Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-19
good deal OF energy and work on the
part OF the defence to disproye.
TELLS ABOUT HIS LIFE

good deal OF energy and work on the
part OF the defence to disprove
TELLS ABOUT HIS LIFE
Taylor had very little hesitancy in talk
ing about his private affairs, or his evil
deeds. II am he said. In reply TO ques-
tons. from King William county 1
was deputy clerk OF Hanover county for
thirteen years, deputy clerk OF King VIII
liam for over five years. and Commits
sioner OF the Revenue OF the latter county
FOR four years. I am 23 years old. and
son OF John X. Taylor, CLERK Of the Han
over County Court Mr.. Keith Taylor.
Cierk OF the Supreme Court. is one Of my
uncles and Mr. James NJ. Taylor another
ana have great number OF relatives
about here. ] married daughter OF Mr..
y. Il. Hiil Of King William"
He was not questioned further about
MS relatives. but was asked to tell about
the matter before the court. He said he
had been tried for forgery, and convicted
upon his plea Of guilty, and, being shown
the various bogus warrants on the trea-
sufy, admitted that ne had writ
ten all or them and forged the
signatures OF the court clerks.
TERRY ENDORSED THEM.
i wrote the Wilson order" he replied
70 a question, and Mr.. Terry wrote the
wilson signature on the back as well as
MS own endorsement. / saw him write
them" Being told TO tell all he knew
about the matter. he continued: Terry
knew as much about this matter as |
did' wrote the orders. and he en-
dorsed and collected them. The under
standing was that he should get half and
/ half. ! don't know exactly how many
OF them there were, but think there were
five or six"
Counsel objected 20 this evidence but
the Court held that Il was prJper 10
show conspiracy He was then qucs-
toned separately as % all Of the court
orders, and asserted that they were en-
dorsed by Terry. who knew that they
were forged and fraudulent papers He
said Terry ala not always divide equally.
ana in one instance he did not get any
thing. The names Of the persons In
whose favor the orders were drawn were
all fictitious. so far as the witness knew.
In reply to a question from Mr Smith,
witness said the matter Of his testifying
had nothing whatever 10 do with the
fixing OF his punishment. He declined to
testify unless made 10 do So. and was
about 20 give his reasons for declining
when the Court stopped him. There was.
be declared, no understanding about his
testifying
WROTE THEM IN RICHMOND.
Messrs. Lewis and Haw both took part
In the crOss-examinatiOn, which was
searching and thorough. Witness became
worried at times. and could not remember
details very well but he stuck fairly well
to his story. He said he was an eXpe-
ricnced peuman. while Terry was very
poor one. All Of the forged orders were
written i'm Richmond. He did not know
where exactly. but thought either at the
urk no and Terry sion
ped. or al ONeirs, on Fifteenth street.
They were all prepared nj the
same time. or at least a good many OF
them were, but they were negotiated one
al a time He thought the order on
which Terry wac being tried was writ
ten IN the morning. He had sent orders
by James West and his clerk, but had
never sent one by James ). Robertson.
lie endorsed the one drawn In favor OF
j. H. Phillips. Didn't remember who
this one was sent by. Taylor denied
having sent one Of the orders by Mr..
James s Robertson. from whom he en-
drayorel TO get check in advance for
So but said on the contrary he gave
AIr Robertson draft on a Richmond
merchant for this amount. lie got some
Of the blanks at Everett WadGey's and
others at King and Queen Courthouse.
Witness did not want 90 say how LONG
answer, said about year He did not
know how many orders he had forged,
when the first one was, or who 1t was on.
As well as he could remember. though,
Terry was with him. lie did not have
he slightest idea what the aggregate
was. lie spent money freely when he
had IL, and was In debt now.
ABOUT HIS TESTIFYING.
Taylor was pressed pretty close as to
the matter of his agreement 10 TESTIFY
against Terry. II had been his understand
ing all the time that he was held as a WI
ness and would be bound TO testify. The
morning of this trial he told Mr.. Smith.
the commemorative Attorney, all about
the whole transaction, but said at the
time that he did not want to appear
against Terry unless the latter tried 70
place the whole blame on him. lie had
never given Mr.. Smith any other informa-
ton until a few days ago. when, having
been advised that Terry would try 10
blame the whole thing on him, he wrote
two or three letters To the common
wealth's Attorney, suggesting certain llhe5
of evidence that might be followed up.
These letters were shown 10 the deIehct
after some sQuabbl!ng
Witness repeated that he understood his
sentence was delayed SO he might testify
but there was no agreement TO TINS eject
before his conviction. He wanted Terry
to get of as light as possible, but when
ne heard through numerous friends that
Terry was going 10 bring witnesses here
TO testify they would not believe him Oh
oath. he Taylor) determined 10 lay what
information he had before the Common
wealth's Attorney.
THE HOFFMAN MATTER.
The witness insisted that the name of j.
Hoffman in one of the orders was iicti-
tlous. bat admitted that while he was
deputy clerk Terry and Mr.. Robertson had
both sued man named Hoffman. He dld
not remember the initials ON one occa-
sion Terry bought horse here and took
all the money rived from the order sent
except s.. He had sent an order by Vivian
Kidd, but this was genuine one. lie
had never sent one 10 Strauss Brothers.
TAYLOR said Terry did not handle any
forged paper that he did not write, ana
had 10 admit that he could not have told
anything on him that was not charged IN
indictments that had been dismissed
TAYLOR was on the stand until after 6
o'clock Mr.. OSullvan was further eX-
amined as TO his dealing with Terry.
clerk Campbell, Of Gloucester, testified to
one Of the orders being forged. and Mr.
Butler made oath that he had cashed two
orders for Terry. Then court adjourned
until this morning.