New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-10
TESTS or HANDWRITING.
NERVE TREMoRs AND DISTURBANCES

NERVE TREMORS AND DISTURBANCES.
AID uAGAN,s II sTTMoSY AT THE WHITAKER TRIAL
THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT SUPPLIED WITH
Observation-Disclosures IN MAKING HIS
MEANING UNDERSTOOD.
At the opening of the Whitaker court
martial Yesterday william Z. Hogan. the Troy expert
dsbuted some microscopes among the members OF the
court The glasses we're be used In examining letters
I'm the exhibits while witness made his explanations
There was some difficulty In getting at the witnesses
meaning In several instances and one memser HahNy
confessed that Mr.. HaEan might as well Dc tSkinE
Chinese so far az his receiving intelligent oea OF
he intended to convey was concerned. Mr. Chamberlain
asked the Witness in crossexaminatoD, TO trace inc
nerve tremor" In the letter in Investigation anu
in but" IN exhibit.
can't put my eyes into your head" repueo tno WIZ
ness but find the tremOr there" He then PROCEEDED
TO point out the tremor" in number OF instances IN
various exhibits The witness was asked Dy memoeT
Of the court TO state specifically what the character OF
the disturbances" were in the letters he had men
TONED.
"Fnlar9emeut of the line" replied the Witness
ERht-tenths of the pencllled writings in the exhibits
show disturbances. Some occur In horizontal position
and others on the incline upward. Are you satisfied
with my explanation !"
Mr.. Chamberlain-Wel II that Is the Dest you can do
suppose must be satisfied
The witness found disturbances" in the letter Of
the word rocks in an exhibit tho letter in the word
sliding.
ADO you mean to say that those points Of similarity
H AXE a coinoidencei"
"Ido not assume any coincidence, but find dis
turbance in enc the point In the other
In some parts the letters alike in FORM In the words
sliding and Wrapping however the angle Is moro acuV9
in the than in the d."
The Cour-wouldnt these disturbances" be found in
the writings Of any else who used the same paper
and tnki
"Inever found more than two or three such dis
turbanees any PERSONS handwriting There are many
mere details that might give the court, but they would
consume another day. have described the most i'm
Al this point member Of the court wanted an in
disiurbanees' mentioned. Mr.. Hagan illustrated his
msapsg by referring 70 the top OF the letter In tue WORD
wheels and the letter In the word design. The member
of the still maintained that be had obtained no
clear idea as to the charactersc features OF tne as
turbances" Another member objected 10 having the
question put TO the witness but the objection was nos
sustained The member seeking lnlOrIlaton
the Court has right to understand what tue an
means." ,
dusriousy. while MIR. Hagan hunted down " disturb
ances" IN many letters found IN the exhibits. 49,.
holding a pen why shouldn't the tremor be as
prominent IN every letter as IN any letter ,,, =,
have explained that by reference TO the position OF
The writer, his physical organization. ETC."
Is II your theory that Whitaker has nerve tremOr
lac nerve tremor cannot he initiated AS to
person having the same tremor as aH0the there Is tne
same chdncS VI uhuinB wv PSiSNNS WV ANO- N~SN'
Then the validity OF your test depends the fact Of
your not having found another person with the same
have never found two alike
'How, what 10 q nerve tremOr "
"You are askinE me question that has puzzled the
world for many thousand yearsthe connection between
mind and matter. Laughter.l The nerve tremor s
affected by condition OF the system ana Is hIensueo
by excitement" -
Cnn you tell whether given letter was written under
mot unless I saw writing by the same person while he
was not under excitement"
Mr. Chamberlain then said that be desired 10 put De
fore the witness specimens No 81 aud he wished to ask
tbe Recorder 70 let him have tDem.
Major Gardner-I should like TO know the OBJECT OF
such request 90 a.,
Mr. Chambsrlan-An expert has said unGualihedly
that the hand that wrote specimen No y wrote tue
note OF warning. | wish to whether the witness
thinks the author OF specimen No. ~ "a % likely 70
have written note OF warning as Cadet WHITAKER
WhV should this request be objected 70 II be not In
deprive the accused OF the advantages 10 nc
rained from the papersi
Major Oardner-The accused has had every opportu-
nifty hat liberal prosecution could give him, but there
are well grounded rules OF evidence which must govern
the proceedings Of the court The gentleman asks for
the production Of papers that know nothing absut.
Mr. Chamberlain Il shall testify TO tue lberaty OF
the Judge Advocate toward the accused but the fact
that he has we'll In the past excuse for his not
doibg well in present. What harm can come fron
uHing these papers and who wants TO keep them from
this expert who has the truth OF the matter at heart
This will prove tbs most crucial tests OF the wit
.,,-- -. -,
question OF motive will produce the $50 specimens
including No. 81.
The Court then adjourned until IL o'clock this morn
ing.