The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-03-07
At THE RIGHT TIME,
BY S. O.

the old mamie was S7-had died with
ont making q will, as be had often been
heard to remark that making will
seemed like preparation 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 legiti.
mate heirs were two orphans. both girls,
| children of his only daughter. One Of
them was a cripple, requiring almost the
undivided care and attention of the
other, aud both were beloved by all who
knew them. While people were feeling
glad that the orphan sisters were to be
thus grandly provided for, II man named
James Arnold presented will for pro-
bate. said TO be the last will and testa-
ment OF JACOB Ames, made several years
before, This Arnold was a nephew.in-
law of old Jacob, the child OF wife's
sister, and bad for several years been
employed as business agent and general
accountant of tue deceased; and when
be caused the will to be presented, he
produced q number of witnesses who
declared that they had often heard old
Ames say that he had made the only will
ho 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 or employees Of
the testator, swore poiEt blank to having
seen Ames place Lis signature to the
docament, after which they signed their
| own names.
| l entered the courtroom late in the
afternoon of the third day, just as the
| last witness was about to leave the stand;
and tins witness was Thomas Cloudman,
the servant just alluded to, He had been
questioned by juryman, and had Il
plain statement. Everything was against
the poor, deserving orphans. and all in
favor of the despsed nephew. In fact,
no honest man, under the evidence could
have brought in verdict against
Arncld's claim.
The jurymon who had questioned this
witness sat at the end of the box, and
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. had known
him years before, when he worked for
Rice, of Newton. The juror held the
will in his hand, open, aud Good
rich cast his eyes upon it. saw the
old papermaker start and tremble.
LET me look at that" 1 heard him
whisper, for stood close by.
The juror, without considering. hand
counsel could interpose and regain it
Goodrich had seen all he desired, aud
J his first movement, after relinquishiug
the will was to hasten to the side OF the
orphans attorney and whisper ,hurriedly
and excitedly in his ear. l saw the
attorney whose name was Shipman.
bend his head attentively and then start
, to his feet. What was i,2 In these few
brief moments the whole audience had
caught the fever of excitemeut for it was
clearly evident that something of i'm
portanoe was on the tapiR.
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--"I must
ask the indulgence of the court. wish
to present new aud important testimony.
There was slight war of words
between the opposing counsel, aheI
which, by permission of the court, the
old paper.maker took the stand. He
gave his name, residence, occupation,
etc. and then Mr. SLipman placed the
will in his hands.
"Mr, Goodrich, will you please examine
that documentT'
a 81 have done so, sir"
"Wbat is the writton dato OF that will?'
"Sept s, 1871, answered the witness
reading from the instrument.
"Now, Mr.. Goodrich, will you please
q inform the jury aud the court if yor
observe anything else in or upon thai
paper which you hold in your hand tba
would positively affect the reliability o
. that written date? Make your statement
in your own way only make it concise
and clear"
"Your honor, and gentlemen of the
S jury commenced the witness, rhi'
g piece of paper which ! now hold in my
9 hand was manufactured by myself, anC
e was calendered on machine of my owr
+ inYention. The water,lines, in place oi
; the ordinary blue ruling, were included
!, in my Improvement. You will alsC
IS observe. upon close spection-thougl
the ink upon the surface has somewba
= obscLred tiny own stamp in water
a marks. Your honor can examine 1t iol
Yourself"
}. The judge took the document ant
u held 1t up against the strong light; anC
iuvoluntarialy he read aloud, so as to b,
g heard by all ia the room-for ever!
10 breath was hushed: H. Goodrich
}. patent. Eighteen hundred forty-three!
The paper was given to the Jury, WHIT
if were on their feet. Arnolds's counse
demanded to see it, Mr.. Cloudman au,
his wife got up and tried TO leave tn
room, but were prevented. Judge an,
bar we're in state of ierment, while th
dense audience swayed to aud fro il
- eager, painful suspense. Would this oil
man's testimony have its lesiumat
weight?
ALL how could it be otherwisel The-
was a witness more potent to an lniell
gent court and Jury than speech {
a tongue. The contested will bore in il