The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-28

Mr.. oInlth out Will admit that the note was
signed by Parsons
"Then you say this is not a forgery. " remark
ed the Court.
No such thing retorted Mr.. Smith, and
explained that the felony was committed in
making Parsons believe that he signed a note
tor tzOO, while be actually signed one for
$4J0.
Re-oNamined by Captain Cutchins. Mr..
brown stated that the original note which he
had endeavored 20 find had been secured by
deed of trust on Parsons property in 1856.
This year he borrowed 800 in. addition and
tho firm held 5000 10 his credit to be applied
as part payment of the new note when due.
The examination of Mr.. Brown was then
suspended 70 enable Dir. N. w. Nelson, who
was feeling unwell, to give his testimony.
Mr.. WILSON'S STATEMENT.
Mr.. Nelson stated that he saw tho note for
$3.50 for the first time that morning about IL
o'clock when no went 20 tho City Bank at
the request IF Dr. Dashiell. the father Of the
prisoner, with the money ho had given him.
When the note was handed 20 him he
thought at ono time that ho tore IL up. but
discoYod later that he had torn ny a check in
stead Of II. Mr.. Brown boing recalled stated
that the. only business transaction which
Parsons had with his firm was the d~iscOunting
Of the note for 200 and its annual renewal.
Richard Parsons was next called 10 take the
stand. When shown tho note be acknowl-
edged his signature. but added that he had
never signed q note for $3.50. lie only signed Il
nowcd. II he had signed q note for t4JO no
would have received $3.50. which he did not.
He did not know that the note had been
paid. Mr.. Dashiell notified him that his note
was past due, when he went 70 see him and
told him that he had settled the matter with
J. Thompson Brown q Co.. and Dir. Dashiell
said that u was ali night.
cROss-ENAMINATION
On REORGANIZATION Parsons stated that
his name was Richard Parsons and not Reu-
hcn Parsons. Ho had given the note on his
property On Charity street. lie was working
for tho Old Dominion Iron and Nail Works.
When be renewed the note last year he dealt
as usual with Mr.. Dashiell. Ho did not got
any money. but signed the note. lie might
have signed some other papers. When
shown his signature he admitted that il was
his scratching" lie did not in the same note
Yesterday. but thought he saw one very much
like 10. but tho one lust shown him did not
look ike it. He could read and write his own
namo. but could only with difficulty read
other peoples writing. However, he under
stood figures. and be read ont tho figures on
the note. lie could not swear that the note
! shown him was the same one he saw on the
previous day. 10 looking at the amount he
said that the note might read Tor $50 or Tor
$500. and became finally convinced that the
amount was $50.
Whenever the notes were presented TO him
he would sign them, but never took the tlIno
10 road them. thinking that it was all right.
when shown the notes on Wednesday and
/ asked about the signature he was somewhat
IN doubt AZ first. but after writing lis name
on a piece Of paper no became convinced
that he had signed the note. When he gave
the note to Mr.. Dashiell last year he had 70
sign a decd. His wife, who went with him.
also signed the deed.
THE BORROWED MONEY
When shown his receipt for ten dollars,
money borrowed on account from j. Ihomp-
son Brown u Co., he acknowledged his sigma
turo, but stated that he never received one
cent. He admitted that previously he had
signed similar small papers referring TO the
recent. The deed with the note was lett az
the Office II !. Thompson Brown d Co.
On denomination by Mr.. Snith Parsons
stated that bewentto the office If j. Thompson
Brown a Co. last year 10 make arrangements
for "a renewal Of the note. lie signed a deed
together with the old woman. but besides she
and Mr.. DaShiell no one else was present.
This year, when the note was due, Mr.. Dash
iel sent for him. Witness told him that he
had settled the matter with j.. Thompson
brown d Co. Mr.. Dashioil said 1t was all
right.
a letter was then produced by witness, adj
dressed TO Il. II. Parsons, asking MIN 10 call
on Messrs. Dashiell d Cobb on some impor-
tant business. The letter was placed III evil
dencc.
Mrs. Bellenot was the ncxt witness. She was
shown the note. and stated that she had
bought il from Mr.. Dashiell. giving her check
for the sum Of f4lS.50. She was informed by
Mr.. Dashiell that day that the note had been
paid.
On eross-examinatiOn witness stated that
she put the note in the bank, but that II was
protested on July oath. she received notice
to that effect from tho bank and sent 70 D.
Thompson Brown Il Co. and 10 Mr.. Dashiell.
She again notified the latter last week and
went 10 his Office two or three days ago, when
he promised her 60 take up the note. she
also stated that Mr.. Dashiell had come
20 her with the note because once before she
bought a note from lin.
MR.. BROWN AGAIN.
Mr.. Brown was again called to the stand
and stated that the check gwen by Mrs. Belle
not was made payable to 4. Thompson Brown
Il Co.. and was Endorsed by Mr.. Dashiell IN
the name Of the firm. IL was deposited IN
tho Merchants and Planters Bank by Mr.
Dashiel. but no entry Of II could be found
on the books of the firm. While
0 member Of the firm Mr.. Dashlell
had o right 10 sign the firm name
10 negotiable paper. lie might have
done some private business in real estate as
an individual. but the Parsons matter be-
longed 70 the firm. Witness and his brothe:
had made some business TRANSACTIONS on Their
own account. but they had always rotihed
Mr.. Dsshlell Immediately before or after tho
transaction had been closed.
When asked by Colonel Elicit IN regard 70
the Mayer transaction, witness admitted that
some time had elapsed until Mr.. Dashiell was
notified of II. He WAS personally Interested
in that transaction. which was no business of
tho firm. although tho firm had received the
commission.
When pressed by Colonel Elicit, Mr.: Brown
admitted that he deposited the check for that
commission 20 his own private account. lie
aid not remember, however. whether the
check had been mado payable to the firm. but
he added that lie thought the check could DO
produced. he also admitted that there
had been other Transactions by mem
bers of the firm on individual
accounts and members had indi-
yidnally discounted notes which had come
10 the firm. but he thought that the other
members had always known of It. In the
MAYER transaction Mr.. Dashiel had been
credited with his share of the commission. al
though witness had been opposed TO letting
the firm have any commission at all.
Dali.
CAPTAIN Cutchins then asked that Mr.. Da-
shell be admitted to bail. and added that
counsel for the defense were DESTROYS 10 have
the case continued for the reason that certain
PAPERS had not yet been produced.
Sir. Smith opposed the motion on the
-~.,.rI fhot the obargp WAS a very grave one.