The record-union., 1896-05-21
TIE LETTER WRITING ART.
EXemplided in the Case Now Before
Justice Henry.
That Feature Disposed Of, the Gregory
Company's Books Undergo
Inspection.

When the Gregory examination case
was called in Justice Henry's court
yesterday Mrs. Lee resumed the wit
ness stand and was asked by Assistant
District Attorney Jones to identify an
other lot of letters received by her from
Gregory, which caused Mr.. Bruner,
Gregory's counsel to remark that he
had sent for a whole sackful of her let
tiers to his client.
MP. Jones asked if it was done TO pro-
long the farce, and Mr.. Bruner replied
that he didn't care whether counsel
called it farce or burlesque.
Then the lawyers got down to bust-
ness, but before any progress had been
made a messenger arrived with the Dig
bundle of letters referred to by Mr.
Bruner, a glance at which came near
causing the court a stroke of paralysis.
The first letter read was written by
Gregory in March, 1893. 1t contained
nothing of Importance, and concluded
by suggesting that when Mrs. Lee
started southwark on a proposed Jour-
Eey she pass through Sacramento, and
added that the writer could then see
her. The letter contained a reference
tc Stairley's candidacy for the Office
he now holds, and the writer expressed
the OplH1Ol lldC CS7iAieNAA $1,000
was a demagogue.
Mrs Lee in the meantime sent Greg
ory some picnic cake, and in the ac-
companying letter told Of having called
upon General Charles Cadwalader in
his illness.
In acknowledging the receipt of this
letter Gregory wrote that he wouldn't
mind being sick if he could have such
a r-haired nurse as his correspond
ent.
In a letter dated August %, 1893, Mr..
Gregory wrote that Mrs. Lee could
never make d mistake in relying upon
him.
Writing on January %, 1894, from San
Francisco Mr.. Gregory wrote that if
Mrs. Lee should come to the Midwinter
Fair, as proposed, he would be pleased
to meet and wait upon her, but advised
her to select some other than the open
ing day.
The next letter read referred to the
difficulty of collecting moneys due the
firm, and assured Mrs. Lee of the writ
er's gratitude for kindnesses on her
part The rest of the letter was on or
dinary topics.
A number Of commonplace letters and
1NItS were ItdU, DuL lI6y COHldIilSi
only assurances of regard, expressions
of solicitude for her health, references
to politics, the Midwinter Fair, State
Board of Trade, etc.
In response to questions Mrs. Lee said
that on a visit by her to the Gregory
family late in 1894. she called atten-
tion to a statement in a weekly paper
regarding her business relations with
the Gregory Company. A statement
was there presented to her for her sig
nature, but she did not sign it. 1t was
intended for publication. On the advice
of Judge Curtis she destroyed it.
The witness testified that she did not
know at that time that the Gregory
firm was insolvent, but knew that the
railroad strike had embarrassed it.
Gregory had not infomed her that the
firm was insolvent.
The witness could not remember hav-
ing told Judge Curtis that Mr.. Gregory
had never proposed marriage to her.
The prosecution here rested for the
time being, and a recess was taken to
enable the defense to prepare for the
oss-examination of Mrs. Lee.
When court resumed Mr.. Bruner Of
fered a large file of letters which he said
he desired Mrs. Lee to examine and
state whether or not they were in her
handwriting.
Mr.. Jones strenuously objected to this
procedure. Perhaps he had introduced
too many of Gregory's letters, but they
were put in to offset any volume of
letters the defense was certain to offer,
and that the record might show that.
He now objected to the defense reopen
ing the case by offering a bushel of let
ters more than those on which Mrs.
Lee had been examined. The case should
rest on the letters already introduced.
Mr.. Bruner called attention to the fact
that at the outset he claimed that the
defense had three or four letters to the
plaintiffs one, and he wished to verify
that statement by having Mrs. Lee
identify these letters in a general way.
He had not asked to introduce them in
evidence.
Judge Henry said he could not see the
necessity of having such a multitude of
letters offered in addition to those read
in evidence.
Mr. Bruner remarked that the letters
We're not then offered in evidence-only
for observation-disclosures that when the
defense. put in its evidence they could
have them all read if they SO desired.
Mr.. Jones said he wished it understood
that he had just as big pile Of letters
that had not been read.
At the afternoon session County Clerk
Hamilton was called TO the stand to
verify certain documents concerning the
insolvency proceedings OF Gregory
Brothers Company.
l.. c. SCHNEIDER, bookkeeper for the
company, was called to the stand. He
testified that he is the assignee for the
creditors of the company. He had been
employed by the company about thir-
teen years prior to July, lS9o- Since
1887 the firm has been known as Greg
CRY Brothers Company.
The witness identified the petition in
insolvency, and the schedule therein
showed about the correct condition of
its affairs. The books of the company
were in the hands OF the Sheriff, and the
figures were prepared from the best
data at hand. 1t was approximately
correct.
Mr.. Jones then read the contents of
NyyHy/ TICE