The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-03

NScO NlSntIy-A NlSu Muu ApPhSu 50
Cunningly TO Manufacture Receipt
for Note but Was discovered. Tried.
Convicted and Sentenced to Serve Seven
Years Imprisonment.
The interest in questionable docu-
ments coming into court in one form
or another which has been excited by
the mystery surrounding the character
of the will of Judge Joseph Holt, of
Washington. in connection with the
general suspicion that the sender of
/ the document has a sinister motive In
concealing his identity. brings to mem
ory rather remarkable crime which
occurred in Williamsburg county,
South Carolina, in the spring OF 1879
At the spring term CT the court of COM
mon Pleas for williamsburg county, j.
Fl. Livingstone brought suit against
W. W. Ward, the eX-sheriff of the coun-
ty fer the recovery of $1,000. money
loaned on Wards sealed ncse. The
particulars are related by the Wash
ington Post.
The court was presided over by Judge
T. s. 'Mackey BY consent of Parties,
the case was heard without q jury.
Livingstone. the plaintiff. proved the
execution CT the nCte, ami CLOSED his
case. The defense set up the plea that
the note had been paid. and produced
a receipt signed by Livingstone. dated
two years previous to the trial. for the
whole amount Of the note, principal
and interest; and a witness testified
! that he had seen the payment made In
500 bills. and four $500 bills to Living
| stone himself, on the day named in the
receipt.
Admitted Its Gcnuincness.
/ a. a,,,tt ha ctnpA
and on examining the receipt. ed
mite 4 that 1t bore his true and genuine
signature. He solemrly protested.
however. that he had not received one
dollar from Ward. and had never en-
tered Wards house for any purpose.
He declared that he was ruined, and
! that he and his wife would be made
homeless by a false recent which he
could not explain, but which he had
never knowingly signed. On cross-ex-
animation, Livingstone. who was an
old man, admitted that his memory
was very inflrm. and that on previous
occasion he had received payment Of
5000 from another debtor. which he af-
| terward denied receiving. but which
he re called to memory when shown his
receipt. The plaintiff and his counsel
at this stage of the proceeding were in
utter despair, for their case was ap-
parently lost.
Judge Mackey, who had made a close
study Cf criminal history. however, di-
recsed that the receipt be handed to
him. He then ordered the sheriff to
proceed to the nearest drugstore and
purchase drackm of murlatic acid and
a small niece CT sponge. On the re-
turn Of the officer with the articles
named, the Judge said to the plaintiff:
"Mr. Livingstone. did you ever ad-
dress a letter TO the defendant, Ward.
demanding payment of your money!
"Yes. sir" answered the plaintiff: II
wrote him many letters. but never re-
ceived any reply from him."
Judge Mackey then said to the coun-
sci:
II perceive that on the face Of this
| receipt there are several peculiar
brown spots, and the original surface
or sizing of the paper has been re-
moved. except in that portion Of the
paper where the signature was writ
ten. The body of the receipt Is In the
handwriting of the defendant In my
opinion the defendant has taken let
ter of the plaintiff and removed the
writing with mur!atic acid, and then
written the receipt above the sigma
ture. I will now apply this acid to the
writing on the back of the complaint
| In this case. and 1t will be seen that
| the writing will instantly disappear.
and the paper will at once exhibit
several. brown spots identical with
those on this receipt"
The acid was applied to the paper,
and as the writing disappeared. the
brown blots We're seen upon its sur
face, and the crime of the defendant
was clearly revealed.
Ward Is Horror. Stricken.
Ward, at this juncture. looked as hor-
ror-stricken as Lady Macbeth. when,
gazing upon her fair but murderous
hand. she exclaimed. as she vainly
rubbed It, "Out damned spot! The
in favor of the plaintiff. adding that II
was the duty of the solicitor to have
Ward prosecuted for his audacious
forgery.
The next morning Judge Mackey left
for Georgetown, forty miles distant, to
hold court. While there he received
letter from a friend. warning him not
to return to Williamsburg. as he had
promised to do In few days. for the
purpose Of hearing an argument In
chambers, as Ward had solemnly sworn
to kill him on sight In five days. how
ever, he returned to Williamsburg. and
seeing Ward in the street. demanded If
he had threatened to take his life. Ward
answered that he had. but had aban-
dond his purpose.
Ward was indicted at the next term
of court and placed on trial for forgery.
When the verdict Of guilty was rem
dered Ward rose and discharged his
pistol at Livingstone, the prosecuting
witness. and one Of the balls passed
through his coat. He was instantly
disarmed. and sentenced to term of
seven years at hard labor in the peni-
tentiary. where several years after he
died. Ward had been man of wealth
ana nigh standing In the community