The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-28

VI tLNSt y Is tSIUdN.
"Now, Doctor" said Mai Butterworth,
Having compared these carefully as
you state, can you say whether this let
ter here zone of Miss Pollard's ackuowl-
edged eplstlesl was written by the same
person as this. (The letter claimed to be
forgedD"
''Yes sir; they were written In the
same handwriting.
TIE CHRISTMAS CARD IN THE BOOKS.
"Now, doctor, hand you a Christmas
card which was taken from a work OF
Washington Irvings. Can you state
whether the writing on IL, Compliments
of w. 5. D., has been written more than
five years2''
This is the card which the defense
claims Miss Pollard slipped into a vol
ume of Irving at ST. Joseph's foundling
asylum while she was there, getting up
evidence last December to prove her
claim that she was at the asylum in 1885
and gave birth to baby there
Judge Wilson objected TO
Maj. Butterworth's question and
it was modified, DR.. Shaeffer being
asked how long ago the writing had been
done. The witness answered that it
looked TO have been written not more
than three or four years ago. That was
the utmost limit, and it might have been
NAAbbGu W ibilli bllItt VI AOuI nun bilos LII
Shaefier entered into technical explana-
tion as to how ink is affected by exposure
to the air to prove his assertions, and
he was then turned over for cross-eXami-
nation to Judge Wilson.
CHARGES OF THE EXPERT.
what are your charges per day in Civ
ing testimony as an eXpertf" was Judge
Wilson's first question.
DIR. Shaeffer was wary, and answered
the question by asking another as to
whether Judge Wilson wanted to know
how much he was to get in this case.
Judge Wilson asked many more ques-
tions to ascertain what was the regular
charge of the witness for expert testi-
mony, and it was clear that he was trying
to show what weight a big fee would have
on the witness.
Col. Phil Thompson objected to these
questions, but Judge Bradley said they
were all right as tending to show the
weight of the witness testimony After
a great many questions DR.. Shaeffer,
whose hesitation to answer was banished
by remark from Judge Bradley, said he
had no fixed schedule for law cases, but
had charged from - up TO SIS for his
services as an expert. The letters pro
duced, he said. had been given him by
Col. Breckenridge on Sunday night, and
he had examined them then and last
night The Christmas card was exam
ined yesterday in the court. He had
given three hours yesterday TO the letters
and two hours to the card. The exam
ination of the ink on the Christmas card
had been ocular only.
DETERMINED BY SIGHT ALONE.
"And you mean to say that you deter
mined the age of that ink by sight
alone}" asked Judge Wilson.
Yes, sir" was the answer, and the
witness added that If the ink was not
manufactured for the purpose of deceiv-
ing him, he could not modify what he had
said.
And you say that ii this ink was not
made for the purpose of deceiving you,
you are absolutely sure that this let
ter was written within three or four
years2n was Judge Wilson's next ques-
tion, which was half assertion.
"Yes sir-that is to say not absolutely,
but absolutely within the circumstances
| have indicated"
DIR. Shaeffer also said he could get
nearly mathematical exactness in deter
mining hand writing
Then he said in answer to another ques-
tion by Judge Wilson; II feel much more
certain that Madeline Pollard wrote that
letter" (the alleged forgery than do as
to the date of the handwriting as stated
by me-"
DETECTION OF spIILARITIEs.
Judge Wilson wanted to know whether
IL DR. Shaeffer were employed to detect
similarities in two letters apparently
written by the same hand, the fact that
he had been called on for that kind of ser.
vice would prejudice him, or affect his
judgment in the matter.
DIR. Shaefer at first said he would de
cline the work.
Then Judge Wilson made DR. Shaeffel
tell how he noted dissimilarities in hand
writing and had him note the difference
between the letter &C" in one note and
the letter "C'i in another note.
Then the letter "W' was taken up, and
DR. Shaeffer said he knew positively that
a wv" in the alleged forged letter was
exactly like the "W's" in about twenty
other letters written by Miss Pollard.
Now, show me w like this in any
of the letters" said Judge Wilson, and at
the end of long examination the witness
declared that he found two "W'sp in a
letter, and both were a little different
from the one indicated Two more "W's''
in ser arate notes were shown DR.. Shaef.
fer, and he said they were entirely diff
ferent. Then two separate "ps' were
shown him, and Judge Wilson asked If he
could tell whether two letters so entirely
different were written by the same
person
II might" said DR.. Shaeffer, evavis-
lively.
But can you tell2'
81 might again.
''You don't know said Judge Wilson
positively.
Judge Wilson took the witness down
through the alphabet, until II 30 o'clock
when a recess was ordered for three
quarters ef an hour.
The same method Of cross-examiuation
Of Dr. Shaeffer was resumed after the
recess, extended 10 worcs as well as
letters.
What Judge Wilson was aiming at was
not obvious at this time, but subsequently
a question swowed that he wanted tc
prove that a forger might initiate an.
other persons handwriting very well, but
his own characteristics were bound tC
crop out.
ANOTHER EXPERT CALLED.
Z. b. Hay, member Of the Washing.
ton bar, was sworn as an expert in hand
writing He had seen many thousands oi
handwr1tings and compared them he
said. He had made their comparison
his special study. "If you please
or"-began Maj. Butterworth, anc
there was laugh as MIR. Hay in pastime
intimated that he felt highly honored by
the title, but preferred TO be called plain
/ Mister.
II beg your pardon, " said Maj. Butter
worth.
He's not from Kentucky" +" interjectec