Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1872-02-01

Testimony at the Right
Time.

tly. y lew months previous JGcO
Amos had died, leaving propert,
to the amount Of fifty or sixt1
thousand dollars, all of which wa
readily available At first it wa
supposed that the ole man (he wa
eighty seven) had died without
leaving q will, as he had OTTER
been heard to remark that max
ing a will always seemed like q
preparationior death, and as there
could be no question as to the
inheritance of his property, he
did not choose to make any such
TO him ghostly testament. His
direct aud only heirs were tive
orphans, both girls, children of bis
only daughter. One of them was
a cripple, requiring almost the In
dividusl care and attention of the
other, and both were loved by all
who knew them. While people
were feeling glad that the orphans
were thus grandly provided for, a
man named James Arnold pre-
sented a will for probate, said to be
The Last Will and Testament of
Jacob Amos, made several years
before. This Arnold was a neph-
ew-in.law of old Jacob, the child
of wite's sister, and had for sew
eral years been employed as busi-
ness agent and general accountant
Of the deceased and when he
caused the will to be presented, he
procured a number of witnesses
who declared that they had often
heard old Amos say that he had
made the only will be should
make, and that Arnold was his
only heir; and, what seemed to
make the matter sure, two wit
.nesses to the will, former servants
and employees of the testator,
swore pOint-blank to having seen
Ames place his signature to the
document, after which they signed.
their own names. Honest people
shook their heads at this, forthose
Two witnesses. n man and his wife.
were not above suspicion. In fact
it was generally believed that
small sum Of ready money would
buy them body and soul.
| entered the courtroom late in
the afternoon Of the third day,
Just as the last witness was a.
bout to leave the witness bCx;
and ills witness was Thomas
Claalmsn, the servant just allud-
ed to. He had been questioned
by 4 juryman, and had made a
plain statement. Everything was
against the poor deserving or,
phans, and all in favor of the des
pissed nephew. In fact, no honest
man, under the evidence, could
have brought in a verdict against
ArnOld's claim.
The juryman who had ques-'
toned this witness sat at the. end
OF the box /; and close to him, a
mong the spectators, stood old
Harvey Goodrich, who was at that
time engaged in the paper mill of
Day & Lyon, at Portland. | had
known him years before, when be
worked for Rice, of Newton. The
juror held the will in his hand,
open, and Goodrich cast his eye
upon it. | saw the old paper-ma-
ker start and tremble.
Let me look at that" | heard
him whisper, for | stood close By.
The juror, without considering.
handed him the document; and
before the counsel could interpose
and regain it, Goodrich had seen
all he desired, and his first move
ment, after relinquishing the will,
was to hasten to the side of the
orphans attorney, and whisper
hurriedly and eZcitedly in his ear.
| saw the attorney, whose name
was Shipman, bend his head at
tentively, and then start to his
feet. What was it? In those few
Erief moments the whole audience
had caught the excitement, for it
was clearly evident that something
of Importance was on the tapis.
"May it please your honor,
said Shipman very quietly-so
calmly and so quietly that we
feared it could be nothing of i'm
portance after all-"I must ask
the indulgence of the court. |
wish to present new and impor-
tant testimony s-er
There was slight war Of words
between the opposing counsel,
alter which, by permission of the
court, the old paper-maker took
the witness.box. He gave his
name, residence, occupation, etc,
and then Mr. Shipman placed the
will in his hands.
"Mr. Goodrich, will you please
tcxamine that document"