St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-08
Minneapolis Bank Officials
Testifying in the COLON
Forgery Case.
They Unite in Pronouncing
The Questioned Sigma
tupe to Be Genuine.
One Witness Says That He
Holds $4,000 Of the
Blaisdell Paper.
Judge Shaw Makes a Heated
and Eloquent Argument
On a Law Point.

Something out of the usual order oc-
cured in the COLON case yesterday
morning. On the opening OF the court,
Hon. E. NJ. Wilson arose and read from
the Minneapolis Times statement TO
the effect that the defense had endeav-
Ored to procure the services of ID. L.
AmeS, of New York, one of the experts
on the side of the state: that he had eX-
amined the disputed signature in the
case. and also a number of genuine sig
natures of Mr.. BlaiSdell; that after
making such examination he had
pronounced the disputed signature to
be forgery. and had declined to testify
for the defense.
NJ. Wilson said, with some warmth,
that this statement was untrue in every
line and word: that Mr.. lockwood had
seen Mr.. Ames in New York, but
the latter said he had been cen-
suited by the state. and that
no signatures were shown him 10y Mr..
lockwood or any other person con-
nected with the defense
Mr.. Jami son said he had not given
out any such report, and Mr.. AmeS said
50 the matter was dropped.
The defense then commenced the in
PRODUCTION of bank officers of MinueapO-
lis in order to prove that the disputed
signature of Mr.. Blaisdell was genuine.
Charles Hurley. paying teller OF the
Security bank, was the first OF these.
He pronounced the signature to be. in
his opinion. that of Mr.. BldiSdell; that
he had no doubt of it.
On crOSS-eXaminatiOn he admitted that
he held some of the COlIom-B laiSdell pa
per, but said: 81 have been told by
good witness that it is genuine"
Mr.. Jamison asked that bis answer be
stricken out. and it was so ordered, but
pot without wrangle. Judge Hooker
held that it was proper to ask a witness
If he held any of the COllOm-Blaisdell
paper; that it was a fact to go to the
Jury to assist them in weighing the value
of the testimony of the witness.
The winners said that he got the paper
which he held from Julius Schultz, of
Minneapolis.
The state then crOSS-eXa mined Mr..
Hurley as to his knowledge of the char
acteristics of Mr.. Blaisdell's signature,
but he would only testify in general
way that he regarded the disputed sig
nature as the genuine one. and admitted
that he had made no careful analysis of
the signature.
Z. c. Brown, paying teller of the
First National bank, followed in much
The same manner. He said he would
pay money on the questioned signature
if Mr.. Blaisdell had any in the bank
when it was presented.
He admitted that he had at one time
pronounced the disputed signature to be
genuine, but on further examination
and comparison had changed his. opin-
ion.
A. B. Hush. paying teller of the Peo-
pies bank. also pronounced the dis
puted signature to be genuine, and said
that neither he nOr the bank held any
of the ColIOm-Blaisdell paper. A Ques-
ton from the state as TO whether the
bank had ever discounted any of the
paper, was objected TO and ruled out.
He said his opinion as to the gen.
uineness of the signature was formed
from general appearance.
G. J. lockwood, Mr.. Collom's law
partner. was sworn. He had seen Mr..
Blaisdell write his name a great many
times. He believed the disputed sigma
ture was genuine.
Mr.. lockwood. have you any per-
sOnal interest in the result of this caSe?'
"WeIl, l presume l have, yes. sir.'
You are an attorney in this case,
aren't you?'
We'll. you have had chance to OBJ
serve"
Answer the question:" said the
court.
Il have not been formally employed.
but have done good deal of work in
the case"
Haven't you taken an extreme. an
To- inf IN,
would be natural to an attorney and
even friendship" asked Mr. Yelling
ton.
81 think no more than would result
from friendship" said Mr. lockwood.
Have you not tried to get testimony
in this case under false name?"
mo. SIR
"Did you not go to Elk River and re-
present yourself as Mr.. JOhnson?''
Il never was at Elk River but once,
and that was three years ago."
Didn't you go to Mr.. Blaisdcll'S farm
north of Elk River?'
Il was never there"
You are Oh the wrong SCENT" said
Judge Koon.
That is ALL said Mr.. Wellington.
Shaw
The first witness called in the after
noon was Parker Luckey, chief clerk OF
the American Building and Loan asso-
citation.
Mr.. Luckey said that he was for some
years bOokkeeper for the Security bank.
and in that position had passed on hun
dredS OF Mr.. Blaisdell's signatures. He
pronounced the disputed signature to
be genuine. He said he formed his
opinion from his general recollection of
Mr.. Blaisdeifs signature. and that its
tremulOusness and heavy downward
strokes were the chief characteristics,
de was shown some admitted genuine
signatures of Mr.. BIaisdell, but claimed
that he could see no great difference in
them from the disputed one. He adj
mitted that he would expect that
forgery would be a close imitation of
the genuine signature.
c. W. Farwell, paying teller of the
Northwestern National bank. was
called, ANA followed in the same line as
Mr.. Luckey.
On crcss-examination he was shown
some exhibits by Mr.. JamiSon.
Those are admitted genuine sig
natures" said MIR. Wilson.
The Court-Counsel will not make
such remarks as that TO witnesses.
court.
The witness examined and said he
thought they were all genuine sigma
lures Of Mr.. Blaisdell He pointed ont
some which he thought resembled the
one in dispute.
j. NJ. Williams, discount clerk of the
Security bank, followed, and said that
ne mao not particle of doubt that the
disputed signature was genuine.
Oh erosS-examiratiOn he was asked if
ne held any of the COLON -Biaisdell pa-
per.and he said he did.
How much?" asked Mr.. Jamison
10 this question the defense objected
but Judge Hooker let it in, and Mr
Williams said. 1854 ,0O0.'
On the redirect examination he was
asked how mich of this paper Mr.
BlaisdeH had acknowledged 10 be gen
uine. The state objected. but the court
overruled the objection. and Mr.. Will
Jams said, 81, 900 or $780,
be was then asked Inv the defense If