Daily Republican., 1883-05-19
COURT PROCEEDINGS.
A VERDICT AGAINNT THE NEW.
ING MACHlNE COMPANY
A DULL AFTERNOON.

for trial.
George Gray. Esq, for the plaintiff
and Charles b. Lore, Esq, and Harr,
Emmons, Esq, for the defendant. Thi
Is an issue try If the name of William
l.. Reynolds on q bond was in hi
own handwriting and signed by him.
Before proceeding with the case, NJ
Lore asked the indulgence of the Cour
for few minutes, and said that ht
thought he would be able TO settle a
case without its coming to trial. Afte
consultation with Mr.. Higgins, and tn,
parties interested, he informed the Cour
hat the case Of Henry Shimp VS.. Sci
dell, Hastings & Co. had been settled
and it was agreed that the defendan
should pay the plaintiff $27l.45 and
costs.
Daniel Il. Bouchele was then sworn
and upon being shown the bond OF
which was his name an a witness, testi
fed that ii was not in his handwriting
The paper was also signed by Reynolds,
but the witness did not sce him sign It,
The bond was dated May |, 1876.
James Chambers testified that the
name shown him on the bond was his
written by himself; did hot see anyone
else sign the paper but Thomas Brat
ton.
William T. BrattOn testified that his
name was on the paper, but was not In
his handwriting, and WAS not written
by him. He Is son of Thomas Brat.
ton this principal on the bond.
William l.. Reynolds is his brother.
in-law, and occasionally came to his
fathers house. Jacob Hill was sworn
and shown the bond testified that he
has been acquainted with William l..
Reynolds and has seen him write his
name. Did not think the signature on
this bord was in his writing.
William L. Reynolds was sworn, but
before he gave his testimony he was
objected to by Mr.. Gray. After argu-
ment between counsel, lasting nearly
an hour, the Court reserved its decis-
ion and discharged the jury until 10
o'clock this morning. The jury not
on this case were discharged
from further attendance at this term,
and few minutes before 6 o'clock Court
adjourned until 10 o'clock this morning.
Court re-opened at 10 o'clock this
with the Chief Justice and
Associate Wootten on the bench. Mr..
Lore resumed argument on admitting
the testimony of William l.. Reynolds,
but the Court declined to give an
opinion until this afternoon, and in
structed Mr.. Lore to proceed with the
Of his other witnesses.
William d. Reynolds testified that
he is no relation to VIM. G. Reynolds
Dave seen Mr.. Reynolds write his name
and in hi, opinion the signature ca. the
bond was not in his handwriting.
j, jackson Pierce testified thal he is
IA teacher If penma, ship, and has been
AZ such for the past ten years.
The bond was shown the witness and
after he examined the signatures care
fully, with a microscope, expressed
he opinion that they bad all been writ
ten by one person, with the same ink.
and the same pen.
Thomas f. Young testified that he is
II the Farmers Bank in this city, and
amiliar with signatures and handwr
ng. The Witness examined the bond,
md stated that il was his opinion thai
he names Of Reynolds and Bratton were
written by one person, with the same
zen and ink
John f. Miller testified that he is
lerk in the Farmers Mutual Insurance
company in tins city; examined the
ignatnrrs, and said that he thought
rom the formation Of the letters
hat at least three of the signatures
lad been written by the same person.
When this witness had concluded, |
dr.. Lore said that he could not proceed
ny further at present on account Of the
Injection to Mr.. Reynolds as a witness.
ne Court was about to discharge the
ury until 3 o'clock this afternoon,
when Mr.. Gray said that he would
his objectiors, and the trial
vas proceeded with
William l.. Reynolds was then sworn
nd testified that he had not signed the
ond for 1876, neither had he authorized |
ny one else to sign for him.
Mr.. Lore then said that he would close
'ith this witness, and Mr.. Gray opened
is argument to the jury. In his opin-
III the defendants had tried hard to
how that William l.. Reynolds had not
igned this bond, but he thought he
'Ould be able to produce witnesses to
rove the contrary. He would first call
William Herbert, the Treasurer of New
astle county.
William Herbert testified that he is
ne Treasurer of New Castle County.
'homas BrattOn was collector for
'lackbird hundred in 1876, and was
)me 500 short in his accounts He
al told NJ. Bratton that if he could
OF pay it, he would have to look to his
acurities for il. The witness had also
I'D Mr. Reynolds that the money AUST
e paid. lie recollected issuing judg-
lcnt ON the bond OF Thomas Bratton
,r 1876. When he spoke to Mr..
.rynolds about the money, he asked ,
,r time, and said if it must be paid ,
ley would try aud raise it without a
nit. He did not deny that the t
vnature On the bond was his. 'e
David kcene was sworn and testified I
ial in 1873 he had bought a property ,
, Blackbird ..undrel from William j.. |
reynolds, and had taken a bond OF In t
tnnlty. He examined the docket G
nd found Il judgment against hln.
ut Mr.. Reynolds told Lin that he did
Ut expect that he would have 10 pay
lore than $50 or 900 on the bond. t
Samuel Roberts testified that he was r
member of the Levy Court from 1874
1878. In the last named year VIM.
Reynolds came TO his house and after =
conversation about Bratton s indebt- i
lness, told him to proceed and levy on
le properties of Cyrus Tatman and C
hOnas Bratton. and il they said the
'operty did no. belong to them to 20
read and levy and let them get writ
replevin. Ii was his impression that a
rynolds had said this as one Of his Sc u
Irities. t
Nathaniel Williams testified that \
'illam l.. Reynolds called on him in
e winter of 1851 at Middletown, and
ked him a question about a bond.
q said that four persons had agreed to p
me down about bond. He said that 5
rec of the persons had signed, bat the
me of the fourth was forged.
The witness asked him whose name !"
~ forged, and he replied that of p
ebert johnson, and said the attesting a
-, D., tI,nt ,nn,u had fnll him that