The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-06-24

an opportunity to become acquainted with his
handwriting from Is to % years ago 10 years
he was squire and witness was acting as con-
stable for years. serving his summons, &c.
since then witness hadn't so many oppOrtunl-
ties; once in 1880, during the May Term OF
Court, had been at his office and he did some
writing; he wore the bandage around his
hand, and witness made it point to ask him
about it, he said he had his second sight and
didn't use glasses and showed witness the
writing he was doing then and some he had
done before and SAID he had to use that to
steady his hand; couldn't write so well with
out it in cases Hoppe and witness had
acted as trustees and Hoppe wrote the papers
principally; did think he knew his handwrit-
ing. when he saw it (shown the will if he was
TO receive a note-(here the witness was stop
ped and told to give his opinion he took 1t
as Hoppe handwriting; he would say it was
his signature.
Cross-examined-was better acquainted
with il Is years back; after that not so much:
had only examined one side of the paper.
The Court here adjourned until Friday
morning.
HAGERsTowN, June 10th, 1882.
Court met at 8 o'clock and at once pro-
ceeded with the trial of the case.
Perry Rumler was recalled-had a CONVEX
sation with Hoppe, as near as he could te,t,
about Is years ago; it was at a magistrates
meeting; they were in social talk about rais-
ing children and Hoppe commenced about
Miss Geatty being so kind to him III her ways,
saving that he was away from home great
deal and when he returned she always met
him at the door. whenever IT was possible,
aud would do for him, see If he was hungry,
or wanted a warm stove, take of his coat ana
boots. and was so very kind to him he should
remember her for it when the time came.
Cross-examined-this was in 1864, just be
fore the war: witness was constable Jasf be-
fore aud during the war: knew Mrs. Byers
was married then; Hoppe meant while she
WAS with him.
Col. Maulsby here called attention to the
life Of George Washington 1T was by the Rev.
Weerns and bore date 1910, with an unmista
kable signature of J. Henry Hoppe on the
fy-leafl
Col. Marshal-we didn't call for it.
Col. Maulsby-if you doa't offer It in evi-
denee We will.
Mr.. Rober,s-we don't object.
Harry Bvers-was a son of John q. ByeFs,
Il wears old, had been sent 90 public school
and learned reading writing, geography. &c;
he did not write the will; didn't see anybody
else or know of anybody writing il Absalom
Bowersox went to the public school and had
been sent away once to- Louisville for one SEES
sion. but didn', like it and didn't stay he Is
farming in Adams CO., Pa when he lived at
witness fathers be worked on the farm and
went TO school in winter.
Cross-examiued-had never seen the viii
before this time; his father was 81 one time
guardian for Bowersox. aud Mr. Roberts, he
thought, Was towards the last
James NJ. kelley-kneW Hoppe; knew Mr..
and Mrs.. Bycrs; has known Byers over IS
wears and Mrs. Byers SINCE 1854 or lsA1;
didn't rs-coilect seeing any af Byers writing
has his signature; had written for Mrs Byers
himself. she was q poor writer; was aequAlnf-
Cd with Hoppe oysr 30 years; became ae-
quainseA With his handwriting about the year
1857: held a mortgage and got him 10 oute
transfer Of il: IN 1873 Was Byers assignee,
aud had business with Hoppe that year; some
letter. we're written to wisaess aad Hoppe
gave him n promTssery note; sent word To hiin
to allow Ms. Byeus 70 $50 or $500 worth u
the sale and be vOala pay u. several DAYS al
Ter the sale witness made oat ball OF all the
ARTICLES Mrs. Byers bought and took Il 20
Home: he said il vas well witness bruaght
Tie EaIi in that shape. and wrote specThea.
tiau % something. got witness Ia sign q aud
attached il 80 the ball, saying Il anything
turned up this would show ail aboai Il said
be had no meney and would give his note the
.s1nsr a. others for the smoans; the sale Nas
rasde On 4 credit sf eight mouths, without IN
ssresss AFTER that ii1e saw Hoppe handNTs.
ting some knew Bowersox; he had always
bss-a working on . fzrm: be could write his
name, bat witness didn't know he could psf
~ any nshcr piece Of writing; shown The wliil
this was Hopes handwriting he hsd seen
s.psae not written A. veil - that, that Sas has
siruafarcs when witness wuald come 70 West
munster Hoppe would ask hin how she bseFs
fasuiiy was getting along 0ace IA 1873 OF
1874 be met hiHa ab0as dinnsr time, Sad
Hoppe aid say nahl after dinner, be wanted
% saik to him; asked him ikrn hou the Byegs
folks wsse gCstiag along.
tsruss-cxAmincsi- hyvrs made = deed Of
trsz55i Hoppe was a creditor IN enc sease, can
hardly say h0w; witness paid all the Judg
sasut s,redlsers. Sherry 1 Ralahd, she bank
fst,fer nssizuess, raid cat the dividend to
tbs general rrcdilasss Hoppe got a dividend
froua thea; be- proved his claim. Objection
wAs made. bat oveFrnicd.i Had no kaowl
clxe dat Hoppe had Judgment Tecollcet
of aim having a eissn - some Shape or an
s.iher Hnd ~ twisted i axoand IN some way
that he gps dividend; the general creditors
got a dividend
Obiecssan was herr nadc and the counsel
waived further examination on this point, bal
asked the Stiffness, do yoa kao~ whether Mr..
Byrrs. by himself 81 Sish some one else. had
taken cat policy os the life Of Mr.. Hoppe
ia Pennsylvania mutual aid socsssyr
Objeessea being made, Ne. Roberts stated
Ia the ecaTt thas be vas prepared 10 prove
slaAt il had beer done, and that when the pol.
iey became payable an examination was made
and Il being found that the signature Of Mr..
Hoppe TO she application had BEEN forged,
Ryrrs declined 20 press for payment.
The court sustained the objection, and
waaldn let the question be asked.
Ritness-had said that he had seen writing
II Hopes worse than the will had heard
repaaFks made that il WIS not as veil written
A. the other side 1.-THE letter.; witness opin.
ion xas thai Il was not written qaite as well I;
was q farmer 1T that time; had been teacher
u penmaaship for years the letter 10 Mrs.
Bycrs EaS written little bit smoother
than the will; il vas y letter written by
Hoppe 70 Mrs Byers To meet him ~ fancy
ioHa; witness bad read Il ON the 18th VI last
March in Westminster; lhis attention Vas
here called 10 the fac; that the letter was adj
dressed io John q. byers and Eliza Ann by
ers and began this Is 10 inform yoa and yoar
wife ]. being shown the envelope, he said
thoughi il was addressed 10 John q. Byers
the letter was written ss much TO her as 10
him; witness had formed his ides from what
he had read himself; the letter vas 6r1ner
aud more regular. the other THE willy was
the same handwriting, bat little rougher.
Jacob ". Byers, recalled and shown the
life of " ashington-hAd seen that book in
his fathers house; had never seen any life OF
Washington there, that he rceollectsd had
been away from home
Objection was made aud sustained lo fur
Their examination ON this point
Mrs.. Byers, reealled-afler putting on her
glasses. that Was the same book which yas
taken from Mrs. |. Hopes by her husband
on Sunday evening; TO the best Of her kno~l.
edge il had been in the pantry at her house +;
up on the upper shelf or on one Of the
shelves; thought Harry had brought it there;
tksre was no other I.sie Of Washington that
she knew Of about the house.
Cross exaninesss--th generally put all their
old books in the pantry, and when her hns-
band brought il home she Just took il and
threw Il pp in the pantry never saw him read
il; it was among the old books NOT used very
often.
Harry Byers was again recalled but found
10 know nothing, and told 10 sit down.
The book was then shown to the jury, each
Of WHOM examined the Rame written on the
hy-leaf very closely.l
Henry b. Albaagh--had resided in West
minister since spring; formerly lived for or 8
I years at Pleasant Valley; had opportunities TO
learn the handwriting of Hoppe ON notes,
deeds, &c.; had seen him write; his handwri-
ting was different at times in the formation OF