The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-12-17

l oDFvo0 upon Iroos rOrtunaJeiy IOr
Ne probate courts In those days did
not meet as frequently as now. and
the day appointed for hearing was
some way of SO we had considerable
time In which to act In few days
| went to the probate Office and care
fully noted every point OF the will; 1t
was duly executed and sealed; this
latter fact escaped my attention for
some time. for wills were then az now.
sometimes sealed and sometimes not
the laws In many states not requiring
that will should have seal. At
the third or fourth perusal / noted
that the seal was of black wax and
stamped with the device OF q
coat Of arms OF some ancient
family to which Mr.. Ball traced his
lineage. As noted this an idea
finally took form In my mind. had
been in Corinth but two years and
had frequently conversed with Mr..
Ball several times about the geneal-
ogy OF his family and thought that
1t was rather recent idea with him.
for until within few years he had
had but little time for such researches
Full OF my idea went back to
| Corinth and secured the stamp with
which tho impression had been made
and without letting Fred into my plans
returned In day or two to the pro.
bate Office. ! took some sealing wax
and made an impression OF the seal
in the presence OF the register. and
with him compared the two; they
were identical even to little scratch
across the face OF the SEAL and leav-
| ing the second impression with the
register. set out to find. the maker
| OF the stamp. There was but one
person in the city who did such work.
and he had not made the stamp but
suggested that it was probably made
by firm in Boston who made n
specially Of such work; so l took the
next train to Boston. sought out the
firm and found that they had made
this stamp for Mr.. Ball and they
showed me in book the original
drawing from which it was prepared;
the scratch on its face they knew
nothing about; that had probably
been the result OF an accident.
Satisfied with my information re-
turned home and set about other in
quiries the result OF which was also
quito satisfactory.
The day for the hearing came and
all Corinth was present ut court The
surviving witness 10 the will John
Goudy, testified very glibly to secin g
Mr.. Ball sign tho will on the table in
the library. that the other two Witnesses
were present and that all three signed
In Mr. Balls presence and that Mr..
Ball was In his opinion OF sound nina
the usual formula then proceeded
to question him as to the situation in
which he stood when Mr.. Ball sighed.
whether he had good view Of the
paper and whether the seal was on
the paper when twas signed. Yes.
he saw Mr.. Ball take the wax and
make the impression with the stamp;
he remembered 1t very distinctly; in
deed. as Mr.. Ball had told him About
the coat OF arms. and as he he Never
heard OF anything Of the kint fore.
II made an impression on b nhd
asked the witness no que, max
CepJ iurvfaptUn 10 the sea-. a
called the attention OF the ju lato
the seal and the scratch acre rs
face. The Judge looked at it ~
lessly and said:
MR. Symonds why are you Oak
ing up so much time about the heal
and the time 1t was liked; q seal is
immaterial to u will and II it had
been put on later it would have made
no difference.
/ said: Il think / can make thSt
point very material in this particular
case in due time when the other sid
! has completed its case"
Mr.. Nj. was sworn and testified
that he was seal engraveI anot
that making OF seals with heraldid
devices thereon was part OF hiS
business. I showed him the stamp
in question and asked him II he ever
saw that particular stamp. lie said
he had. that he had made IL for Mr.
Ball then handed him a piece Of
wax and asked him to make an i'm
preston OF it which he did. then
asked the register for the impress
sion l had left with him. and the
three were identical and were
shown to the Judge who still seemed
to wonder what was about l then
asked the witness IL he could tell
when he made the stamp; he said he
could and referring to his book he said:
Il have here the book OF original
drawings made by me for heraldic
work keep copy OF every device
1 make and find that l made this
stamp for Mr.. Ball in tho week be.
ginning January l6. 1865. and that 1t
was sent to him by express the follow.
ing week; have here the receipt from
the express company dated January
90 1863"
This was date about four years
later than the date OF the will and
there was sensation in the court
room. Tozier and his wife and Cloudy
were white as sheets.
I said to the Judge: Your honor
will sec why was so particular to
have the seal affixed to that paper at
its alleged date. TO my mind the
evidence offered Is sufficient to show
that this paper is a forgery. and l
have one other piece OF evidence
which, II your honor will hear 1t I
think will remove it,
IL will hear It" said the judge.
i then called the clerk of courts for