The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-10-20
THE IIAUNsTEEN FORGERY CASE
TRIAL OF GEORGE CHAHOON.
d JURY EKPANELLED-EV FOR
TIE COMMONWEALTH
The Prisoner Committed.

Tho Sergeant yesterday returned the
names of 100 talesmen summoned under
the order Of the court made on Tuesday
afternoon. They were examined, with the
following result:
| NC. Read said he had formed no opinion
| in regard to the case, but had read some
thing about it in the papers. He could give
him fair trial. He was accepted.
John D. Freeland made substantially the
same response, and he also was accepted.
| J.P. Rogers. L. busch, Jr., j. l.. Ap-
person, a. NJ. Brownel, j. NJ. Bibb, A. ".
Shields, Julius Meyer, r. 5. Glaze brook,
Jonn c. Page, Lewis Held, J. T. Johnson,
j. B. Mosby, Samuel H. Pulliam, Thos. A.
Trigg, j. n. Now1in, 4. j. Gray. NJ. "a:
Moffat, John I. Sizer, Fl. A. Phillips, ".
Thalhimer, C. r. Rees, W. F. Fitzgerald,
sChss. T.. Binford, Chas. Selden, K. J.zBul-
llngton, M. D. Whiting, J. w. Grant, P. E.
Dupuy, T. o. keesee, Richard Jones, S.
, Nj. Bailey, J. NJ. Rowe, W. Fl. Powell, L.
Fl. p. Robinson, b. E. Armstrong, L..
Lew. David Mitteldorfera 7. W. Young,
Wm. Heller, I. Hirsch, John S. Austenj
had either formed or expressed an opinion,
and were rejected:
| Samuel Wortham had not formed de-
cided opinion, but feared that his preju.-
ulCeS WOulu I)TCFeub Ills giving VIC aSClioCu
fair trial. Rejected.
W.P. Crutchfeld had formed no opinion,
and could give the accused perfectly fair
trial. Accepted.
| J:E: Towers entertained very decided
opinion. Rejected.
| William Fl. Tatum had read what the
newspapers had to say about the case, but
no impression was made on his mind. Re-
ceived. -.
J. 3. Watkins Had rot decided opinion;
but had expressed an opinion. Evidence
would be required to remove the impress
sion on his mind. Rejected.
Eter, E. B. Meade, r. Rurweq, X. j., Jen-
nings, F. II. Deane, Il. D. Jetlries, G. Z.
| Pleasants, Joseph W. johnson, Miles Tur-
pin, VIM. Haynes, +. D. Christian, J. +.
Curry, and Maurice Evans, had either
formed or expressed opinions, and were re-
G. II. Burch had not decided opinion,
and had expressed none: He thought he
could try the case fairly upon the evidence
! addllced In court. Accepted;
! VI. Clutter and I. II. Elicit made salts
factory responses, and were accepted, COM
pleting the panel.
The venire, rs completed, was composed
of the following persons: Asa Snyder, L. NJ
Roykin, James WoodhouSe, R, II. Dibrell,
d. n. Walker, r. W. Powers, n. y. Har'
grove, J. B. Kidd, Chas. G.. Scott, John 3.
Hill, Jonn B. Cary, Chas. p. Word; George
Gibson. Benz. Cottrell. j. J.. Cox, J. s.
Raglan. ". L. Florence, Il. &. Read, John
d. Frceland, T. Ii. ;.llett, W. p. Crutch.
field, VIM. II. Tatum, vi. Clutter, and
Geo. w. Burch.
The counsel for the accused struck of
the names OF Asa Snyder, II. ". Powers,
| a - y
+. Florence, n. {. Read, and N.J. Clutter
Cox, and W. i. Crutchticld drew blanks.
and were excused. l'hc remaining twelve,
composing the jury, were Messrs. K. II
Dibgcil, T. II. Elicit, ". II. Tatun, +
Vi. Boykin, James Woodhouse, d. n
y alker. !. Il. Hill. c. G.. Scott, J. s. Rag
land. John ID. Frreland, Btn;atnhi Cottrell
and n. y. Hargroye.
The jury having been sworn and charged
the witnesses for the Commonwealth were
called and sworn.
Oscar Cranz was first examined. lie tcs
Cited was acquainted with Solomon
:. Haunstein, Il citizen of Richmond. lit
came here in 1852 or 1853. ! had been her,
some time before l made his acquaintance
lie was Il foreigner and kept har-room
dealing in LIQUORS with me from the begin
ming. DO not know the exact date Of hi
coiiig into btISint>s: but think it was no
later than 1853.
= Mr.. Wise here asked the witness wha
was the character of the deceased.
Judge Crump objected TO the question.
The Court Mr.. Wise, what do you pro
pose to prove?
Mr.. Wise Whether Mr.. Haunstein WA
a man OF probity, and was in the habit
paying his debts.
I,,l, I'.,,,, flnt h1X l., n
to do whether. Il forgery has been com
mitted, =
: The Court think the question admiS
. siblc but it would perhaps be best to prov
first the fact of forgery.
Mr. CranZ: My business relations con
tinucd with the deceased until his death
in 1871 think in April. Have seen hi
. signature, but moss of his orders wer
verbal.
Witness was here shown the bond alleged
to be forged, and the Commonwealth's at
torney asked him whether the signature
was that Of Haunstein.
Judge Crump objected, that it had no
been proved that the witness was tamiia
with the handwriting of Haunstein. .
The witness was then interroSated b!
Judge Crump, and in reply said he hat
never seen Haunstein write. He had seer
very few orders from him; didn't know
how many. Could not identify with an.
certainty his handwriting. Thinks, how
ever, he could give an opinion as to th'
signature, though the opinion might b'
indefinite.
The court then decided that the inquir.
of Mr.. Wise was proper one, and over
ruled the objection of Judge Crump. II
this ruling a bill Of exceptions was fied. =,
Mr.. Cranz then took the bond in hand
and in reply to the question said that, from
his recollection of the handwriting of Haun
stein, the signature to the paper "looket
like that Of uaunstein, and it did not l0of
like it.
f Mir. Wise: If you have an opinion as t
; whether the signature before you is or /
not the genuine handwriting OF Haunstcln
say so.
Judge Crump objected to this question
as being in fact a croSs-eXamlnation durln!
an examination in chief.
The objection was overrulcd, and bill
Of exceptions was filed by the defence.
Witness then responded [ don't think
have an opinion.
Emanuel Francis was next called and de
pos ed | knew Solomon Haunstein yer,
well; became acquainted with HIM abou
twenty years ago. He was native o
!. Switzerland. Being of the same trad
(>hocmaker), we were very intimate. Afte
he went into business as Il restaurant
keeper, became familiar with his hand
writing. Often saw him write, being in tn
habit Of going behind the counter, and see
ing him transact his general business. | d'
, not. from my knowledge of tue handwritln:
of Solomon Haunstein, believe the sigma
He wrote very free hand, and
. consider this very cramped one
I never saw but one signature of his ii
which he did not cross the in bis las
, name with the flourish OF the final u. II