The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-02-13
AN IMPORTANT WITNESS.

Il tereStlng tne peopie ueeply' n lew
months previously Jacob Ames had died,
leaving property to the amount of fifty or
sixty thousand dollars, all of which was
readily available AT first it was supposed
had died without having made will, as he
had often been heard to remark that making
a will seemed like a preparation for death,
and as there could be no question about the
inheritance of his property, he did not
choose to make any such, to him, ghostly
testament. His direct and only legitimate
heirs were two orphans, both girls, children
of his only daughter. One of them was
cripple, requiring almost the undivided care
and attention of the other, and both were
beloved by all who knew them. While
people were feeling glad that the orphan
sisters were to be thus grandly provided
for, a man named James Arnold presented
a will for probate, said to be the Last Will
and Testament of Jacob Ames, made sew
eral years before This Arnold was a
nephew-in-law of old Jacob, the child of
wife's sister, and had for several years been
employed as business agent and general ac-
countant of the deceased and when he
caused the will to be presented, he produc-
ed q number of witnesses who declared that
they had often heard old Ames say that he
had made the only Will he should make,
and that James Arnold was his heir; and,
what seemed to make the matter sure,
two witnesses to the will, former servants or
employees of .he 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
their heads at this, for these two witnesses
"a man and his wife--were not above sus-
picion. In fact, it was generally believed
that small sum of ready money would
buy them body and soul.
entered the courtroom late in the after
noon of the third day, just as the last wit
ness was about leaving the witness-box !;
and this witness was Thomas Cloudman,
the servant Just alluded to- He had been
questioned bya juryman, and had 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 juryman who had questioned this
witness sat at the 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 e. Lyon,
at Portland. l had known him years be-
fore, when he worked for Rice, of Newport.
The juror held the will in his hand, open,
and Goodrich cast his eye upon it. saw
the paper maker start and tremble.
'Let me look at that ~ / heard him
whisper, for I stood close by. ~
The juror, without considering, handed
him the document and before the coun-
sci 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 excitedly, 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 au-
dience 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 Ship
man, very quietly--so calmly and SO quietly
that we feared it could be nothing of i'm
portance, after all-"I must ask the indul-
gence of the court. wish to present new
and important testimony"
There was slight war of words between
the opposing COUNSEL after which, by per-
mission 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 examine
that document ~
g. have done so, SIR"
"What is the written date of that will?"
"September fifth, eighteen hundred and
forty-one, " answered the witness, reading
from the instrument. IY
" Now, Mr., Goodrich, will you please in
form the jury, and the court, if you observe
any thing else, in or upon that paper
which you hold in your hand, that would
positively effect the reliability of that writ
ten date. Make your own statement in
your own way, only make it concise and
and clear"
"Your honor and gentleman of the jury, u
commenced the witness, "this piece o.
paper which now hold in my hand wa,