The daily gazette., 1883-05-21
FROM SATURDAY
SUPERIOR COURT.

Brmtton--POsaibIe Adjournment To-Day
Court met at o'clock this morning and
the case Of State VS.. Thomas Bratton was
resumed.
J.J. Pierce, sworn-Testified that three
of the names on the bond resembled each
other; were no doubt written by one person.
Thomas z. Young, Teller Of the Farmers
Bank, sworn, and testified that Reynolds
and Johnson's signatures resembled each
other.
John F. Miller testified substantially the
same.
At this point the Attorney General with
= drew his objection to Reynolds testifying
and he was allowed to proceed, He denied
the signature on the bond as his. The wit
ness acknowledged his signature to the pre-
vious bond,
Mr.. Lore at this point rested his case and
Mr.. Gray for the State said he would show
that William l. Reynolds did sign the bond
and he would contradict the evidence al
ready given.
William Herbert, sworn-Thomas Bratton
was $500 shorti in his accounts; witness told
Mr.. Bratton be would look to his securities
for the money; Mr.. Reynolds was spoken to
about Brattor being short and he said he
would try and raise the money without suit;
he did not deny the signature was his.
David Keene: Know W. L. Reynolds;
u
from him, be found a judgment against
him; he did not expect to lose anything on
II as there was other property to secure it.
Cross-examination: Reynolds said he did
not expect to lose over $3.50 on the bond;
Reynolds told him he had signed the bond
of 1875 but not OF 1876. He thought they
were proceeding against him on the first
bond.
Samuel Roberts was q member Of Levy
g.. - o.. .I.o,.
cution of Mr.. Reynolds bond He came to
witness and told him to issue execution on
other parties but to levy on the goods. He
never said anything about the genuineness
OF the bond.
Cross-examination-The never was any
bond mentioned during the interview. The
first part of conversation with Reynolds wit
ness cannot repeat. Jacob Hill was there at
that time. cannot recolect of ANYTHING
MIR. Reynolds said at that time except his
request as previously stated. Witness did
not take the nd and it was never taken by
witness personally nor did he deputize any
one to take it. Do not know by what author
ity it was taken. Have no knowledge of any
witness or signature to 1t.
Re-direct-James c. Wilson was the one
appointed with me TO take the bond.
Nathaniel Williams, sworn-Recollect the
time the bond was taken; Mr.. Reynolds
and asked a question about the bond; he
said there were four persons to it and one
OF the names was forged: he said it was the
bond of Thomas Bratton; he said 1t was the
bond tor the collector of Blackbird hundred;
he was asked how he ascertaned that one
OF the names was false; he said the attesting
witness to Robert Johnson's name said it
was false; Reynolds was told by witness that
the bond was void as TO all parties: he said
ha Nyag orla lad oc hat uOtYlI raIfa
Cross-examination: Did not make any
memoranda of what he said, witness said
what he said was the substance of what he
heard Witness said he first disclosed what
Reynolds said to Mr.. Reynolds. Witness
kept the conversation fresh in his mind in
order to accomplish some purpose. The
name mentioned was that witness had men
tiored, but 1t was one he was not familiar
with and it was not any of those on either
bond. He did not say that he had signed
that bond in that many words, but said all
had signed except johnson.
Joseph Roberts sworn-Have seen VIM.
L. Bratton write three or four times, and
saw him write his name to a paper shown
witness aud the one which William I. Brat
ton was uncertain as to whether he signed
or Lot
George A. Maxwell, Prothonatory, sworr
Testified to finding two judgments agains
William L. Reynolds.
Edward r. Cochran, Clerk of the Peace
sworn-The custom has been in the Levy
Court In taking a Collectors bond to ap
point member from an adjoining hundred
with the member from the hundred, to take
the bond.
+. I. e. Smith, sworn-Teller of the
First National Bank; testified to being a
bank officer; two bonds offered to witness to
compare signatures; the names on both
look as If the same parties had signed the
bond.
Cross-examined-The names of 1876 look
as If the were written by different persons
the signature in the alleged illegal bond II
better than that in the genuine and there il
some dissimilarity in the signatures.
Richard Eubauks, sworn--Cashier of tn,
Bank of Delaware; been bank officer fo
twenty-three years; signatures of William
l.. Reynolds shown and testified they all re
sembled each other; no doubt as to sigma
lures of William T. Bratton being the same
Cross-examination-T is no definit
rule governing the payment Of checks. On
OF the admitted signatures is the most un
natural.
Mar NJ. Cleaver, Secretary New Castl
County Mutual Insurance Comparative
bank officer II years before being in the in
surance officer. The signatures of William
l.. Reynolds were written by the same pei
son.
Cross examination-They are uniform Il
every respect with one exception, whic
seems to be written with a better pen.
Court at this point adjourned until
O'Clock this afternoon. The jury was dii
charged yesterday and it is expected this
The court will adjourn this evening.