The New York herald., 1878-11-21
THE GREAT CHICK FORGERY.

DEFENCE OF PoSrEz, THE ACCUSED LIFE IN
sURAEcE CLERK-THE CASE TO BE GIVEN TO
THE JURY TODAY
At the opening Of the Court OF Oyer and Terminer
yesterday, before Judge Noah Davis and a jury. the
trial OF Charles W. Pontez. charged with completely
in the s6i,000 forgery the Union Trust Company,
in January, 1877. resumed. The first witness
called was David I. Blount. a notary. who testified
that he Becker the witness for the prosecution
to answer which the latter denied having seen.
The next witness was the accused who said he en-
tered the office of the New York Life Insurance Com
pany in 1869 as clerk; in May. 1874, he went to
Europe for his health; he Chapman in London.
but visited apartments there and has no recoilcc
ton Of meeting Becker in London anywhere else
until he him the witness stand; he did not
see Elliott Tor Riley in London; visited Mrs Chap
there Elliott was introduced to him as Riley by
Chapman at the Coleman House in 1872 or 1873; he
shown Elliotts picture by Actuary Beers; the
versation with Mr.. Beers was about six or seven
forgery itself he never carried any checks TO Elliott
Becker nor did he have any connection with the
forgery, either intimate remote.
On crossexaniinaton he further stated that the
why he told Mr. Beers that he did not know Elliott
Riley was because he did not wish him TO know no
was acquainted with him. for fear he might lose his
situation: before he Elliot. in New York he had
had letter from Mrs Chapman, saying that Little
joe had escaped; ne knew who Little Joe was be-
cause when Mr.. Chapman introduced Riley to him he
added that he sometimes known Little Joe.'
letter here identified by the witness as having
been written by him to Mrs. Chapman in which he
mentions a e. Middleton, who kept
loon at tho of Centre and Leonard
streets. There also sG w." referred
to in the letter, which meant George Wilkes.
Mrs. Chapman in her letter. requested him to 60 to
g., meaning George Wilkes, and ask him if he had
anything to forward to her. and he wrote to her in
answer that &c. had not the b. he did not know
what the meant. but supposed that to be the
language Wilkes used; he received letter from
Chapman written from Constantnople telling of the
death of his wife. who found murdered in
1876 and he received it before he met Elliott III this
city, but did not mention to him anything about the
death of Mrs. Chapman he never heard that Wilkes
had tho reputation of being connected with forgeres
There also put in evidence u copy of Chap
mans letter to Ponez in which he tells OF his wifcs
murder in London and asks Pontez to try and have
the murderer caught and to enlist George Wilkes.
Middleton and others in the same effort The alleged
murderer IL described in the letter as Grundy,
who formerly kept saloon under Booth Theatre,
but arrested in London for forgery u,der the
name of Howard Adams. He and two associates
capped from jail through the connivance Of Grundys
wife, who tho letter says is equally guilty with her
husband.
This closed the testimony of the accused.
Twelve or fourteen very respectable witnesses tes-
ted to the good character Of Pontez during twenty
five years. and Mr.. Dos Passos followed address
of nearly three hours behalf Of the accused. At
its close adjournment was taken until this morn
ing. when the case will be given to the jury.