The New York herald., 1879-03-29
THE OLIVER CAMERON SUIT.
Conclusion of the Testimony
on Both Sides.
AN EXPERT WITH A BLACKBOARD.
The Plaintiff Again on the
Witness Stand.
MRS. HENRlQUES cONTRADlCTED.
A Small Effort to Tannper with
a Juryrnan. ara
AN EXPERT WITH A BLACKBOARD.
MRS. HENRlouEs coNTRADlcTED.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.l


By TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
WASHINGTON, March %, 1879.
Public interest in the proceedings Of the
Olivcr-Cameron suit is beginning to Decline as tho
attendance to-day clearly indicated. Tho verdict of
the jury is what is now wanted Tho spectators
principally negroes. Mrs. Oliver early in
attendance but the attorneys were late A few min
utes before the Court was called to order coored
man made his appearance bearing blackboard,
which he placed in position the Judges bench.
This attracted considerable attention and was the
subject of much discussion speculation until its
object was made manifest later in the day. when
Professor Edward L. Hay testified that he had exam
inod the alleged Cameron letters and assumed tho
Brstow letter to be genuine and the others
limitations. Professor Hay explained the re-
suits of his examination the blackboard.
during which many persons left the court
room. The jury at the beginning of Mr. Hays
plantations paid the striotest attention. but grad
ually became indifferent. and toward tho close
hardly looked at the blackboard while lie was
talking. On the cross-examination the following
colloquy took place-
Mr.. Peters-Now. Mr. Hay, you have shown how
the letters differ. Now SO the blackboard and show
how they resemble.
Mr.. Hay-I will. sir. with pleasure. And &C.
cordingly he illustrated on the board that the Ii and
Q in the Cameron letters strongly resembled those
in the Bristow letter.
Mr.. Peters. thinking Mr.. Hay worked too slowly.
said, ''Show us some other letters that resemble
Mr.. Hay-We have to take it slowly. QIaughter.)
Now there the X. t and very much similar.
Mr. Peers-I will not trouble you to go through all
the similar letters would occupy too much time.
(Laughter.)
WHAT BECAME STAMPS.
General Butler noticed that the stamps the
envelopes of tho Cameron letters were of. 'What
has become of the stamps?' asked the General.
Mr.. Peters-You have had tho envelopes; may bo
you can tell what has become of them? (Commotion.)
General Butlcr-I know nothing about thom.
Mr.. Peters-Thoy may have dropped off owing to
their not sticking we'll.
Colonel Cook-They are like other things in the
case that have not stuck we'll. H.aughter.)
At the conclusion Of witness Norton's testimony
the Judge said he did not think the style of testimony
just given should be pursued further. There was
enough in the expert line.
THE SAMPLE DIVORCE
Argument sprang up On admitting the record Of
the Sample divorce. The discussion took a wide
range, and authority after authority was cited to
show that the record could and could not be intro
duced.
The Court said THE question has been ruled
both ways" (Laughter.) The Court finally ruled
that It was incompetent to admit the record.
Mrs. OLIVER KEcALIED.
Mrs. Oliver was called in nrebuttal-(commotion in
court and loud taking)-and she denied the statements
OF other witnesses in clear tone, showing not the
least nervousness. While Mrs. Oliver testfying
Mrs. Henriques changed her seat until she was di-
rcctlv opposite witness. and during Mrs. divers
xss Irs heI Oliver wo ace
Henriques, but there was not the slightest sign Of
Mrs. Honriques' stare disturbing the widow;
A long argument arose relative to the admission of
the slip of paper bearing the sentence "Frec pass
to Cincinnati from Washington" Mr. Peters desired
put 1t in being the handwriting of Mr.. Cameron
and that all the experts declined to express an opion
on il. His purpose In submitting 1t was to prove
that all the examinations OF tho experts went to
naught, when a paper with the handwriting of
Mr.. Cameron produced they weakened and
would not say Eyes" or "No as to its senuincness.
The Court contended that the admission of the slip
would be evidence. Mr.. Peters noted al cxcep-
ton to the ruling.
After recess tho court room became more crowded
The examination of Mrs. Oliver continued. and
she denied ever having threatened to backmail
Mr.. Cameron. testified by Mrs. Henriques. Mr..
Peters asked her object in going to Mr. O'Donoughs
house.
General Butler-Hoid on. She has already stated
she went there for highly Christian purpose.
T. II. oliver, Mrs. Mary S. divers alleged hus-
band. arrived at this point and took seat near
Mrs. Henriques. General Butler having asked
witness several questions to which objection
was raised, the Court said it was not good economy
of public time to go with the question. This
rather nonplussed the General and it was some
minutcs before he could collect himself sufficiently
to attack in another manner. Turning suddenly in
his chair, he requested Colonel Cook to give him .
letter. search made. but the desired paper
dfncult to md. After consuming fully ivo
minutes Of tho time Of the Court Colonel Cook
handed the General document tied together with
blue ribbon. II handed to Mrs. Oliver and she
stop! stopi' said the General. 'he might be
dead, and then he could not be produced as Wit
You answer yes or nog"
Mrs. Olver-Yes. sir, IL IL oil right.
General Butler--Did you have conversation with
members Of the Jury about the EXPRESSION you used
in your letter about coiorcd pcoplc7
Mrs. Oivcr-I did say that was very sorry that
tho expression was made; did not know who 1t
was Ispoke to; was passing through tho jury room
jury and says made the remark to influence him It
IL (Laughtcr
General Butler--Did you know what you were do
ing whom you made the remark?
Mrs. Ohvcr-I did not desire TO ofFend any one.
Mr.. Darncillc-wc admit she said it, but did not
Colonel cook--shc did great many things she
did not know Ut the time might do harm.
THE pRocKFDyNos.
Professor Il b. Hay the frat witness. Ho had
resided in the city twenty years; he was an
studied handwriting for thirteen years: the Brstow RI tow
letter and the two assumed simulated had been
submitted TO him; the Bristow letter shows tho
charactcristics OF rmncss, decision and certainty
Of spacing; the other two show trcmulousncss. un-
certainty OF spacing and feeling OF the way. to
ticn Of the letters Of the Brstow snd tho other LETT
tcrs he illustrated to the jury largo blarkboar
In the Bristow letter shero wcro twenty seven as,
and but exception to tho formation Of
tho letter. In the letter Of September 8. strange
10 say. there were twenty-five "s's," and hero
thero were found twenty exceptions TO the
rect formation Of tho letter. He pointcd out tho
m arked difference between the marking OF the y's'
and capital "rs in tho respective letters He called
attention 10 the dividing Of words and spacing. and
pointed tho strong contrast existing between tho
iristow aud the alleged forged letters. Tho words
.'iny dear Mrs Oliver in the two letters exact
In length and space and showed evidence Of their
tracing, in . tremulous hand. Upon tho whole
animation ne had no doubt Of their being forged
letters o very bad imitation.
Cross-cxamincd-He was an expert in the science
Of accounts; he applied much fifteen
twenty hours TO the study OF tho thro lcttcrs the
letters that similar not numerous; there
wcre the capital "H's" in the words ''HarrisbJfrg
and the SOS running through the three letters also
the 'M's" the IT'S were peculiarly similar, with tho
exception that in the Bristow letter they were
made in firm hand aud in tho other two IL trem-
bled.
Mr.. Peters-You say n man never would stop to
point figure in business letter. Is that busi-