The New York herald., 1879-03-28
IMMENSE CROWD IN THE COURT ROOM.
The Day Devoted to Reading the
Plaintiffs Letters
A h0THEI'S SEARCH FOR HER DAUGHTER.
Points that Amused Court, Conn
sci and Jury.
spY TELEGRAPH TO THE Hrnanp.l


tendance to-day at tho oliver-Cameron case The
change was brought about by the impression that
the arguments would begin this morning corre-
spondingly noticeable feature was the absence of
the throng of negroes who have been daily
in attendance, their absence being attributed
to Indifference to the expected dry argu-
mcnts In summing up. General Butler took
his usual position at the end of the Judges bench
and conversed few seconds with His Honor. after
which they examined and commented picture Of
the in the court in illustrated paper. His
Honor then turned his head toward the Jury and
said 'Go on with the trial. Another difficulty
occasoned by the absence OF the plaintiff and mes
senger sent for her.
MRS. OLIVER RECALLED.
delay of perhaps ten minutes occurred before
the widow arrived, and then she came tripping In
She had hardly taken her seat before General Butler
said Il desire call Mrs. Oliver" and the widow
again took the witness stand. This caused soma
commotion in the court, but not to the extent
rs heretofore. General Butler showed Mrs. Oliver sew
era letters and postal cards which she examined and
admitted having written. The fact that Mrs. Oliver
was again the witness stand soon became known
outside the court room, and before her examination
had progressed far the room began rapidly to be
crowded. and in few minutes there perfect JAM
General Butler after submitting the letters obtain
ing her admission to having written them proceeded
to read them. but in this he encountered some diff
Guilty. especially with the postal cards. Mrs Oliver
frequently volunteered to assist him. an offer tho
General gladly accepted The widow showed no signs
of being disturbed the reading of the letters
and unhesitatngly admitted being the author of
them.
FORGED LETTERS.
Edward Rouch, publisher OF newspaper at
LIauch Chunk, Pa, called as expert. and
fhe Drist lotte md In bavo
been written by Mr. Cameron to Mrs. Oliver were
shown him. The former he pronounced genuine
ana the others iorgeres poorly executed @ he could
letter. The free, easy and rapid hand. and
the others have the show that they were written
planned to. the jury on a large sheet Of paper
his reasons . for pro R,rononneng the Cameron
the letters exhibited to the jury and
the school of Tuesday re-enacted. the only
difference being in the master of ceremonies. Mr..
Rouch taking the place of Colonel Cook.
Mr.. Peters gave witness severe ossexamination.
and he admitted that taking some of the small let
tnguieh what they were intended for. He referred
particularly to the letter "r." it made differ
emily. He admitted that two experts could differ
the matter of details
coMNoTIoS IN COURT
Here quite commotion occurred in the court,
owing TO the appearance of gentleman strongly
sembli1g Mr.. Cameron, who took u seat among the
spectators. The gentleman was followed into court
by quite number OF persons but they SOON learned
their mistake and accepted their disappointment
gracei uliy. The crowd at this time became great
that those standing suffering torture, and
old gentleman, who happened to get position
the rail of the bar experiencing the pressure Of
the crowd behind him, exclaimed
Here. gentlemen lot me out. This is my first
visit to this court room, and God knows 1t will DO
the IaSi' (Laughtcr.)
The old gentleman managed to turn his face to tho
door and endeavored to squeeze himself out. but in
this he had great trouble. Appealing to the crowd.
he said, Gentlemen, please make room for me. I'll
not trouble you again. He finally got out.
ANOTHER EXPERT.
" "A ,,xx1, 1.fo
expert. Witness was secretary to General Cameron
while Secretary OF War and secretary to President
Johnson. He did not think Mr.. Cameron wrote tho
letters Mr.. Peter gave tho Colonel rigid examine
ton but the Colonel seemed to be equal TO the
good speler to which he replied. Yes.
BY Juror-is it not fact that often educated
men in the hurry Of writing misspell?
Colonel Moore--I understand so.
Mr.. Peters-How did Mr.. Cameron spell rebel.
hon?'
Colonel Moore--I suppose no spells it rebel
ti-o-D."
Mr.. Peters-Iook at the Bristow letter and see how
be spells the word.
General Butler-I object.
In Mr.. Cameron's letter he spells rebellion" with
one ~ and "oilice' with ~" Mr.. Peters sub
mitted to the Colonel paper on which written
"iree passes from Washington to Cinnat" and asked
n that was in Mr.. Camcrons handwriting? Colonel
Moore was unable to answer.
DIVERS LETrRns.
Colonel Cook. at the request of General Butler.
resumed the reading of Mrs. divers letters bcgun
Tuesday. Tho reading afforded amusement for the
spectators. and during the time the rang with
Laughter, even HIS Honor frequently participating.
When letter No. 80 read. in which she promises
to make Don Cameron the king cf the South If she
received proper treatment from his father. some
of the crowd fairly jumped in the air and
shouted The laughter continued until the read
ing of the letter concluded. and when
Colonel Cook began on No. 81 IL was again
renewed. and the Colonel obliged TO ccasc until
the crowd hal laughed themselves tired When the
letter threatening send the baby 10 the Senator at
his committee read the scene in the room
of the widest character Some the spectators
laughed heartily that they screamed and the dis
mil n fluf wifi NJ 1,,rD
race or a walking match 1t was that the
crowd was getting beyond control. and positive
In disordcrly manner. The bailiffs scattered
themselves about the room and prepared for active
work. Ortier was temporarily maintained. but when
the letter read in which she charged that she
might have Mr.. Cameron. turned out of the senate.
Mrs Smith brick house, but to save his money.
he would want it before she Mrs. Olivrr got through
with him, the laughter was removed, but Colonel
Cook continued reading until lie had concluded the
entire budget of letters tseventy-two originally SUBJ
mitted
MIR. Presscn, an expert, who made ~ examination
OF tho disputed letters, testified that he made
mechanical inspection and that his Investigation
showed that the Bristow letter had uniform, con-
struction aud was written by practiscd but un-
trained hand. Tho other letters were written in
crampcd. mixed and unpractised hand. strongly in
contrast with the Bristow letter. Mr.. Prcsscn. dur
ing his explanation of The results of his observation,
wore two peir OF eyeglasses and in addition, used
dnercnt sized magnify ing glasses. LIE closed by
ing the Bristow and the two other letters were not
writton by the same hand and tho latter poor
limitations.
Mr. Toncy eaid witness had furnished points of
dissiinilarity aud asked toat he give some OF the
similar pcints. bir Preseen replied that they
Responded in the unframed hand by which both
were written. Both wore written by wrist hand
and the writing was irreguiar; ho might have found
other points OF similarity. but his time limited
md he was called hastily TO Washington (Lsughter.)
br. Presscn admitted that he did not examine tho
original letters but examined the Photographic
copies He was handed the envelope but declined TO
express an opinion unless lac could take them to Phil
afr puut \
II sm not expert enough to express opinion
less have my proper tools TO mako on examination
with"
rliE PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
At the resumption the caec, Oliver va. Cameron,
to-day Mrs. Oliver recalled the stand. She had
within the last year and half written to the Post
master &C Miliersburg. Ky. Letters shown) Those
were IN her handwriting; also three postal cards.
Mr. Butler read dated September 70, 1913, ss
follows