The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-09-22
At the Right Time.
A LAWYERS STORY.

a'"'iapIc' NJ llIst III was supposed tnat
the old mamie was eight seven--had
died without having made a will, as he
had often been heard to remark that the
making will seemed like a preparation
for death, and as there could be no cues
tion about the inheritance of his proper
ty, 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 al
most 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 pro-
vided for, man named James Arnold
presented will for probate, said to be
the last will and testament of Jacob Ames,
made several years before. This Arnold
was n nephew-in-law of old Jacob, the
child of a wife's sister, and had for several
years been employed as business agent of
the deceased; and when he caused the
will to be presented, he produced number
of witnesses who declared that they had
heard old Ames say that he had made the
only will he should ever make, and that
James Arnold was his heir and what
seemed to make the matter sure, two wit
nesses to the will, former servants of the
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 heads 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.
| l entered the court late in the afternoon
of the third day, just as the last witness
was about to leave the stand; and this
was Thomas Cloudman, the servant Just
alluded to. He had been questioned by q
juryman, and had made plain statement
Everything was against the poor deserv-
ing orphans, and all in favor of the de-
spised nephew. In fact, no honest man,
under the evidence, could have brought in
a verdict against Arnold's claim.
The juryman who had questioned this
witness sat at the end of the box by him,
among the spectators, stood old Harvey
Goodrich, who was at that time engaged
in the paper mill,of Day & Lyon, at Port
| land. | had known him years before
The juror held the will in his hand, open
and Goodrich cast his eyes upon it. l
saw the old paper maker start and trem-
BILE.
"Let me look at that !" l heard him
whisper, for stood close by.
The juror, without considering, handed
| him the document; and before the counsel
could interpose and regain it, Goodrich
had seen all he desired, and his first move
ment, after relinquishng the will, was to
hasten to the side of the orphans attorney,
and whisper, hurredly and eXcitedly in
his ear. l saw the attorney, whose name
was Shipman, bend his hear attentively,
and then start to his feet. What was it
| In those few brief moments the whole
audience had caught the fever of excite
ment, for it was clearly evident that some
thing of importance was on the tapis,
May it please your Honor" said Ship
man, very quietly--so calmy and quietly
that we feared it could be nothing of i'm
portance, after all -" must ask the in
diligence of the court. l wish to present
new and important testimony"
There was a slight war of words between
the opposing counsel, after which by per-
mission of the court, the old paper. maker
took the stand. He gave his name, resi-
dence, occupation, ETC., and then Mr.. Ship
man placed the will in his hand.
"Mr. Goodrich, will you please examine
that document z"
81 have done so, sir"
"What is the written date of that willp'
",SeptemJer 9Th, 1841," answered the
witness, reading from the instrument.
"Now, Mr.. Goodrich, will you please
inform the jury and the court, if you OBJ
serve anything else in or upon that 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 it concise and
clear"
"Your Honor, and gentlemen of the
jury" commenced the witness, "this piece
of paper which l now hold in my hand
was manufactured by myself and was
calendered upon machine of my own in
vention. The waterlines, in place of the
ordinary blue ruling, was included in my
Improvement You will also observe, upon
close spection-though the ink upon the
surface has somewhat obscured it-my own
stamp III water marks. Your Honor can
examine it for yourself"
The Judge took the document and held
it up against the strong light, and invol-
UNFAIRLY he read aloud SO as to be heard
by all in the room-tor every breath was
hushed-"H. Goodrich's patent Eighteen
hundred and iorty-three y
eyes your Honor" broke in Goodrich,
whose professional integrity was now in
the balance, -" l can solemnly swear that
that sheet of paper was not made until at
least two years after the date of the instru-
ment which has been written upon its
face"
The paper was given to the jury, who
were all upon their feet. Arnold's counsel
demanded to sec it. Mr. Cloudman and
his wife got up and tried to leave the room,
but were prevented. Judge and bar were
in a state of terment; whilst the dense
audience swayed to and fro in eager, pain
full suspense. Would this old mans testi-
mony have its legitimate weight9
All, how could it be otherwise ? There
was witness more potent to an in
telligent court and jury than speech of
tongue. The contest will bore in its very
inmost hcart-in its heart of heal ts"-
emphatic evidence of the base lie upon
its written face. Other witnesses were
called--one paper maker and two paper
dealers but the thing was settled The
water.line date of the paper was evidence
enough. A little while and the judge
gave his charge-about as brief a charge
as ever heard. A little longer and we
knew that the orphans were the true and
legally established heirs to Jacob Ame's
fortune. l will not attempt to describe
the scene that followed. Suffice it for me
to say, that the pejured parties were
severely punished, while the sun ofjoy and
gladness cast its gracious beams upon the
beloved and gracious sisters.