The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-01-19
Commonwealth va. IN cComb.

Since the capture and reta Tn from Can
ada to Staunton of G. E. .,inedinst and
Geo. H. Bodell, the alledgs forgers of sc
much paper. and whose umerous bogus
exploits seemed to Gauss. hat class com
monty known as paper she .vers,' to quake
and come to halt, the abl C have been anx-
iously awaiting the c'onve ming of the city
court that some light mil int be thrown on
their questionable deeds 1t was we'll ur-
derstood that more than the one trial of
Clinedinst & Bodell would result from their
actions, and in fact it is b ard to tell when
the whole matter will be entirely settled
The first suit was that cal led last week of
Mr.. Jas. G.. Cochran VS.. J.. A. Miller, on a
note for $3.50. for the bene fit of Clinedinst
& Bodell, and endorsed by Mr. Miller
This note Mr.. M. declared a forgery, and
after several days trial. the jury failed to
agree, they standing eleven to one for its
genuineness.
On Monday last the case of the Com
monwealth VS.. j. X. McColnb was called.
Mr. McComb was indicted by the
grand jury as being implicated in the bogus
transactions of the firm of Clinedinst 81
Bodell. and as having been the principal
party in putting most Of this fraudulent
paper on the market. The indictment is
on note for S1l5, supposed to have been
drawn by Mrs. NJ. S. Strain. in Rock
bridge county, and in favor of Clinedinst
& Bodell. This note was endorsed by Nc
Comb and sold by him to Mr.. J. J. Muir
ply, of this city, When Mr.. Murphy dis.
| covered the name Of Strain to be forge
ry, and that no such person lived in that
| county, he sued out a warrant for the ar
rest of McComb, and after hearing before
magistrate, he was sent on tt await the &C.
ton of the grand Jury and released on bail.
A true bill was found, and on Monday last,
as stated, he was arraigned for trial. Mr..
McComb is ably represented by Messrs
Hudson & Patrick, Geo. NJ. Cochran, T..
C. Elder and VIM, f. Craig. The Com
monwealth is represented by Mr.. A. G..
| Braxton.
Monday and Tuesday were occupied in
the examination of witnesses for the Com
monwealth. Thirteen persons were on
the stand, The main point TO be proved
was Mr.. McComb's knowledge of the frau.
dulency of the note at the time of its sale
to Mr.. Murphy. The first witness called
was Mr.. c. ii. White. of the Augusta
Nat. Bank. where the note was deposited
for collection who testified that when the
note was first shown to McComb he pro-
nounced his name Upon 1t a forgery, but
after a consultation with Bodell he said it
was genuine,
Mr.. Hinton testified to having bought
paper from McComb, and to having also
refused to negotiate with him on several
occasions in connection with the paper Of
Clinedinst s. Bodell, from the fact that he
believed them to be forgeries, and so in
formed McComb. Was not able to say
that McComb knew them to be forgeries
were positive as to McComb's knowledge
OF the character of the paper offered and
sold. and after severe cross-examinatlon
of the witnesses, the Commonwealth closed
their evidence on Tuesday evening.
Wednesday morning the defence intro
duced Mr.. McComb, who testified i'll his
own behalf, as to his transactions with
Clinedinst & Bodell, That he hadbought
} paper from them and endorsed for them
at various times. Denied any knowledge
of the forgeries and his reason for favor
ing them and keeping them going was te
save himself, as the firm was indebted te
him
Several witnesses were called to testify
as to the character Of Mr.. McComb, all Of
which proved him to be man of undoubt
ed good character, strictly honest, and il
! every respect of fair repute up to the in
vestigation of this case.
During the progress of the trial, th'
court room has been crowded by interested
, spectators, and several warm discussion
have arison over points of law. The fol
y lowing are the jury: d. G. Barkman
, Frank Bear, Reeves Gait, w. M. Eakle
/ D. E. Euritt. A. NJ. Howlson, T. FL. Hum
phreys, T. A. Dawson, Heber Kerr, r
KinZley, John w. Merritt, J. NJ. South
= ards
r This morning at 10 o'clock, the argu
ment will be commenced BY Mr.. Rraxton
for the Commonwealth, followed by Messr
D Patrick, Elders and Cochran Tor tn
S defence. and closed by Mr.. Braxton. 70
r the commonwealth.