The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-08-07
WAMPLER.
HIS APPLICATION FOR HABEAS
CORPUS BEFORE JUDGE
WALKER.
A Witness duplicates Himself
for Forgery.

The case of Thomas W. Wampler,
CHARGED with land frauds in Howard
county, came up yesterday before
Judge Walker of the Travis district
court on an application for habeas cor
pus. Col. Tom Sneed was present as
counsel for the accused, the state be-
ing represented by Assistant Attorney
General Burts. County Attorney
Wooten and Ex-District Attorney
Moore.
The witness testifyIng yesterday
was ID. &. Kerr. He testified to hear
ing DIR. G. w. Pierce, who is out on
bail on the same charge that is made
against Wampler, say: IF l can't
buy a notary public (alluding to his
wanting Acknowledgements of some
deeds taken,) | will do the work my
self" These deeds had been filled out
as witness first stated, by himself, and
certified to by Wampler. On his atten-
lion being subsequently called to the
hand writing in the jurat, he said he
had himself signed WamDler's name
rs notary public to the acknowledge
,nents. Pierce took the deeds to the
office of County Attorney Andrews,
who was also a notary, to get An
drews to finish the Acknowledgements.
Andrews asked if the signatures
were Wampler's. Pierce said Eyes"
and Andrews, after looking at them,
remarked: swell, doctor; you are a
good ona." Andrews, remarked to
Pierce: There is the seal; | am not
supposed to know about in my alb
sence. Subsequently Pierce had the
papers and seal. When the papers
were prepared for Pierce, the question
of paying me was not raised at the
time; it came up next day.
The blanks were on the desk; there
was no writing in them till did it;
/ prepared six papers; Pierce signed
the papers, signed the names of the
parties to them; the name of Wamp-
Ter as notary public was used in au-
thenticating the deeds; it was done
in the ONCE; it was, after Pierce had
signed the names, that the papers
were presented to Andrews to finish
them; Vampires jurat was on them,
and Pierce asked Andrews to finish
them.
Before the papers were taken from
Andrews Office they were fully pre-
pared, excepting the seals. 1t was
after Pierce had signed five names
that the papers were taken to An
drews. Pierce said at the time, 81
have some papers want you to take
acknowledgements for" Andrews
said, mo, there is my seal; l am not
supposed to know what may
be done. Pierce came in
again with the seal and papers under
his coat. He took the papers prepared
by me aud attached the seals on them.
They were attested by j. w. Wamp-
ler's name as notary. l had already
filed up the blanks and signed Wamp-
ler'5 name, as notary to the certi-
ficates in the Office.
To Judge Walker-1 had no author
ity to do so. l was working in the
Office and didn't think it was any,
thing wrong till Tom Andrews re-
fused to have anything to do with
them.
There were some changes in the pa
peTS, but they were the deeds l had
prepared. Pierce fixed the seals to all
six papers. After this l left without
making any protest. 1 asked Pierce
what he would allow me; he said SIS,
and that he did not have it but would
send it to me; Barlow said he would
pay me when Pierce paid
Hill, d2r06Q (WlLu6SS ola
not say with whom) to leaye
the county to prevent being witness;
] left and Barlow was to leave next
day; never heard Pierce say Wam-
pier had anything to do with the pa
pers; j head Wampler speak of leav-
ing Big Springs if he got a position he
expected on the railroad two months
before he left; he got a position, and
there was no secret or suspicion about
his leaving; Pierce said at the time
he got some Of the popers, he wished
he had gotten more of them; Wam-
piers Office was always accessible.
The attorney-general subsequently
had charge of forgery made against
the witness.
Altogether the witness testimony
was remarkable duplicating himself,
Notwithstanding Judge Walkers adj
monition that he was not expected to
do so
The case shows wonderfully de-
moralized state of affairs, such it is
hoped is not common to the morgan
lied sections of the state generally.
It is thought by some that Pierce
may not appear for trial.
The testimony will be resumed be-
fore Judge Walker this morning.