Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-10-27
CHEMISTRY IN CRIME.


The recent death in our State peni-
tentiary of w. w. Ward, the former
sheriff of Williamsburg, recalls the
circumstances that led to the discovery
Of his crime, which are the most cx-
traordinary in our criminal annals.
At the spring term, 1879. Of the Court
OF Common Pleas for Williamsburg
county, J. II. Livingston brought suit
against Ward 10 recover the sum of
$1,000, money loaned on Ward
scaled note. His Honor Judge +. j.
Mackey presided, and by consent of
counsel heard the case without "A jury.
The plaintiff proved the execution OF
the note and then closed his case.
Wards counsel produced the receipt
of Livingston dated two days previous
10 the trial for the whole amount due,
principal aud interest, aud a witness
testified that he had seen the paymnnt
made in 800 bills and four 5000 bills
to Livingston himself on the day
named IN the receipt The plaintiff
took the witness stand and on examiu-
ing the receipt admitted that il bore
his true and genuine signature, but he
solemnly protested that he had not re.
ceived one dollar from Ward and had
not entered Wards house in his life
for any purpose lie declared that he
and his wife would be made homeless
by false receipt which he could not
explain, but which he never knowing
ly signed. On cross-examinaiion Liv-
ingston, who is an old man, admitted
that his memory was very iniirm and
that he had on previous occasions re-
ccived 5000 from another debtor Of
which he afterwards denied receiving,
but which he recalled to memory when
shown bis receipt.
The plaintiff and counsel at this
stage of the proceedings were in utter
despair. for their case was apparently
lost. Judge Mackey, however, whose
subtle brain and practiced eye nothing
can escape, and who follows crime
through all its windings, directed that
the rercipt should be handed to him.
He then ordered the sheriff to proceed
TO the nearest drug store and purchase
a drachm Of muriaiic acid and n small
piece Of sponge. On the return of the
officer with the articles named the
Judge said TO the plaintiff. "Mr. Liv-
ingston, did yOu ever write a letter to
the defendant Ward demanding the
payment of your money! The plain
tiff answered, "Yes, sir; | wrote him
many letters, but never received an
answer from him" Judge Mackey
then observed to counsel, IL perceive
on the face of this receipt there are
several peculiar brown spots. aud the
original surface of sizing of the paper
has been removed except in that por-
ton e the paper where the signature
was written. The body of the receipt
is in the handwriting OF the defendant.
In my opinion the defendant has taken
a letter of the plaintiffs and removed
the writing with muriatic acid. and
then wrote the receipt above the sig.
nature. will now apply this acid to
the writing ON the back Of the COM
plaint in this case. and il will be seen
that the writing will instantly disap-
pear aud the paper will at once ex.
hibit several brown spots identical
with those ON this receipt" The acid
was applied to the paper. and as the
writing disappeared the brown blots
were seen upon the surface aud the
crime of the defendant was clearly re
vealed! Ward at this juncture looked
as horror-stricken as Lady Macbeth.
when, gazing upon her fair but muir
tlerous hand, she exclaimed as she
vainly rubbed it. "Out damned spot"
The Judge Immediately rendered
his decision in favor of the plaintiff,
stating that il was the duty of the so
licitor to have Ward prosecuted at
once for audacious forgery. On the
next morning Judge Maekey left for
Georgetown, forty miles distant, to
hold court While there he received
a letter from a friend warning him not
TO return 10 Williamsburg, as he had
promised 20 do in few days for the
purpose of hearing an argument at
chambers, ~ Ward had sworn solemn
iy 70 shoot him down at sight. The
judges record, however, shows that he
Is not one to swervc from the line Of
duty because of an armed enemy in
his path. He returned n Williams.
burg after an ahsenco Of FIVE days,
aud meeting Ward upon the street he
demanded whether he had threatened
to take his life. Ward answered that
he had, but that he had abandoned
MS purpose. AT the next term Of
court Ward was indicted and placed
on trial for forgery. When he verdict
vas rendered Ward rose and discharg-
q his pistol twice at Livingsions the