New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-13

years, having made his acquaintance ~ the Caritoh
House, ana thai since that time nus aequaii,an.o ' "
been OF the most intimate character; was iOrlhery
member OF the firm Of McScdon Baker paper deaeIs
during the last four five years had been frequently III
the habit OF seeing Mr. Taylor two or three times week
saw him ~ his office and house; the relations betWeen
their families were intimate; had great many business
transactions with Mr. Taylor during the last few years OF
hsle during the time OF the absence OF his family IN E
rope he in the habit OF seeing him frequently; break
tasted and dned Mt his house number Of times during
the Summer OF 1870 during the months OF July ana A
gust In the habit Of seeing him at least two or three
times week breakfasted with him the Monday previous
TO his DEATH during the last few years OF his ne hhG
been in the habit OF seeing him write his narne think
could tell his signature; am familiar with his handwr
Ing. ON being shown the signature to the VIII, he stated
that in his opinion 1t was in the handwriting OF Mr. Ty
Tor; had no doubt Of IT, On REORGANIZATION, he tsll
fed that he had frequently received checks from nm
he had received AT least thousand during the ten years
the checks were signed "James Il. Taylor"
"sAw WHOLE PAGES OF MR. TAYLoR's SIGNATURES"
George II. Duryea testified that he the Night SUI
perntendent OF the PostOne having charge OF the en-
tire office from in the evening until in the morning
and had held the position September, 1907 that he
received the appointment through James H. Taylor had
been acquainted with Mr. Taylor for II years. 1t com
nenced IN 1906 when he went in ms employ a. cieIh
that continued until lsC when he went to the war an
remained uuui Spring OF 1862, when ne was hohoiaDly
discharged AT the request Of Mr. Taylor; then returned
to New York and rentered the employment OF Mr. lay
lo had been In the habit Of seeing Mr. Taylor WI De
came familiar with his handwriting more Than any man
living; his relations with Mr.. Taylor were CONFIDENTIAL
ON being shown the will, he testified that the signature
in the handwriting OF Mr.. Taylor, and he had no
doubt OF IT, Ga peing cross TSninGa' ~ 1 bi"
When he had been Writing aud practcing
but his signature; tnat was habit he had ON account OF
the unstCadness OF his hand. ON crOsseXauuatlOn ne
writing every two or three weeks for the last five six
years; while air Taylor sitting ut his desk writing
IN that way he was talking to HIM rst remember ms
doing about I'VE years ago. might nave Deen OF lsht
not have been more often than once month during tue
!2st three years Of his making PAGES OF ms sges
that way; he haGrheunatlsm IN ms hnSers ana Ihel1r
tism in his shoulders sometimes the rheunatlsii DOM
cred him, and sometimes IL did not the last time he saw
him do TINS was Eist summer; III might nave peel III
July; do MT think he did ~ in August, because lie was
not feeling very well them during August he had cold
and was feeling bilious; he made those signatures on
whatever scraps OF paper were lying around NOuld
both sides Of the paper they were aiterward torn
up burned up, destroyed IN some way or olncr ny hl
Taylor his hand was never steady from the time have
Francis b. spinoa. resident Of this city, and for
many wears member OF the state Senate testified that
he had been acquainted with Mr. for % years
lac first made his acquaintance when Mr. Taylor resided
in the seventh Ward, and that his relations Of intimacy
which had been az Intimate as any t%O men eOgu %
during the last years continued 10 ms deathi bad Dus-
associations with HIM during lhe last year FORA num-
her Of years they had operated together m various
things; had business transactions pending win nm ~
the time of his DEATH saw him alive ON the day ne el
his Office, on Wednesday previous 10 his deatn iad seen
him write frequently, Inn1ineIao!e times was ahluI
with bis handwriting and signature. On being shown
the Will and asked to state whether the signature was IN
the handwriting OF Mt Taylor he rephed mat nc Ad no
doubt OF it in his mind.
This summary OF all the testimony OF me Witnesses
on both sides who speak nom personal khOWieuse Oh
the handwriting and signature OF the decedent being 10
number for the contestant ana the same NUMBER LOT
proponents; but notice particularly tit AL the orcr
expressed opinions which we're founded more or less on
previous examination Of what EuIpoIted TO De phOto
graphs OF the signature To the VIII ana OF other aesuhtd
signatures OF the decedent' ana 80 phoosIaphod III
PHOTOGRAPH SIGNATURES.
is therefore, important to consider the use OF these
purpored Photographic reproductions Of the signature
Of Mr. Taylor, though excluded so far as they were
offered to assist the expert southworth in his examna-
ton; as they were used Of comparison by all
Of the witnesses but the part OF the contestant
who testified from personal knowledge OF inc manu-
writing and signature Of the decedent, that the sigma
ture TO the prOpounded will was not, In their OPINION
From the accurate Study OF them It must be evident
from the testimony that two Of the witnesses Mr. Marsh
and Mr. Van Eechten, changed Their opinion ~ 70 the
genuneness OF the signature TO the will. IL is also eyi-
dent from the testimony that from the study or eXann-
alton OF these photographs as presented 70 them by the
counsel for the contestant the data were furnished from
which their opinions prepared The lines and loops,
the strokes and angles that they dWct upon were OBJ
served measured, magnicd, and noted Ia the photo
graphic copies submitted to them by the counsel for the
The same objections which may be urged against the
admission of these photographs in evidence holds good
against the value Of the opinions and deductions formed
from their study Too many collateral issues are IN
yolved to render them reliable testimony. Those who
are familiar with the details OF photography are aware
OF the many circumstances that would have TO be made
subjects Of affirmative proof, aud Will readily appreciate
The retroactive power OF the lens the angle at which
the original to e copied inclined 10 the sensitive
plate the accuracy or the focusing and the skill OF The
operator and the method OF procedure, would have 10
he investigated 10 insure the evidence as certain The
court would be obliged 10 suspend It's examination as 20
the question OF the genuneness or the signature uhlc
is before H. and which Is the primary evidence 10 listen
10 conflicting testimony OF the prepayment ud contestant
as to who exhibits the most skill and perfectness In their
Photographic reproductions, and In fact to inquire into
the whole science OF photography.
when we reflect that by placing the original 10 be
copied obliquely to the sensitive plate the portion
nearest TO the plate may be distorted BY being enlarged
and that the portion furthes from the plate must be cor
respondingly decreased, while the slightest bugng or
the p4per uIOn which the are il printed may make
a part blurred and not sharply defined we can form
some idea Of the falaees to which this subject Is
Moreover cannot see, even II there be possibility
Of variations in the Photographic reproduction nom ne
original what material assistance photography can bc IN
This caee Ii IL not claimed that the signature is traced
over another signature. but that It differs III It diners
from the signatures which are EXHIBITS III Jhe case IL
speaks for itself IL is not claimed that any man always
writes exactly the same; but on the contrary the ex
perts admit that man varies IN ms signature III minute
points though the characteristics are always the same
PHOTOGRAPHY "MIsLRADs."
II the characteristics the same, they should be APP
norent 10 the ordinary observer otherwise they can
hardly he called practical characteristics. cannot,
therefore, see why photography should have been
I'm this case. It's tendency Is rather 10 misead
than 10 help the witnesses who take these photographs rs
an assistance; for the that they start on The MAJOR
ro,isc winch il "A aliacy that the photograph the
prelso, Nh" hib is ALLEGED IN he forgery must CORE
er0nd In s minnie details with the signature az auf-
red 10 be genuine. Upon this premise they Duld up the
and deduce the conclusion that the disputed
sgnaurc not correspond with the Other signatures
- moment's reflection showing them that no two sigma
tres ~ the came person likely To correspond, would
cnnynce them OF the abrurdy Of the use or these phOo
ranhs as being merely provided they are cor
rec6 OF magnlfyng the little differences which they
could see primarily by examining the signatures th4n-
selves 49,, T.. - 4. ,..o.,,
nrovided IN be honestly and skully applied, 10 deter
mine the commences of banknoe Is OF no ayal We
onned 10 handwriting. forgery cannot be discovered
By the means ~ counterfeit In INC Iaier &C.
where all the lines and impressions are produced by
machinery always acting I'm the same way, exercising
the same amount Of pressure ON each occasion ana pro-
dncing results which are mathematicay alike, we nave
no comparison with the peculiar and in many respects
nni1ue process Of handwriting -
and measuring scales with some hope OF achieving sat
factory results In the latter we can only appeal 70
rso,ai knowledg OF the individuals Handwriting, ana
even that is dependent upon his physical and mental
Condition at the time and the circumstances OF the oce
sion. -, 49,, .ho. .ho .,,rature
,a1 "A sfg traced another, 20