The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-12-23

was unfortunate, that it was fraud, that pay
ment would be contested and not cent would
be paid under any circumstances. He said
that he had bought them, was innocent and 1t
was hard on him. / told him that 1t was I'M
portant for him to find Miller if he could.
then left and came down to my Office. where
the other gentlemen were waiting for me.
When first went into Denison's office, he
appeared nervous and excited Whether he
was tremulous or no CAM say. Messrs. ost,
Schaeffer. Peterman and Gettier were in my
Office when | left it to go to Denison's, they
were still there when returned. l reported
the result of our interview and advised them
to go and see Denison themselves. They left
my Office for that purpose. The amount of
the Wentz note was $4,000, of the Schaeffer
note So, 900 and the Yost and Gettier notes
each $4,000. All were single bills, dated May
Goth, 1882, payable sixty days after date. The
notes were printed with the amounts, dates
and names filled in in writing. They all had
printed SEALS"
The State here offered to show to witness
two papers for the purpose of proving by him
that the printed part of the notes, which he
saw, was similar to one or the other and to
ask if so which, not for the purpose of prov
ing contents, but the appearance of the print.
The traverser objected to this and the Court
sustained the objection.
| fnanuSl w emu teSIllleu OHe
evening, after supper, in the early part of last
June my brother Cornelius and Denison came
to my place and Denison inquired if | knew a
man named Samuel d. Miller. | said [ did
not know any Samuel Miller except the one
who was around buying walnut logs. He
then said was caught. [ inquired how, and
he said was caught on an assignment, or a
note. told him l had signed nothing but an
agreement, that Miller said he was doing bus
mess for firm in Philadelphia and that he
had to show them what business he did, and
that could prove it by my son and byJ. Crum-
rine. He said he thought it was all right with
John Grelder on as a witness. Denison then
left to go to Manchester, | think he said to see
John Greider. He told me that he had notes
against Gettier, Yost, Schaeffer, Peterman
and myself; that he bought all except Peter
mans, and that he did not buy that because
| it had mark on the name. The next day,
Sunday, l told all these gentlemen about
it, and on the next day. Monday, we all came
to Westminster and went to Judge Smith and
told him of it, to get his counsel" The wit
ness then testified as to his visit to Denlson IN
company with Judge Smith and related the
circumstances as before testified by Judge
Smith.
Witness then said "Judge Smith and then
came down to Judge Smith office, and Get
tier, Schaeffer, Yost and Peterman left to go
to see Denison. Between then and the time
the notes were due my brother and Denison
came to see me again. Denison said some
thing about an agreement, and [ told him
would have nothing to do with an agreement,
that had enough of agreements. | started
to leave him and he said if you would not say
Sc much about the notes and would not deny
them until he got them off, he wanted to sell
them don't recolect his saying anything about
making it all right with me if | would not de-
ny it. just walked away. The first time
saw Miller, he came around and wanted to buy
or transfer life insurance policies. He said
he was doing this for Baltimore Company.
| told him had policies but was tired of life
insurance He offered me SIS for policy,
which | showed him. l told him would not
sell at that price. Two weeks afterwards he
came and said he wanted to go into an honest
business now, buying up walnut logs. told
him that was right for life insurance was cal
culated not honest lie wanted to buy one
tree and pointed out another; he said the
smaller would suit best for stair posts. He
asked what | wanted for it and told him that
as he wanted to be honest he could tell better
than l. He said that he thought it was worth
so cents a foot He said if he could get more
logs he would come back; about week later, l
met him on the road above John Crumrine'S
saloon and he said that he wanted to pay for
that tree. | told him to wait till it was cut.
When we got to Crumrine's he again spoke OF
paving me and again told him to wait until
the tree was cut He said that his employers
ordered him to pay cash and sent him money
and papers. He took out the money, Sc, and
a paper for me to sign. told him that |
would not sign it, that Crumrine should read
it. Crumrine read it and said he would not
sign it. | said won't sign it either that way.
would not sign it because it said ifthe party
was not satisfied was opay back something
but did not say how much. He put in the
amount Sc, and l signed it and John Greider
witnessed it. never signed any other paper
to Miller nor authorized any one else to sign.
John Greider never witnessed any other paper
between me and Miller except this one.
There was nothing in it except the agreement
about walnut trees There wasa blank space.
| think it was above where | signed my name,
though am not positive. Miller give me a
paper at the same time" The paper was
shown witness, who identified it. 1t was as
follows: Received this 18th day of May,
1882, of Samuel D. Miller, as valuable con-
sideration the full sum of Sc. 90 for a tree pur-
chased under the conditions OF agreements
bearing the above dates.
The State then offered in evidence letter,
purporting to be from Denison to the witness
Traverser admitted that it was so written, at
Chicago, there mailed and received in due
course at Melrose. The following is a copy
of the letter:
CHICAGO, October LIST, 1882.
PHANUEL VENT, Eso.-DEAR SIR Il have
been at this point, to and fro, for the last two
weeks, searching the city for Samuel d. Mil
Ter, and expect his arrest in few days.
Yours truly, JOHN Z. DENIsON.
Witness then said ''The Monday we were
in Westminster and saw Denison, as we re-
turned home we wentby the Manchester road,
and between Manchester and Melrose met
Denison, who then said he was broke if he
could not collect these notes; advised him to
90 after Miller; he said he wanted to arrest
Miller, and understood him to say he was just
about starting to try to do it; between that day
and the day of the receipt of the letter nothing
was ever said by either Denison or myself
about arresting Miller; generally speak Ger
man; am a farmer and have lived on a farm
all my life"
rossexamined, witness said "The Sec
end time Denison and my brother came to my
place no one was present, that | noticed, ex
cept we three; it took place on the road just
below my house, by the spring house; it was
shady there, and that is why they stopped at
that point"
Re-examined, witness said: ''This was on
the public road that runs right by my house."
Edward w. Thurman testified: 81 know
Denison; he rode with me from Manchester to
Westminster in the early part of last July;
1 came past Greider' tavern and Denison was
sitting there; some one, my son, think, asked
me to take Mr.. Denison to Westminster; on
the way we talked of cattle; then he said he
did not know why these parties are so stub
born they won't pay their notes; that the same
transaction about walnut logs took place in
Lancaster county, Pa, and persons against
whom there was $11 900 worth of same paper
had paid the amounts long ago."
Cross-examined, witness said: ''Denison
said that he didn't know why these parties are
| so stubborn they won't pay their notes; that
he had notes against parties in Lancaster
county, the same walnut log paper to the
amount of $11 900, and they had paid the notes
long ago; he said that these parties had the
same transactions about walnut logs with
Miller; don't know how conversation about
walnut logs commenced; did not ask him