New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-22
THE LETTERS IN WHITTAKERS NOTE.

QUEER PRACTICES or ANOTHER EXPERT-TAhINN
HIS LETTERS WHERE HE FOUND THEM.
The removal of the Whitaker Court Martial j ON
the Army Building is hailed with satisfaction by
all concerned, and the spacious and airy apartment
upon the fourth floor of the Post-o1ice building
gives to the whole affair decidedly more whole,
some and business-ke aspect. The table occnPaeG
by the Court is upon a raised dais within alnng'
within which, Also is the stand Tor the WITNESS,
who has previously occupied chair in the mi1dis
ample accommodation upon four rows OF settoes.
The smart appearance Of the place Yesterday was
enhanced by several Opcra-g asses which were
turned by members OF the audience upon the ac-
cused cadet.
The Judge Advocate placed upon the stand an
other OF his expert witnesses Daniel l. AneS' WHO
had prepared two printed exhibits that were dls,
tributed through the court room. MT. Aihcs han
been furnished with number OF standards III
Cadet Whittakers han9wrllng and ne now ,ss Inv nv
tho same hand, though disguised TO do TINS ne
had cut ont from the Whitaker standards various
letters here and there, and by FASTING them To-
gether had reproduced the wording of the note OF
warning in apparent handwriting not unlike
the note In his exhibit No. was presented q Ihe-
smile of the note of warning and beside 1t was an
imitation of the motto made up IN the manner apONe
described with references showing the exact place
in the standards from which each letter was
taken. The first two hours OF the session were
tedious enough, being occupied by Mr.. Ames IN an
elaborate and detailed exposition OF his conc
and reasons, illustrated upon the blackboard
When the explanation was complete, the Judge
Advocate asked, handing him letter:
DO you believe that the Moses eston ielter,
which now hand to you, was written by the same
person rs the note Of warning T. go,
think il WIS.," said the witness, after brief
MIR, Chamberlain then began his cross-examina-
tion by which he strOye to show that the means
which Mr.. Ames had used in making mp ms lmita-
ton of tho note of warning were forced ana unnat-
nral. and that by such means lie conld nave ap-
proximately produced any handwriting Whatever.
There were seventeen words IN the note ana among
Nv Ann hu1 a 81
words TO select from. The first word IN the nOte
was Sunday This was made MP OF letters taken
from four separate standards Mr.; chamberlain all
pointed out the fact that the word occurred as
whole in another place. net resembling the word III
the note. :.
"Hhy did you not use the WOru SuhuaJ as IL
81 assumed that the note was disguised, and
therefore did not expect 10 find the WORD III Inc
note similar 10 the one in his natural hand"
so when you could not find word to sult your
purpnse YOU proceeded to manufacture one that
should Why did you not take the word as YOU
II do not knox why, except that probably did
not see H."
Whitaker wrote It for your manufactured one Z
should have no objection To doing 20
Mr.. Chamberlain then showed that th9re was
scarcely any similarity between the word IN the
standard and that III the note: Hc theh tOoh VI
the word Mr.. - and going TO the blackboard sall
he wished 20 show how that Mr.. was manuiactuIed
The capital letter NJ IT appeared, was formed 81 tue
first part OF capital and the latter nan OF
capital VI. 49,. ~.
Mr Chamlcrain-Arc you in the haiti, hr
Alncs OF making up writing IN this way =,
There was no VI IN the style of the more. so l
did the only thing pussiOlc under the circum-
stances =,
ii understand: when YOU couldn't find letter
TO sult you, You manufactured one"
manufactured nothing only combined"
Did Won not take the letter a and change 1t y
81 changed nothing"
Now. Mr Amrs don't you think that by taking
loops and lines IN this way, and leaving of what
YOU choose and putting them together aS AOn
choose. you cCuli make ny any mans writing
whatever from these standards
aPrrhaps so. If had 60 make it all mp as did
this NJ; but that j. solitary instance. Ivory
other letter took entire
Mr. Chamberlain pointed ont several similauties
in fhc connection of letters IN the r" and ID" mi
tAted note OF warning which had no countcrplrts
in ths sf nndnrds from which they were taken; ME-
Amr. however, ASSISTED that these were pnrelY
accidental At half past o'clock the CONT adj
iournrd rs the witness, was compelled to leave
The city by an early train to give testimony IN an
other case last evening. II WAS suggested before
adiournmpnt that Application shOuid bc made 10
The Secretary OF War for PERMISSION to sat without
regard 10 regular hours. At present the Court Is
rr,,ulred 10 adjourn by 3 o'clock The m'mb, - of
the Court Withdrew 10 consult upon this matter IN