Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-12-28

made plain statement. Everything was
against the poor deserving orphans, and
all in favor of the despiSed nephew. In
fact, no honest man. under the evidence,
could have brought in verdict against
! Arnold's claim.
! The iuryman who had questioned this
i witness sat at the end OF the box and
/ close To him. among the spectators, stood
odd Harvey Goodrich, who was at that
time engaged in the paper mill of Day and
4 Lyon, at Portland. l had known him
/ years before, when he worked Tor Rice, of
Newton. The juror held the will in his
hand, open, and Goodrich cast his eye
upon it, saw the old paper-maker start
and tremble.
Let me look at that !" | heard him
whisper, for stood close by.
I The juror, without considering, handed
] him the document and before the coun-
/ sci could interpose and regain it, Good
rich had seen all he desired, and his first
movement, after reinquishing the will,
was to hasten 10 the side of the orphans
attorney, and whisper, hurrieSly and eX-
1 citedly, in his ear. Il saw the attorney.
/ whose name was Shipman, bend his head
| attentively, and then start to his feet.
! What was it In those few brief moments
| the whole audience had caught the fever
/ of excitement, for it was clearly evident
that something of importance was on the
| the topSs
May tplcase your honor" said Ship
man, very quietly-so calmly and So
quietly that we feared it could be nothing
! of Importance. after all" must ask the
I indulgence of the court | wish TO present
! new and important testimony
i There was "a slipbt war pf words bn-
tween the opposing counsel, after which,
! by permission of the court, the old paper
I maker took the witncss-boX He gave
his name, residence, occupation, etc.
and then Mr.. Shipman placed the will in
his hands
Mr. Goodrich, viii you please exam
inc that document ~
Il have done so, sir y
What is the written date of that
will ~
| September dfth, eighteen hundred and
! forty-one," answered the witness, reading
/ from the instrument
Now, Mr. Goodrich, will you please
inform the jury, and the court, if you Oh
| serve anything else, in or upon that paper
which you hold in your lAnd that would
/ positively affect the reliability Of that
! written date. Make your own statement,
in your own way only make il concise
and clear"
! our honor and gentlemen Of the
/ Jury commenced the witness :" this
/ piece Of paper which now hold in my
/ hand was manufactured by myself and
was calendered upon machine of my
own invention. The water,lines, in place
Of the ordinary blue ruling, was in
Guided in my Improvement You viii
also observe, upon close inspection
though the ink upon the surface has some
what obscured Tiny own stamp in
watcr-marks. Your honor can examine
it for Yourself. "
The Judge took the document, and held
it up against the strong light ; and in
voluntarily he read aloud, so as TO be
heard by all in the room--for every breath
was hushed-"H Goodrich's patent
Eighteen Hundred Forty-Three ~
Eyes. your honor" broke in Good
rich, whose professional integrity was now
in the balance ~ can soIcmnly swear
, that that sheet of paper was not made
until AT least two years after the date of
the instrument which has been written
upon its face"
The paper was given 10 the jury, who
were all upon their feet Arnold's coun-
! sci demanded 10 see IL. MT. tlcuufifHH
and his wife got up, and tried to leave the
room, but were prevented. Judge and
bar were in a state Of fermcnt; while the
dense audience swayed to and fro in
eager, painful suspense. Would this old
mans testimony have its legitimate
/ weight
All. how could il be otherwise? There
was witness more potent 10 an intelli-
gent court and jury than speech Of tongue.
/ The contested will bore in its inncrmost
heartS-in its "hcart of hcarts'--thc en-
phatic evidence of the base lie upon its
written face Other witnesses were called
one paper-maser and two paper dealers
but the thing was settled. The water
lined date Of the paper was evidence
enough A little while and the Judge
gave his charee--about as brief charge
rs / ever heard A little longer, and we
knew that the orphans were the true and
! legally established heirs of Jacob Ames'
! fortune. | will not attempt TO describe
/ the scene that followed. Suffice il for me
( to say, that the periured parties were Sc
/ vcreiy punished, while the sun Of JOY and
/ gladness cast its gracious beams upon the
! beloved and deserving sisters.