The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1889-07-05
Detecting Frauds.

Among the traditions of the Pennsylvania
bar are preserved some examples of the sud
den detection of fraud by the quick wit of
lawyer during trial.
The late David Paul Brown was employed
as counsel for the heirs of a wealthy old man.
who had left a will devising his whole estate
to a stranger. Mr.. Brown, the Judge, and
the audience in the court room were convinc-
ed that the will was forgery, but ii seemed
impossible to prove it so. The trained nurse,
sturdy Engshman, was one of the witness
es, aud swOre stoutly to the genuneness of the
will Something in his manner convinced
the lawyer that he was answering to lie but
how could he convict him OF it?
When he WAS placed on the stand for cross
examination Mr.. Brown opened the will and
held it before him.
You swear that this is your signature ?"
~ do"
"Aud that you signed this will two days
before Mr.. Blanks death, he being then CON
fined to his bed? -
YES" said the man doggedly, Il signed it,
and helped him fold and seal it,"
The lawyers eyes kindled. How did you
help himY
Joseph, he said TO me, fold this paper
SO folded it. Joseph he says, look in
yonder closet, and bring me my seal and wax
and candle So | brought them, and light
ed the candle. Joseph he says, drop the
wax So | dropped it, and as his hands
were shaking so, | sealed it with his seal"
you swear this to be trueY'
~ do"
"Gentemen, of the jury" said Brown i'm
pressively, this is the will. 1t has been fas-
tened by waterw and he won the case.
Another suit, the incidents OF which have
served as basis for one or two novels, involv-
ed the possession of large estate, which dis.
tant relative of the late owner claimed by
virtue of deed of gift, which he asserted
had been executed at time when the owner
was on bad terms with his sons. There was
no will.
The paper bore every mark of being genu-
inc, was formally executed, but the witnesses
swure TO their signatures, and experts testi
fed their belief that the name of the dead
man was written by himself All hope Tor
the heirs seemed to be over, when their coun-
sci suddenly raised the paper close to his eyes
and sent messenger hastily out of court.
The claimant continued to bring in testi
moDy in proof of the genuineness of the docu
ment for an hour. His case appeared to be
fully established when the counsel for the
defendant called grave old Quaker to the
witness stand.
Friend Blank, please hold that paper up
to the light. What is the water mark on it,"
THAT of my firm, Blank and son."
"Wheu did you begin the manufacture of
paper?"
"ln lS40."
what is the date Of the document"
"July 10, 1874"
THAT is enough. Gentlemen of the jury
we close our case"
The late Attorney General Brewster was
counsel in case which also hung upon the
authenticity of will. He observed that on
the impression of the seal of the devisor,
twice used upon the document, was mark
as light as a hair. He examined the seal il.
self; and found no crack which could pro-
duce this mark. He then caused search 10
be made for cngravers OF seals in Philadelphia
and succeeded in finding the man who made
that used in the fraudulent will.
II iecolcct the job" said the engraver,
"for the seal was accidentally cracked, but the
man who ordered it would not wait for
another to be made.
He had made the seal three weeks after the
death of the devisor. The forgery was PROV
ed, and Mr.. Brewster won the case Youths
COmpdRiOn.