Daily Republican., 1886-05-27
FOURTH EDITION
Damaging Testimony.


Court re, convened at 8 20 o'clock this
morning, with the Chiet Justice and
Associate Judges Wootten and Houston
present, and Immediately resumed the
case OF Pierson We. the Htna Insurance
Company.
Sophia Halliday was affirmed, and
testified that she is the sister OF William
IL. Pierson, the plaintiff in this suit.
She was bookkeeper for the firm oil
Pierson & Brother from 1873 until june,
1881. The firm consisted Of her brothers
George and William H., but the latter
was the one who was always there and
attended to the business.
Mr.. Bird asked the witness, while
you were bookkeeper for the hrm,
were you ever requested or told oy the
plaintiff to change OF alter the figures
in the ledger for the purpose of deceiv-
ing the insurance companies?"
Mr.. Nields objected, and q long ar
gument ensued, when at last the Court
decided that the evidence was sdmissa'
BILE, and Mr.. Nields filed exceptions.
The witness then said that she had
been directed and ordered by her
brother William, TO add the figure 1
in the books to S5,970,o5, making II
va pto'oot tOA tho puhpooS ~ N~~ -
the insurance companies in case OF nre
Her brother George WAS present at the
time and objected to this being done.
This figure was added at the settling
up In 1880 or 1881, and William said TO
George, this Is not very good show
ing in case OF fire, and we had better
raise it," The amount footed up less
than $6 ,0O0 wsrth of stock, and when
m n hQnTeH
George protested against its being done,
and William said, "You always object
to whatever propose"
The figures were changed, and as
changed carried ON to the next years
account, showing $4,000 worth more
stock than they had on hand.
The witness lives in Clayton, Della
ware, and since she WAS summoned In
this case she was visited by William
Ii. Pierson, who asked her II she re
membered Altering the figures in the
books, she replied that she did, and
that they were altered for the purpose
of obtaining the entire insurance in
case of fire. Pierson said that was not
80, and that whoever would tell that on
tho witness stand would tell danna.
bic lie. He said the figures had been
| 4steSA ~ wv yohhp previously ~ 1900
Drother George, for the purpose 81 mis-
leading the metcantlle companies.
Since these suits were brought william
Ii. Pierson has not offered 10 set her up
III business.
After cross-examinatiou by Mr..
Nields, and redirect examination by
Mr.. Bird, the witness WAS dismissed.
| George w. Pierson testified that he
WAS engaged with his brother In the
mill work business from 1876 until
February, 1882. His sister WAS book
Keeper for the firm from 1873 until somt
time In 1881. The stock carried in 1881
did not at any Time exceed - GOO
In 1880 the stock was between %, OOt
ana $1,000, and AT the close OF 1881 oil
commencement OF 1882 he examined tht
books and found that the STOCK on hand
was less than Sc 900. He was shown
the books, and SAID that the Inventory
made in January 1852 showed that the
stocK on hand amounted 10 S5,9'o 90
aud That under no circumstances could
IL have been Ola, $40 80, as shown in the
Inventory.
| When he dissolved partnership with
his brotaer all the goods on hand were
placed at their true value. AT the re
quest OF Mr.. Bird, the witness produced
a statemebt IN the handwriting OF WIN
| H. Flerson, which showed that the IN
ventory OF The goods in 1882 was 1890,
80, and Mr.. Bird offered it in evidences