The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-03
and counsel for the defense stated hat they
had no testimony to introduce.
Mr.. SMITHS SPEECH.


reference 10 a case of this sort as 10 slight
suspicion Of guilt, 80 we will begin by anal
wing tho testimony Of Mr.. Ludwig. He has
impressed every one ~ be careful and truth
full man. He has shown that he is method
teal individual Every check that ne has
signed and every deposit made has been made
the subject OF the closest inspection. They
have failed to throw the slightest suspicion
on his testimony The only evidence that he
has given or failed 20 give is where he was In
July last. There is not man within the
sound of my voice who can say where they
were IN July last unless they be great stay-at-
homes. which. az Shakespeare says, must
possess homely minds. But. Your Honor.
the mere fact that Mr.. Ludwig cannot say
where he was in July last has nothing 20 do
with this case. There are points more worthy
of consideration.
The defense has been beautifully and
blissfully ignorant on some points. IL Mr..
Dashiell keeps books in his office, why has he
not produced them and shown where the sup
posed forgeries were entered, Every bust
ness man keeps record of such matters.
Look ri the letters Mi. Ludwig has written
Mr. Dashiell. They bear the continuous re-
frain that be must settle the estate admin
istrator. Scarcely a letter was written which
did not appeal for his just dues He did not
supplicate. He demanded a settlement as adj
ministTator. Each letter here Will bear Inc
out in this remark.
HIS LETTERS.
Bring this matter 10 an immediate settle
mentn Is read from one Of the letters. II MIR.
Dashiell had filed an inventory four months
after he had become an administrator. why
has he not produced tho books as any honest
fiduciary would have done, 1T is very
strange did not get theiother remittance
he says in another letter. He had right 10
demand settlement, and there was
no need of using notes. Mr.. Ludwig came
upon the stand and answered questions, not
with the studied answers Of defendant, but
as man answering before his God the truth
and the whole truth. and with the desire at
every turn to do full justice to his feliOw-cltl-
Zen.
The case now stands upon the uncontra-
dicted evidence Of the Commonwealth and all
Just and legal differences. The note was taken
up by Mr.. Dashiell. and that note was re-
newed Mr.. Ludwig says the renewal note
was forgery. If IL was not. who paid the dis
counts? Has Mr. Ludwig ever been informed
of the renewal. Mr.. Ludwig claims that Mr..
Dashiell signed that note and whether the
estate was settled or not makes no difference
in this court We are not trying a chaneery
suit. This Is case charging William ,. Da-
shell with forgery.
The roRGERTEs.
Now. in reference to the testimony as to
Justice Crutchfeld: There is much differ
ence Of opinion in the expert testimony as TO
the signatures.
But" continued Mr.. Smith. take Bou-
dars testimony. unsupported by any other.
and you have as evidence that the notes were
forgeries If Mr.. Dashiell had performed tho
legal requirements he would have books 10
show these transactions, but the Common
wealih's testimony stands uncOntTadIcted by
the defense"
Mr.. Hill Carter. for the defense. said
The Commonwealth, by its own evidence,
shows that its case won't stand before jury.
The Commonwealth has failed 30 make out o
case. The whole weight of the Common
wealth, S testimony resolves itselfinto this Mr.
Ludwig's mental forces. especially his mem
DRY. Is not as good a. other peoples
and he is a young man easily impressed by
men with stronger minds. His mind was
made up hefOre he came into Richmond
Somebody had met him in Washington and
influenced him. He says he did not sign these
notes. He says he generally signs his notes
by connecting the J and J.. Has BE done 50
in these admitted genuine notes, The fact that
he was 10 get married. or had Just been mar
ried, may have had some influence or impress
sion on lis mind He may have been ner-
yous or was recovering from lark with the
boys. | do not believe that a man who
writes a. bad as Willie Dashiell can forge the
signature OF man who writes as well as Mr..
Ludwig.
no FRIENDLY INTEREST.
You must remember that Mr. Brown WAS
looking with no friendly interest into these
matters. but even Mr.. Brown tells Mr.
Bernard Peyton that the note was all right.
and this conclusion was only arrived nj
after careful examination of the paper
As far as the testimony being uncontrolled
il remains that Willie Dashiell advanced Lud-
wig $500. and il is also fact that the whole
estate is only valued at $4,000 70 $1,000. He
didn't owe Ludwig cent when that state
ment was rendered. You cannot imprlson
man because he did not take an inventory
and render a statement. Why even in 1850
he was far in advance 10 Mr.. Dashiell.
Isn't il monstrOus t. think that Willie
Dashiell would forge "A note to get money 70
lend Ludwig? Not to pay him rs admins
traitor, but 10 lend him, and If ho did so, he IS
not only crazy, but stark, staring mad lu-
matte
Captain Wise called the attention Of tho
Judge that he WINS sitting to examine the first
stages Of the case. The proposition presented
10 him was not different from any business
proposition whether the proposition adj
yanced by the prOpOnent was sufficiently sus
tanned to stand further examination. Coun-
sci thought that the charges were frivolous
case. He described the condition Of affairs
between Mr.. Dashiell and Mr.. Ludwig as ex-
planned by the Commonwealth. He described
how Mr. Dashiell stood before the court, called
npOn necessarily 10 pay out money. 10 was
shown by testimony that be had advanced the
sum Of g 800 10 Mr.. Ludwig II was not
shown by tho testimony how anxious Mrs.
Bellenot was to have Mr.. Brown ascertain al
about the notes The latter only showed how
Mrs BellenOt had sent for him and asked
him TO investigate the matter. She made the
same reference in regard 10 Mr.. Peyton. but
the latter promptly refuted it when put on
the stand.
MR.. wIsR's SPEECH.
Hon. John S. Wise also spoke for the de-
Tense 8nd said III substance: Mrs. Bellenot was
the holder of one Of those notes. Mr. Bernard
Pevton, q cashier, the holder Of the other.
Did either of them ask Mr.. Brown 10 ascer-
tain the facts? No, for Mr.. PeytOn repudi-
ates this tender solctude Oh Mr. Browns
part. We find Mr. Brown and Mr.. Ludwig
holding correspondence, andan ante-climaX Is
reached when Mr.. Brown HES himself 70
Washington and leaves important business
10 bask in the sunshine Of clefkships. Like
good knight of old he goes about bearing on
his shield solicitude tor Dir. Peyton, Mrs.
Belenot .and Mr.. Ludwig. He. was hunting
in game, game that when the human ups
are touched by its bloody gore knows 10
cessation; he was hunting in the game OF
revenge.
THAT BREAKFAST.
Mr.. Brown returns u Richmond with Mr.
Ludwig They breakfast together. A break
fast i'm Richmond The home of Browns
former partner. the home Of Ludwgs youth
the home Of Ludwigs benetactor Rich