St. Paul daily globe., 1889-10-20
THE COLLOM CASE.
1t Promises a Sensational and
Highly Exciting Legal Battle.


Unless all signs fail the famous ease
of the State Of Minnesota VS.. j. Frank
Collom, accused of forging the signature
of John I. BIaisdell to various DrOmis-
sorry notes, aggregating some S225. 600,
will be called in the district court before
Judge Hooker. The counsel tor the
prosecution will be County Attorney
Jamison and Frank F. Davis, and for
the defense Eugene NJ. Wilson and j.
N. Shaw
The magnitude of the case and of the
interests involved, together with the
sensational features which surround 1t,
will make it celebrated case in the an
is of Hennppiu county. The facts in
the case have been so widely published
and read that il is probable there will be
considerable time expended in prOcur-
ing jury, and there is every proba-
biiity that it Will be closely contested
from the start to the finish.
The chief interest in the case will cen
ter upon the question as to whether the
signatures of the name of John i.
BlaiSdell to the alleged forged no tes
are genuine or otherwise. and upon
this question the best expert testimony
that the country affords will be pro-
dHced. What preparations have been
m lde in this respect are, of course, un-
Auown to the general public. and will
remain so until the witnesses are pro-
duced upon the stand. but as both sides
are well equipped with money and legal
talent. it can we'll be imagined that
nothing essential to victory will be
spared.
The testimony Of Mr.. Blaisdell will be
of great Importance and interest in the
case. He will. OF course. bP called upon
to distinguish between which he claims
to be genuine and forged notes. since
lie admits. or is said to have admitted,
that he signed some accommodation
notes for McCOllOm. Upon This point
his testimony will necessarily have to
agree with that of the experts or the
case will be in great danger of falling
to the ground, from the fact that cOntu-
sion will arise in the minds OF the jury as
to whether there was or was not any
forgery. Of course the action will rest
upon specific notes, but probably wide
latitude will be allowed in the case as
to the general allegation of forgery,
which Will have the effect to bring in
other notes. and perhaps all of them,
for the purpose of testing the accuracy
of the expert testimony, and also that
of Mr.. Blaisdell.
1t may be said of Mr.. COllOm that he
preserves his cOOlnesS, confidence ana
sangfroid in a remarkable degree for a
guilty man, if guilty he is. This conf
dence in the result is also shared by his
friends. and they unite in predicting
speedy acquittal.
On the other hand the prosecution
seems equally confident, ami is under
stood to Uase its confidence Of cOnvic-
ton on confession, said to have been
made in the office of MT. Davis on the
night that the alleged forgeries are said
to have been discovered, and charged
home to Mr.. COllOm, and also on expert
testimony which is claimed to have
been secured on the question of the gen.
uineneSS of the signatures TO the notes
in dispute.
That the case will be highly sensa-
tiOnal is now beyond a doubt. If one
half of the surp rises that are hinted at
on both sides are sprung it will be
dOubly so.