Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-03-21

known 10 the city, ana tnelr TRANSACTIONS
with BUSINESS men which required them
to write had been so few, that it was
with great difficulty that could find any
one who knew their writing. And of all
who examined the pretended will there
was not one who could swear that either
OF the signatures were not genuine.
entered the court on the morning of
the trial with strange feeling OF hope
lessness. Except the assertion OF fraud
and conspiracy that could make for my
client. knew of nothing that promised
to tell in her favor. Virginia took her
seat at the counsel table by me, and
looked with interest and curiosity upon
the unaccustomed scene She was look
ing very handsome, Notwithstanding the
anxiety in her face; and there were
others present beside Will Wayman
who thought so too. | had almost for
gotten to mention the deep interest which
"hSNci w lii uau taASu al tuo S6oo oihS0
lis commencement. WANTED somebody
to whom could talk in confidence about
it. and so be was thoroughly posted in
all its details. | knew that he had pom.
dered over them considerably. but was
Tar from thinking tina, he had worked
out anything that could be of any practi-
cal use in the case. | understood him
better before the day was over.
The case was called and the jury en-
panneled. The respondents counsel
opened the case in an address of half an
hour. giving all The details and telling
minutely what he could prove. Then
followed the evidence Of Bledsoe and
Passmore, given AS audaciously aud
completely as before the surrogate. My
couu,el's cross examination failed 10
entrap either of them into any inconsst-
ency. or to shake their wonderful self
possession in the slightest.
At tho conclusion Of the respondents
case. my counsel addressed the jury in
behalf of my client. He boldly charged
perjury aud fraud upon two men who
had occupied the witness box in the
morning, pointing out the suspicious cir
cumstances that both witnesses to the
pretended will were dead, and the diff.
Guilty OF finding any one who know their
writing. He insisted that the pretended
will was base fabrication, and that the
whole story OF these men was lie.
coined and uttered for the purpose OF de-
frauding poor girl OF her patrimony.
Virginia told her story in brief. She
told who she was, how long she had lived
with Mr.. Shelmire. and what her rela-
lions to him had been. The point in her
evidence was that he had very often de-
clared that she should be his heiress that
he had never mentioned the subject OF q
will to her. and that she had never heard
him speak OF Rufus Biedsoe.
Will Waymsn had sat very quietly by
the table, taking minutes Of the evidence.
He now handed me- scrap OF paper.
folded, torn, aud soiled, with the follow.
ing written upon il:
July the 9th. lS-
Mr.. John Gregg: Please send me TWO
bar'ls -four, Burlow Mills.
JACOB SHELMRE.
The person 10 whom this was addressed
had long been an operator in flour, and
supplied many OF the dealers in the city.
The handwriting of the order seemed to
be identical with that in which the will
was written and the date was the same
year.
Hooked enquiringly at Will.
Recall Bedsoe," he said in whisper.
land let our counsel ask him whose writ
ing this is"
did so Bledsoe took the paper in
his hand, ran his eye over it, and in
answer TO the question said that this was
undoubtedly Jacob Shclmire's handwrit-
ting.
Hooked again at my clerk.
ASK him." he whispered, II he Is as
sure of it as be is that the writing in the
will is Mr. Shelmire's."
made the counsel ask the question,
and the lip OF the witness curled under
his mustache.
Certainly be was" he replied; "there
could be no doubt of either"
looked again at Will.
"Let him CO." he whispered. land 60
through the same with Passmore."
did SO, and Passmore clinched the
evidence OF Bedsoe.
He said that the writing in the order
that bad produced was Mr.. Shelmire's
beyond question. He would know that
writing anywhere. And Mr.. Shelmire
often wrote such orders and sent them
by him. Had he ever taken any TO MIR.
Gregg? Eyes, very often" Might he
have taken thisp VERY probably; in
fact, he remembered this particular
order"
whispered 10 our counsel, and he
called the name Of William Wayman.
Disposing of the preliminary questions
as to wh7 he was, his occupation. etc.,
our counsel asked.
Was this paper in your possession be-
fore exhibited it just nowP"
"lt was"
"Do YOU know who wrote that orderP'