The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-05-31

Eorgers Who Were Thrown on IN
Guard by Quick Witted Lawyers.

OGt EStIN0 pnAOOSs
Eorgers Who Were Thrown on That,
Guard by Quick witted Lawyers.
Among the traditions of the Pennsyl.
vania bar are preserved some exam.
pies of the sudden detection of fraud by
the quick wit of lawyer during a
trial.
The late David Paul Brown was en-
ployed as counsel for the heirs of
wealthy old man, who had left will
devising his whole estate to stranger.
Mr.. Brown, the judge, and the audi.
ence in the courtroom were convinced
that the will was a forgery, but it
seemed impossible to prove it to be so.
The trained nurse. a sturdy English
man, was one of the witnesses, aud
swore stoutly to the genuineness of the
will. Something in his manner con.
vinced the lawyer that he was swear
ing to lie, but how could he convict
him of itp
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 sigma
ture?"
II do"
land that you signed this will two
days before Mr.. Blanks death, he be-
ing then confined to his bed?"
YES" said the man, doggedly, 4
signed it, and helped him fold and seal
it.n
The lawyers eye kindled. Show did
you help himp"
Joseph. he said to me, fold this
paper So l folded it. Joseph says
he, look in yonder closet, and bring
me my seal and wax and candle So
/ brought them, and lighted the candle.
Joseph he says, drop the wax So
l dropped it, and as his hands were
shaking so, sealed it with his SEAL"
''You swear this to be true?''
81 do"
Gentlemen of the jury" said Brown,
impressively, "this is the will. 1t has
been fastened by waferr' and he won
the case.
Another suit. the incidents of which
have served as basis for one or two
novels, involved the possession of a large
estate, which a distant relative of the
late owner claimed by virtue of deed
of gift, which he asserted had been ex-
ecuted at time when the owner was
on bad terms with his sons. There was
no will.
The paper bore every mark of being
genuine; was formally executed; Me
witnesses swOre to their signatures,
and experts testified their belief that
the name of the dead man was written
by himself. All hope for the heirs
seemed to be over, when their counsel,
suddenly raising the paper close to his
eyes, sent messenger hastily out of
court.
The claimant continued to bring in
testimony in proof of the genuineness
of the document for an hour His case
appeared to be fully established, when
the counsel for the defendants 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."
''When did you begin the manu-
facture of paper?"
s'In 1849."
"What is the date of the documentp"
July 10, 1874"
''That is enough, Gentlemen of the
jury. we close our case"
The late Attorney General Brewster
was counsel in a 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 asa
hair. He examined the seal itself, and
found no crack which could produce
this mark. He then caused search to
be made for engravers of seals in Phila-
delphia, and succeeded in finding the
man who had made that used in the
fraudulent will.
Il recollect the job" said the en-
graver, ''for the seal was accidentally
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 proved, and Mr.. Brewster
won his case-YOuth'S Communion.