Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-17

ing Of the I'd OF June. $3.50. He had planned
to go for several days previously. and left
ests OF the Hanson Electric Company. He
expected 70 return In a weeks time. While
away. explained the defendant. he had al
here. and denied having ever attempted 20
conceal his identity while away. He had
heard Of the indictments before they were
published In the newspapers. and had writ
ten TO a friend here about them.
The defendant was about 20 explain what
he had written. when Judge McComas held
that Il was not admissible. and. without
concluding the defenda nt's testimony, direct
ed a recess at Il 30 until l O'Clock.
Signatures I'm Doubt.
Upon the resumption OF the trial after re-
cess the examination OF the defendant was
suspended for a time. ard the defense called
Nj. Lewis J. Davis OF Lewis johnson a.
Company who stated that the firm had
three notes irdorsed by Judge Cole.
one OF which Judge Cole declared &c be a
forgery. Witness said he had many years
experience In handwriting, and In his oplu-
ion the Endorsements on ali three notes
were In the same haIdp riting
Seth A Terry was next called by the de-
tense and stated that he went with Judge
Cole to Lewis johnson a Company. and
that Judge Cole expressed himself as doubt
ful as to one II the three notes one of ths
alleged forged notes.
John +. Benton. a clerk in the banking
firm Of Msyse a. Company. was called for
the purpose Of showing that two notes OF
SlsS each, falling due In March. 1891. were
finally renewed by merging them into one
of $50.
Judge McComas Thought that even II that
were shown il would not he material but
counsel for the defer Sc explained that they
wished to show thereby that Judge Cole
was mistaken when NJ said that he had
not Endorsed a note as large as $50. where
upon the witness was permitted to proceed
The district attorney had no questions to
ask Mr.. Benton, and the defendant resumed
the stand
Referring to the $40 note. the defendant
tated that II represented two notes OF $751;
and that Judge Cole Endorsed II. Explain
ing that he had removed his beard simply
because he was getting too gray. and not
for the purpose OF disguise. the defendant
was turned over to District Attorney Bir-
ney for cross-eNamination.
Defendants Record.
He stated that he first came here In 1877
or ISIS. He was born and lived in Ohio
the early part of his life. He said he served
three years in the army, two years In the
artillery and one year in the signal corps.
He was tried and convicted here OF deser-
ton and sentenced to imprisonment In the
Fort Leavenworth military prison, but
never served a day. There was another
charge relating to false accounts. and he
was convicted on that But the President
paruOneO MIN, ne safd, through the inter-
position OF Judge Cole.
The defendant denies leaving his house
here uncared for, claiming that he left his
wife I'm II. and that he expected 10 return
In a day or two. When ne found that he
could not succeed in enlisting capital in the
west In The electric company he made an
assignment Of everything he had. and also
wrote Judge Cole Hut re did not give his
address. From Pittsburg he went TO st.
Louis. and after sending for his wife. he
went to the City Of Mexico. where he
manned five or six months. endeavorlng TO
promote the electric company although he
Rad assigned all interest I'm the company
He knew OF the indictments before the pa
pers published them. but admitted that he
never acquainted the authorities with his
address. He heard of them while I'm Mex
leo and determined TO return with his wife
buying tickets for this city. They stopped
at Pittsburg, however, and from there went
to his home near oberlin, Ohio.
Closing the Testimony.
The defendant said that ne wrote Judge
Cole about that time, but said he could
not say whether he had mailed the letter
on a train or not. From Ohio ne went to
Chicago. He did not let Judge Cole know
where he was at any time but believed that
the Judge could have found out where he
was. as his brother. w. L. Cole was Mrs.
Aldrich's attorney. The body Of the alleged
forged notes. said the defendant, was in
his, the defendants. handwriting.
Being shown a letter the defendant iden-
| tilted ii as one written by him to Judge
| Cole.
''DId you" inquired Mr. Birney. place
anything on that letter by which Judge
Cole could have ascertained where you
| were?'
Il did not" replied the defendant, ''be-
cause L did not wish TO compromise Judge
He reached Detroit. explained the defend
ant. the Alfh of last Anrfl and al
there until arrested. He knew a man here
named Joe. Shaw. and communicated with
parties here through him. He enlisted In
the army under the name of Ossan Aldrich.
his right name being Frank Ossian Aldrich.
That concluded the cross examination and
the defendant stated that he resided several
months in different cities while away. and
while In Cleveland rented box In the post
Office there under his own name. While
away. a note for 5000 was sent by him to
w. L. Cole, Judge Coles brother, but what
had become of IL he did not know. Judge
Cole was wrong when he stated that he in
dorsed no notes for him after May N. 1883
He Endorsed notes right up to June 2. 1893.
That concluded the testimony OF the de-
PENDANT, and Mr.. Birney recalled Judge
Cole, who stated that he did not say that e.
after a thorough investigation, he remained
In doubt as TO any note he would pay them,
and he had paid $500 Of notes which he be-
lieved he had not indorsed He had said
Judge Cole, received three letters from the
defendant while he was away. but nothing
IN the letters Indicated In the slightest man.
ner where the defendant was
Mr.. w. l.. Cole was recalled, and stated
that he never knew where the defendant
was while away. He did not ask Mrs Al
drich. Mr.. Cole then denied having in
dorsec his brothers name on the alleged
forged notes. He had, however, on one oc-
casion Endorsed his brothers name on one
Of Aldrichs notes, but only once He ex-
planned TO the defendant at the time, Judge
Cole being out OF the city, that ne Cwitnessl
would rather sign Il himself but Welded
TO the defendants request at length. That
was in the summer OF 1881 While he might
have Endorsed his brothers name on one or
two other notes of Aldrich's, he did so
with the judges authority. Once he in
dorsed his brothers name on a treasury
draft, and ii went through.
That concluded the governments evil
dence IN rebuttaL and the defendant was
recalled.
Does IL Payg
Does II pay TO advertise in the