The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1877-11-22

now one of the Supreme, Judges. of
Pennsylvania, and a gentleman of
high character, Five years passed
and no settlement was made. Judge
Sterret wet into the courts, and then
John Patterson made IL showing
which brought the estate in debt to
him in the sum ot" $2,S9O.05. The
other parties disputed the account,
claiming swindles in several particu-
lars, and especially charging him
with having forged note tor $4,000,
in which he claimed $1,124 interest
additional. A tedious suit was in
stituted. Patterson brought two
witnesses to prove that they saw old
Patterson sign the note for $4,000, in
payment Of some western lands pur-
chased from John. These witnesses
were Captain W. II. Patterson,
cousin, and Dr.. Thomas Moore, a
brother~in>law of Johns, who subse-
quently figured for a while in South
Carolina. Their evidence was of
most decided character, given with
great detail and minuteness. A car
penter named Sherlock also gave the
strongest testimony. The defen lants
produced number of relatives and
all the leading business men of Pitts
burg, who pronounced the signature
forgery. lie physician swore tn at
the plaintiff and his witness could
not possibly have been with his fath-
er at the time they said they
were. Other proof was brought of
the most sitiveaeharacter. Never
the!ess the jury found Tor John Pat
terson. The o'ller parties appealed.
Pending this appeal Patterson came
to South Car lima, and began that
career which has made him SO doubly
Infamous. ........ ...
And now c'mes the Strangest part
of the whole story. In 1870, Patter
son, with Col. A. X. Mcclure, then
a lawyer, and now editor of the bril-,
liant Philadelphia Times, and J. V.
Crcswell, were interested in some
railroad speculations in South Caro-
lima, and they met in Columbia at
Nickerson's Hotek O2lonel Mcclure
had becn Pa'terson's lawyer in the
forgery case, and although his client
was successful, Mcclure had strong
suspicion that there had been rascal.
ity on Palterson's part. So mnch 80
that after the trial he approached
Patterson, and, telling him that the
jury had vindicated him of the
charge of forgery, added that he did
not like the aspects of the case, and
Patterson must compromise with his
sisters. This Patterson promised to
do; but, of course, broke his word.-
Colonel Mcclure thought, however,
that the compromise had been made
and gave himself no further trouble
about it. Oh the visit to Columbia,
Patterson alluded to the trial, and
there, in the presence off, MIR. Cres-
well, boastcd to Mcclure that he had
bribed Captain Patterson and John
Sherlock to commit perjury in the
suit. In one conversation, he stated
to Mcclure (as the Culouel -subse-
qneptly swore) "that it required him
and the witness, ". II. Patterson,
two weeks Of careful study to deter.
mine which OF the two or three lies
could be most successfully sworn im
this case" And he thought che had
fixed it up damned cunniugly by the
lies they had adopted" On another
occasion, in the presence Of Mcclure
and CreswelI, he opened a letter con.
taining afproteeted note drawn by
Sherlock, With his endors ement. Col-
oneI Mcclure testified subsequently
as follows: IL said, Colonel, is not
that the price Of Mr.. Sherlock's testi,
mony in Your caseI' His answer
was, Yes; it was damned cheap, on