Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-11-19
THURsDAY-MoRN1NG SESSION.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SESSION.
The United States Circuit Court met at
half-past nine o'clock, when the trial of
Gen. Vaughn was resumed. The defend
ant occupied his usual seat on the sofa I'M
mediately in rear of his counsel and pre-
sented haggard appearance, his nervous
system being much deranged by sickness
and the developments of the trial as far as
it has progressed He was unable to take
as much interest in the case as on previous
days and seldom made suggestion to his
lawyers.
The examination of Col. L. B. Whitney,
of the Secret Service Bureau, was resumed
as to handwriting. The similarity Of the
formation of letters in two epistles written
by Vaughn, one to the Pension Depart
ment, in regard to the cases of Mamie f.
and Sarah Mumblehead, and the other to
witness, informing him that he had sent
him pamphlet written by Thos. G. Boyd,
in which Vaughn denounced the publica-
ton and expressed the hope that witness
had learned nothing to his disadvantage,
were all explained to the jury most minute
". Col. Whitney, from his long and va
ried experience, has become an adept in
tracing handwriting, and, though the let
ter to the Department was evidently writ
ten with greater care, yet, letter by letter
and word by word was the comparison
made to the jury in the clearest manner,
and the many similarities pointed out.
For instance, the letter "c' where it occurs
in "claim," "K" in "Kelson and "Rnox-
yille," the letter opp stopping abruptly at
the line on which it was written, the pen
being raised before commencing the letter
following in the same word. Witness then
identified Gen. Vaugh's signature on the
back of the two Mumblehead widow checks
and other papers also, that of J. w. Rob
inson, of Sweetwater, one of the papers be-
ing in what is known as the Lewis Miller
case, another a bill of goods sold by
Vaughn; the Emily Smith case, entirely
fictitious; the Nancy Malone case. fraudu-
lent, though there was such woman;
Sarah ]. Hickey's case, also fraudulent, the
object being to show that Vaughn had writ
ten his name each time himself, and with
intent to defraud.
Cross-eXamined by defense-Was in the
Secret Service Department-had been in
such employ nearly three years-was for
merly produce dealer and police detective
at Cleveland, Ohio. Had seen only one
letter purporting to come from Gen. J. c.
Vaughn.
A QUESTION
was then asked by Col. Thornburgh, coun-
sci for the defense, if it was proper for wit
nesses to confer together before giving their
testimony?
Judge Emmons replied that as a genel-
al principle he could not answer, but in
many instances it was no doubt not only
HlbptIt bul IlElIy necessary. his custom
had been while practicing, invariably to
rigidly examine witnesses before underta-
king case.
TOlbert Lauston, chief of the special
service of the Pension Bureau was then
sworn. He had been engaged in the de-
lection of frauds in his department for
nine years, and was accustomed to the
of hand writings. The forma-
ton of the letters "T'' in Tennessee, the
figure 49," the rs" in September" and
Support" the letter ''c' in "claim" COM
mencing with small loop and extending
much higher than the other letters but
the most marked resemblance was in the
words Very Respectfully" in two cases,
being spelled alike enormously in each in
stance, as we'll as the formation of tho
words and letters.
AN INCIDENT.
Gen. Vaughn was taken quite i'll and
from the court room, causing
short delay after which the trial proceed
ed.
Judge Emmons courteously proffered to
have lounge aud pillows obtained for
Gen. v, so that he would be comfortable if
he was able to remain, but he was not, and
the offer was politely declined.
Mr.. Lanston's examination was contin-
ued. Being shown the letters purporting
to be written by A. II. w. Payne, pecu-
liarity in the loop of tho letter "f" was OBJ
very respectfully" in Letter ID" in the.
Sarah j. Hickey case. Had no doubt as to
Letter G." in the Lewis Miller case,
and Letter En- in the Sarah j. Hickey
ease. The letters to the Department were
written with greater care than the one to.
Col. Whitney, but was certain all were ip
Gen. Vaughn's hand ritiug.
RULING OF THE COURT.
The court announced that with the cross
examination of the present witness,
would close the evidence as to proving
land writing.
Cross'examined.-W Witness having had
his attention called to striking dissimilari-
> in the formation of the letter ~" ad-
nitted it in several instances; in the word
'SWeetwater," in two places, one being
much holder than the other, there being
'ome resemblance that he could notice,
hough the formation of some of the let
ofs differed from Others. There was diff
erence in the letter "V," and dssimi-
arity in the formation Of the "T" the
inishing stroke in the small "psn were
rot exactly identical, though very like.
Witness then spelled the name Van