The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-06-17
AT THE RIGHT TIME.
A Lawyers STORY.

The case pending before out court in
terested our people deeply. A few
months previously Jacob Ames had died,
leaving property to the amount of fifty
or sixts thousand dollars, all of which
WAS readily available At first it was
supposed thu, the old mamie was eigh-
ty-sevsn-had died without having made
a will, as he had often been heard to re-
mark that making will seemed like a
preparation for death, and as there could
be no question about the inheritance OF
his property, he did not choose 10 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 a cripple, re-
curing almost the undivided care and at
teDtion of the other, and both were below
ed by all who knew them.
While people were feeling glad that
the orphan sisters were to be thus grand
| " provided for, a man named James
Arnold presented will for probate, said
TO be the last will and statement of Jacob
Ames, made several years before. This
Arnold was q nephew-in-law Of old
Jacob, the child of u wifcs sister, and had
for several years been employed as bust
ness agent Of the deceased; and when be
caused the will to be presented, he pro
! duced number Of witnesses who declar-
ed that they had often heard old Ames
say that he had made the only will he
| should ever make, and that James Ar
| mold was the heir; and, what seemed TO
make the matter sure, two witnesses to
the will, former servants of the testators,
swore point blank to hsvirg seen Ames
| place his signature to the document, az
ter which they signed their owD names.
Honest people shook their head at this,
| for these two Witnesses 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 court late in the after
noon of the third day, just as the witness
WAS about to leave the stand; and this
witness was Thomas Cloudman, the serv
| ant Just alluded TO. He had been ques
toned by juryman, and had made a
plain statement Everything was against
the desplsed nephew. In fact, no honest
man under the evidence could have
brought in a verdict against ArnOld's
claim.
The jurymsn who had questioned this
witness sat at tie end of the box; by him,
among the spectators, stood old Harvey
Goodrich, who was ut that time engaged
in the paper mill of Day Il Lysn, at
Portland. | had known him years be-
fore. The juror held the will in his hand,
open; and Goodrich cast his eyes upon it,
saw the old paper maker start and trem-
Die.
Let me look at thatr' l heard him
whisper, tor stood close by.
The Juror, without considering, ha nded
him the document; and before the coun-
sci could interpOse and regain 1t, Good
rich had seen all he desired, and his first
movement after relinqulshipg the will,
was to hasten to the side Of the orphans
attorney, and whisper, hurriedly and en-
ci,edly in his ear, saw the attorney,
whose name was Shipman, bend his head
attentively, and then start to his feet.
What was it2 In those few brief mo-
ments the whole audience had caught the
ever of excitement, for it was clearly
evident that something OF importance was
on the taps.
"May 1t please your Honor, said Ship
man. quietly-so calmly that we feared 1t
could be- nothing OF Importance; after all.
i must ask the indulgence OF the court.
wish to present new and important tes-
tlmony'
There was a slight war of words be.
tween the opposing counsel, after which,
by permission of the court, the old paper
maker took the stand. He gave his name,
residence, occupation, etc, and the Mr..
Shipman placed the will IN his hand.
"Mr, Goodrich, will you please exam
inc that document
Il have done so, sir
"W hat is the written date of that will?'
September 9Th, lS4l," answered the
witness, reading from the instrument.
Now. Mr.. Goodrich, will you please
inform the jury and the court, IT you OBJ
serve ANYTHING else in or upon thu, paper
which YOU hold in your hand, that would
possibly affect the reliability of that writ
ten date Make your own statement, In
YOUR own way; only make 1t concise ana
clear
Your Honor, and gentlemen OF the
Jury" commenced the witness, "this piece
VI psper which | now hold in my hand
WAS manufactured by myself, and was
cslendered upon a mschiHe OF my own
invention. The water lines, in place OF
the ordinary blue ruling, was included IN
my improvement You VIII Also oo-
serve, upon closeinspection-though the
ink upon the surface has somewhat 90
scured tiny own stampin watermarks
Your Honor can examine II for yourself,
The Judge took the document and held
il I'D against the strong light, and lnvol
UNFAIRLY he read aloud, so rs 70 be heard
ay all in the room-for every breath was
hushed-"H. Goodrich's patent. Eigh-
teer hundred and forty three"
YES, your honor" broke in Goodrich,
whose professional integrity was now IN
the balance, ~ can solemnly swear that
that shee, OF paper Was not made unt'l
at least two years after the date OF the
instrument which has been written upon
its face.
The paper was given to the jury, who
were all upon their feet. Arnolds coun-
sci demanded to see it. Mr., Cloudman
and his wife got up and tried TO leave the
room, but were prevented. Judge and
bar were in q state of ferment: whilst the
dense audience s~syed to and fro IN
eager, painful suspense. Would this old
mans testimony have its legitimate
weight? a
All, how could it beotherwisef Ihere
was a witness mere potent to an inteih
gent court and jury than speech OF
tongue. The contested will bore IN It's
,nmsst heart-in its "heart Of hearts -
the emphatic evidence OF the base lie
upon its written face. Other witnesses
were cslled-one paper-maker and two
paper dealers-but the thing was settled.
The water lined date Of the paper wss
ElAla Ixhila nd The