The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1884-09-04
at THE RIGHT TIME,

The case pending before our court in
terested the people deeply A few
months previously Jacob Ames had died,
leaving property to the amount Of $780,
600 to $50, 900, all Of which was readily.
available. At frstlt was supposed that
the old man he was 81 had died with
out making his will, as he had often
been heard to remark that making a.
viii seemed Like Appropriation for death,
and as there could be no question about
the inheritance Of his property, he did
not choose to make any such, to him,
ghostly testament. His direct and only
legitimate heirs were two orphans, both
girls, children of his only daughter.
One Of them was cripple, requir-
ing almost the undivided care and
attention Of the other, and both
were beloved by all who knew
them. While people were feeling
glad that the orphan sisters were to be
thus grandly provided for, man named
James Arnold presented will for pro-
bate, said to be the last will and TESLA
ment of Jacob Ames, made several years
before. This Arnold was q nephew-in-
law Of old Jacob, the child of a wifes
sister, and had for several years been
employed as business agent and gener-
oil accountant Of the deceased; and,
when he caused the will to be presented,
he produced a number Of witnesses who
declared that they had often heard old
Ames say that he had made the only
will he should ever make, and that
James Arnold was his heir; and, what
seemed to make the matter sure, two
Witnesses to the will, former servants
OF employees Of the testator, swore point
blank to having seen Ames place sigma
ture to the document, after which they
signed their own names. S
J. entered the courtroom late in the
afternoon Of the third day, just as the
last witness was about to leave the stand !;
and this witness was Thomas Cloud
man, the servant just alluded to. !, He
had been questioned by q juryman, and
had made plain statement. Every
thing was against the poor, deserving
orphans, and oil in favor OF the despised
nephew. In fact, no honest man, under
the evidence, could have brought in
verdict against Arnold Is claim. I: N
The juryman who had questioned this
witness sat OF the end Of the box, and
close by him, among the spectators,
stood old Harvey Goodrich. who was
at that time engaged in the paper-mill
Of Day & Lyon, at Portland. I had
known him ysars before, when he.
worked for Rice, of Newton. The juror
held the will in his hand, open, and
Goodrich cast his eyes upon It. ! saw
the old paper maker start and tremble.
Let me look at thatlnI heard him
whisper, for I stood close by. 5fs
The juror, with out consid ering, hand
ed him the document, md before the.
council could interpose and regain it
CT odrich had seen all he desired, and
his first movement after relinquishing
the will, was to hasten to the side Of
the orphans, attorney and whisper,
hurriedly and excitedly in his ear. I
saw the attorney, whose name: was
Shipman, bend his head attentively and
chen start to his feet. What was it ?.
In these few brief moments the whole
audience had caught the fever Of excite
ment, for it was clearly evident that
something Of Importance was on the
stapis
May it please your honor" said
Shipman, very quietly SO calmly and
quietly that we: feared it could be moth,
ing Of importance after all CT I must
ask the indulgence of the court, I wish.
to present new and important testino-
ny. I'LL 81 :55:i |SE ESal 81
There was q slight war of words be-:
tween the opposing counsel, after which, J;
by permission Of the court, the old.
paper maker took the stand. He gave
his name, residence, occupation, etc.,
and then Mr.. Shipman placed the will
in his hands. y a.
sMr. Goodrich, will you please ex-::
anime that document e. IN y, rsy
ST have done so, sir. ? y! a
will ~ 5,.s; @ n 81 /
Sept 5, 1841,n answered the, wit.
ness, reading from the instrument. nv
/ s. s AS. IN ow Mr.. Goodrich, will you please
inform the Jury and the court if you
observe anything else in or upon that
paper which you hold in your hand
that would positively affect the relia-
sbility Of that written date? Make your
own WY; only make it concise and
clear. p IS q ut IA ~ III: ~
@Your honor, and gentlemen Of the.
jury z commenced the witness, this
piece Of paper which. I now hold in my
hand was manufact ured by myself, and
was calendered on machine Of my own,
invention. The water lines, in place
of the ordinary blue ruling, were in.
Guided in my improvement. You will
also observe, upon close inspection
though the ink upon the surface has
somewhat obscured tiny own stamp
in water marks Your honor can e1-
anime it for yourself. = ssS.s 81
The Judge took the document and
held it up against the strong light and
inv voluntarily he read aloud, SO as to be
heard by all in the room-for every
breath was hushed HI Goodrich's
patent. Eighteen hundred and forty
three 3 81 Is 30 35s,5; q
The paper was : given to the jury,
who were all upon their feet. Arnold's
counsel demanded to Il see
it. Mr.. Cloudman and his wife.
got up and tried to leave the room, but
were prevented. Judge and bar were
lin d state Of ferment, while the dense
audience swayed to and fro in eager,
painful suspense. Would this old mans
testimony hare its legitimate weight2
Ali how could it sbe otherwise?
H..