The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1872-01-17

ana that James Arnold was his heir
and, what seemed to make the matte,
sure two witnesses to the will, forme,
servants or employees of the testator
swore point-blank to having seen Ame.
place his signature to the document
after which they signed their own
names. Honest people shook theil
heads at this, for these two witnesse.
"a man and his wife-were not above
suspicion. In fact, il was generally
believed that small sum of ready
money would buy them, body and
soul.
1 entered the court room late in the
afternoon OF the third day, just as the
last witness was about TO leave the
witness-box; and this witness was
Thomas Ctoudman, the servant lust
alluded to. He had been questioned
by a juryman, and had made a 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 ia verdict against
Arnold's claim.
The juryman who had questioned
this witness sat at tho end of the box /;
and close to him, among the spectators,
stood old Harvey Goodrich, who was
at that time engaged in the paper mill
of Day n Lyon, at Portland. l had
known him years before, when he
worried for Rice, of Newton. The
juror he'd the will in bis hand, open,
and Goodrich cast his eye upon it.
| saw the old papcr.maker start and
tremb,e.
LET me look at that" Iheard him
whisper, for l stood close by. %
Thejuror, without CONSIDERING r., -,
ed him the document; ana. aefore the
counsel could inter.,ose and regain #
uoodrich rad seen Ell he desired. and
MS .irst movement, after relinquishine
the %ill, was to hasten to the side OF
the orphans attorney, and whisper,
hurriedly and excitcdly, in his ear.
| 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 tapis.
MAY it please your HONOR said
Shipman, very quietly-so calmly and
so quietly that we feared it could be
nothing Of Importance, after ALL
must ask the indulgence of tho court.
| wish to present new and important
testimony"
There was slight war of words be.
tween the opposing counsel, after which
by permission of the court, the old pa.
! per-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 ex.
anime that document"
81 have done so, SIR"
"What is the written date of that
willl'
September 9th, eighteen hundred
and forty'one," answerea. tne witness.
reading from .uo instrument.
/ "Now, Mr.. Goodrich, will you please
inform the jury. and the court, if you
observe anything else, in or upon that
that paper which YOU hold in your
hand, that would positively affect the
reliability of that written date. Make
your own statement, in your own way;
only make it concise and clear"
"Your honor, and gentleman of the
\ jury commenced the witness, "this
piece of paper which now hold in my
hand was manufactured by myself and
was calendered upon a machine of my
{ own invention. The water-lines, in
place Of the ordinary blue ruling, wa:
: included IN my improvement You
, will also observe, upon close inspec-
r tion-though the ink upon the surface