The true northerner., 1873-12-12

hnow Amos motifs and know his farm, some
one talked OF buying farm and sent him to
Morris; this fall he, Morris, told me he asked
ZIG, 900 for his farm but would take $4,000.
| JEROME COLEMAN SWORN.
| Questioned by the Court.
(shown mortgage in question:; the sigma
ture as witness is mine, also the signature to
the acknowledgment on June 2lst the Sunday
School had pic. mic, and left the Office at 10
O'Clock, played croquet till dinner on the picnic
grounds with the little girls, after dinner play
cd with olde people, in the afternoon Matte
son came and called me to do some business
Tor him, We went to Decatur IN buggy.
By ATTORNEY FOR THE PEOPLE.
! We went up stairs and Mattecon, after some
search, said Norris was not there bat he would
bring him. 1 went into my Office where they
we're taking testimony, went from there to the
printing Office, heard talking and tramping and
found the people leaving my Office, sat down
aud wrote then Matteson and Amos Morris
came in, Morris ahead, Matteson threw down
the papers and asked me to take Morris &C.
knowledgment, asked Morris if that was his
signature he said it was and that the amount
$50l8 was right, signed the acknowledgment
on June 21st, between and s o'clock. left the
pcaic between 8 and 81 o'clock, 1t was Q long
half mile from the village, was at the office q
long half hour before took the acknowledge
ment, ound several persons in my Office, they
were still taking testimony, Mrs. Granger was
being sworn, saw M orris first IN my Office, he
came In just bef ore Matteson, Matteson came
out ahead, Mstteson said he wished I would
witness the amount, there was no one but Nor
ris and Matteson present, heard the shuffiing
of feet while was ia the printing Office. when
L went out OF the Office 1 went down in front
OF the Office, went into the printing Office to
pass away time, was told that Morris was over
to Uptons Office. 1t is across the street and
Matteson came in together, ga the folded pa
! per, but did not have 1t IN my hand and never
\ saw it before took the acknowled sment, only
read the consideration, heard no conversation
between the parties, asked Morris tue con-
slderation aud signature were correct. he an
swered afirmatively, it was a warm suany day,
| think he had a coat on, don't know that he
| Matteson asked where Foster vas said he
wanted him for witness. Foster was not IN
his Office, he had not vet witnessed il. the pee
pie had not been gone from my Office to exceed
3 or 10 minutes. went to the picnic about 10
o'clock afoot, lady went with me. Mrs. Tar
bell, Foster is also Notary Public, did not leave
| the picnic till Matteson came, he came about
/ aft I,,,aA oA,,,1 4 lo1,
past, have known Matteson 5 or years, in
Decatur, his business was money loaning, did
business for him taking acknowledgements, and
when Foster was away consulting with him,
have DIR, fled papers, the firm was retained by
him, we received $50 for counsel fees, il we
did outside service we received only our expen-
ses: after taking the acknowledgment / went
down on the street and conversed with Mrs
Sherman Matteson then took me back to the
picnic grounds and played croquet, Matteson
was not there when stood upon the walk
don't know where Mattesop was. did not see
Foster during the time, was near my Office, it
was not sundown, think Matteson was looking
for Foster, he left me In the Office; Foster and
| l have talked considerable about this matter,
have told him what have testified to, have
talked to others about it, don't know OF any
money passing between Matteson and Morris,
see Morris only occasionally, never had any
other business with him, have conversed with
him, can't tell the circumstance. he came to
Decatur frequently, see him perhaps Is times
a year, know the Morris place ou the prairie,
1t is about miles from me. have been TO the
house on his place to see the party who re-
sides there, Mr. Jerome Smitn, to 500 what he
knew OF Morris beng to the place to get load
OF bay ! have worked hard to get testimony
IN tue case to prove this mortgage genuine, and
that Morris was in Decatur on tue 21st OF
June, know that Matteson had onversation
with Mrs. Northrup, that they left the plcnic
grounds together, after he took me back caut
say where Mattesons plae OF business was
June 2lst he used his Office and tue hotel
both, the Duncombe house; when 1 went to
the Morris place took the statement Of Jer-
ome Smith and bis sister, can't say whether
Smiths father followed me to Decatur or not
dld not see him there that night, saw HIM a
few nights afterward; had conversation with
him, had no talk about the mortgage with him,
Smith did not say to me 1t was wrong to take
those childrens statements, besides don't be-
ieve Morris ever had the money, l vac making
a fight tor my own personal safety.
| Wednesday.
! JEROME COLEMAN RECALLED.
.Matteson came for me about an hour after
l dined, we dined about 1 or bali past, aud
was dining about = or "a OF an hour; won't
direct from there to the village; have been OK
amined before und oath on this subiec', Ia
this room be ore Esquire dalhgau, cau't state
positively what testified TO then ; shown tes-
tluonyl that ID my signature, testimony in
examination offered IN evidence for the pur-
pose of Impeaching the Witness objected to-
discussed aud objection not sustained; d po-
sItlon read. When returned from the PIC
Bic WITH Mstleson they we're not thrJug1 TAX
ing testimony, but they were wnen 1 took tue
aok no " ed ment it was Il or 81 ~ an hour