son.
TO Mr.. wood-I have lived in New York since
| lst2; have known Dickinson since the summer OF
| I5c2i he boarded with me O few months: | am
familiar with his signature; the signature OF @. n.
thompson 10 claim ~, sos Is similar character to
Dickinson's, but looks rather bold for his the
| oi =. r Koges 70 papers attached TO claim Il, p34
| - nothing ike the handwriting OF Dickinson; Mr.
| Dickinson's business wnlie boarding with me was a
clerk IN A. y. Stewards retail store; after that he
| was canvasslnz for BOOKS; ne afterwards told me
| that ne was In the employ OF Mr.. Riesenberger; he
was Win him three or four menths; he was absent
| IN the country during all the summer OF 1897
TO the Commissioner-T have seen Mr.. Dickinson
| write; have seen him write one or two orders in
| my once; have had one two letters from him:
| have never seen anything else IN his hand: have
had but itle occasion TO pass on tue genuneness OF
4 handwriting.
Adjourned TIL to-day at eleven O'Clock.
COURT of SESSIONS.
Wesley Allen Gets Four Years and seven