The state herald., 1892-12-09

quiries tho result OF which was also
quito satisfactory.
Tho day for the hearing came and
all Corinth was present ut court The
surviving witness TO the will John
Goudy, testified very glibly to seeing
Mr. Ball sign the 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 MIR
Ball was In his opinion OF sound nina.
the usual formula l then proceeded
to question him as to the situation In
which he stood when Mr.. Ball signed,
whether he had good view OF the
paper. and whether the seal was on
the paper when itswas signed. Yes
no saw Mr.. Ball take tho wax and
mako tho impression with the stamp;
he remembered It very distinctly; in.
deed. us Mr.. Ball had told him about
tho coat OF arms and as he had never
heard OF anything Of tho kind before.
II made an impression on his mind.
asked the witness no questions OK
copt in relation 10 tho seal. and
called tho attention OF the judge to
tho senl and tho scratch across its
face Tho judge looked at 1t care.
lessly and said:
MIR Symonds why arc you taxi
ing up so much time about the seal
and the timo II was affixed; a seal is
immaterial to will. aud II 1t had
been put on later it would have made
no difference"
said; j think / can make that
point very material In this particular
case in due time when the other side
has completed It's case"
Mr.. NJ. was sworn and testified
that he WAS II seal engraver. and
that making OF seals with heraldic
devices thereon was part OF his
business | showed him the stamp
In question aud asked him IL no ever
saw-that particular stamp. lie said
no had. that he had made il for Mr..
Ball. / then handed him n piece OF
wax and asked him to make an i'm
preston OF it which he did. then
nsked the register for the impress.
sion l had left with him. and the
three were Identical and wero
shown TO tho judge who still seemed
to wonder what was about then
asked tho witness II he could tell
when he made tho stamp; he said he
could and referring to his book he said:
Il have here the book OF original
drawings made by me for hcraldic
work. keep copy OF every device
make and l find that made this
stamp for Mr.. Ball in tho week bc.
ginning january 10. 1865. and that II
was sent to him by express tho follow
ing week; have hero tho receipt from
tho express company. dated January
2S 1865"
This was date about four years
later than tho date OF tho will. md
there was sensation in tho court
room. Tozier and his wife and Goudy
were white rs sheets
snid IN tho judge: Your honor
will eco why was so particular Il
have tho seal affixed TO that paper n,
its alleged date. 10 my mind tho
evidence offered is sufficient to show
that this paper il forgery. and
have one other piece OF evidence
which. II your honor will hear 1t
think will remove it."
Il will hear 1t said tho Judge.
then called the clerk of courts for
the county. and after he had boon
sworn, ] took up the alleged will and
again addressing tho Judge snld:
Your honor will observe that this
paper purporting 10 DO tho will oil
Reuben Ball. is dated March 10. lsei,
and the surviving witness, John
Goudy. has testified very minutoly 10
seeing Mr. Ball sign the same IN tho
library OF Mr.. Balls house. Now
will put in evidence record OF the
supreme court OF this county. and
will ask the court to rcad that record
and will then leave II entirely with
your honor to say whothcr tho thing
he has testified to could possibly hav,
happened"
torn OF tho supreme court for the
county. begun on the FIRST Tuesday oil
February. 1851, John Cloudy OF Cor.
NTH was put on trial for and con.
vletcd OF the crime OF larceny and
sentenced To two years In the county
jail. nnd that the prisoner was then
aud there committed to tho custody
Of tho sheriff OF tho county. As tho
clerk finished reading ! heard n
movement hohlnd mo and turned 10
SEQ tho Tozlcrs and Cloudy attempt.
Ing to leave tho room. Tho Judge
also noticed tho movement ind said
TO the sheriff. who was present moro.
! ly rs n spectator tho custom OF hav.
ing nn officer attend probate court no,
having arisen mt that time; stop
those people and take them Into Gus.
tody for perjury md forgery" Then
turning TO mo 10 snidi Mr. Sy.
monds your evidence Ia ample and
conclusive and dlsnllow this instru.
mcni and congratulate you IN your
successful exposure Of high crime"
frcd was ovorjoycd and conse.
quentlv rewarded mo In n very salts.
inctory manner soon had nil the
practice | could attend 10.
Tho ToAlcrs and Goudy were subso
auontly tried md convicted OF per.
jury and forgery. Mrs Tozior con
fessVl after tho conviction. that hav.
ing n knnck with n pom ind good al
imitation. sho Ind frequently initiated
Mr.. Balls handwriting Just for
amusement tho Idea Of tho forgery
originated with hcr husband and
Cloudy and was finally nssouted to by
hcr, nud Ind thoy known law enough
To have loft OF tho seal and selected n
date whom Goudy was really mt homo
II would probably have boon success
inl. Portland Transcript.