The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-28


The will and TO the account of Augusta S
ultimate rescue. finally closing his exam
ination in chief Just as the clock struck
four. whereon the court adjourned till the
following day. g,
As may be imagined, though things had
zone fairly well so far, nobody concerned
Of our party passed all overcomfortablc
night. The STRAIN was too great TO adj
init of it, and really they were all glad to
find themselves in the court-which was,
IL possible, even more crowded on the
following morning-flled with the hope
that the day might see the matter decided
one way or the other.
As soon as the judge had come in Au-
gusta resumed her place In tho witness
box and tho attorney general rose TO
cross examine her.
s'You told the court, Miss Smithers, at
the conclusion Of your evidence, that you
are now engaged to be married to MIR.
Meeson. the plaintiff. Now. ! am sorry
to have to put personal question to you,
but must ask you, were you, at the time
Of the tattooing of the will, in love with
Mr.. Meeson?'
This was home thrust, and poor Au-
gusta colored up beneath it; however, her
native wit came to her aid.
eff You will define. sir, what being in
love is, | will do my best to answer your
question" shc said. Whereat the audi
ence, including his lordship, smiled.
The attorney general looked puzzled,
as well he might, for there arc some
things which are beyond the learning OF
even an attorney general.
"Well." he said were you natrimo-
nially inclined toward Mr.. Meesonl'
Surely, Mr.. Attorney General, said
the Judge. "the one thing does not neces-
sariy include the other.
Il bow TO your lordship's experience, =
said Mr.. Attorney, tmtly. Perhaps !
had better put my question this way
Had you, at that time, any prospect of be-
coming engaged to the plaintiii!'
"Nonc whatever"
'Did YOU submit TO this tattooing,
which must have been painful, with Il
view Of becoming engaged to the plain
tiff"
Certainly not may point out, she
added, with hesitation, that such dis
fcurement is not likely % add to AM
body rs attractions.
"Please answer my QuesiiCns, Miss
SmithcIs, and do not comment az them.
How did you come, then. 20 sGluit your
self to such disagreeablc oTortiony
Il submitted TO it because ih'll ut il
right to do so, there being 10 c;lcr ap
parent means at hand Of attaining IT,,
late Mr.. Nelson's end. Also'--aud she
paused.
"Also whatf'
"Also had n regard for Mr.. EustGcc
Meeson, and knew that hc had lost l.s
inheritance through quarrel about NJ
self
"Ahl now We are coming To il. Then
Won were tattooed out of regard for Tho
plaintiff, and not purely in the interes.s
Of justiceY
ayes; | suppose So
"Wen. Mr.. Attorney intcrposcd The
Judge, "and what if she wasl'
my object, my lord, was TO show that
this young lady was not the purely I'M
passive medium in this matter that NY
learned friend, Mr.. Short would lead tGo
court to believe. She was acting FROM
motive"
"Most people do said the judge,
dryly But it does not follow that tie
motive was an improper one.
Then the learned gentleman continued
his cross examination, directing all IT,,
ingenuity of his practiced mind To trying
to prove by Augustus admissions first
that the testator was acting niccr tslC
undue influence Of herself, and, secondly
that when the will was executed he was
non cOmpos mentis. TO this end he Gweii
at great length on every detail Of Tho
events between the tattooing Of tho VII
and the death Of the testator On the FOL
lowing dav, making as much as was pos
sible out Of the fact that he died in n iii o.
'fnania. But, do what he would, he could
not shake her evidence upon any materia
-boini, and when, at last, she sat down
James Short felt that his case had not re
ceived any serions blow.
Then, q few more questions having beer
asked in cross examination by various
other counsel, James rose TO re-exanine
and, with the object of rebutting the Pre-
sumption Of the icstators mental nm
soun,lness, made Augusta repeat ill tn
details of the confession that the late pub
Usher had made TO her as regards Iii
methods of trading. IT was beautiful t
sec the fury and horror portrayed upol
the countenances Of The choicric Mir Al
Olson and the cadaverous Mr.. Roscoe whel
they saw the most cherished secrets 0
the customs OF the trade, as practiced al
Nelson's, thus paraded in the open light
of day. while n dozen swift penciled re
.portcrs took every detail down.
Then. at last, Augusta was told TO stan'
down. which she did thankfully enough
and Mrs. Thomas, the wife Of Capt
Thomas, was called Sheproved the find
ing of Augusta ON the island. and tina
she had seen the hat Of one of the sailors
and the rum cask tw0-thirds empty, AM
also produced the shell out Of which tn
men had drunk the rum (which shell tn
Judge recalled Augusta to IDENTIFY. VIVA
was most important, however was tha
she gave the most distinct evidence tia
she had herself seen the late Mr. Mooso
inferred and identified tho body as tina
of the late publisher by picking out HI
photograph from among bundle OF
dozen that were handed to her. Also sh
swore that when Augusta came aboar
The whalcr the tattoo marks on her bae
were not healed.
No cross examination of the witnes
worth the name having been attempted
James called clerk from the Office OF IN
late owners Of the II. NJ. 5. kangaroo
who produced the roll of the ship o
xrl;ob .to maniac of txvn c0ilarS .lnhnul