The Indianapolis journal., 1896-03-28
APPEAL TO SCIENCE
SENSATIONAL FEATURES EXPECTED
IN MARK DAVIS CASE TO-DAY.
Photograph of n Receipt Alleged to
Have Been Tempered with
Chemical Test.

The suit OF the Union Trust Company, adj
ministrator. against Mark G. Davis, TO fore
close a mortgage, will be called up at Q
o'clock this morning in the Circuit Court. 1t
Is expected that the evidence will develop
some very serious and sensational features.
The Union Trust Company appears In the
case as the administrator of the estate OF
John Lehman, who died July p, 1894 Leh-
man was unmarried. For several years be-
fore his death he was employed as a porter
in the jegelry establishment of Bingham &
Walk. He was INDUSTRIOUS and economical,
and had accumulated few hundred dollars
In 1890 Mark c. Davis. who was formerly
cashier Of the Order OF Iron Hall. was I'm
need of money. and. knowing that Lehman
had a small fund laid by, negotiated for
loan of $1,000. August 10, 1890, Davis exc
cuted his note TO Lehman for the amount
secured by mortgage on Daviss property
in this city. The note was made payable in
one year, but was allowed TO run at a good
rate Of interest. July q, 1894, Lehman died
at a sanitarium in this city He was prac-
tically an invalid for several months before
bis death, and part OF this time he spent at
the home OF Davis and wife. His trunk and
some other effects were kept at Davis's
house while he was I'll. Before his death
Lehman had spoken of the Davis note held
by him.. and after his death his friends in
looking after his estate, mentioned this fact
to the Union Trust Company, which had
qualified as the administrator. representa-
i've OF the trust company went TO Davis and
asked about the mortgage, and the latter re-
piled that IL was true that he had executed
his note to Lehman for $780, but claimed
that the Indebtedness had been paid off. The
Union Trust Company was apparently not
satisfied with the explanation, and about
year ago brought suit 10 foreclose the mort
gage, asking for a judgment of $2.1O. The
case came UP three weeks ago. and Davis
appeared in court with his attorneys, Cham
bers, Pickens & Moore. Davis produced the
ments, a receipt showing that the principal
and interest had been paid in full. The re-
ceipt was dated Oct. s. 1893. and bore the sig-
1t was apparent to the court that, although
the assertion OF Davis appeared plausible
accept the receipt as evidence that the mort
gage had been satisfied. In fact attorney
Sherwood. for the Union Trust Company. in
timated that the receipt had been tampered
with. IL was suggested that II fraud had
been used, it might be plainly shown by
process OF photography, and Judge Brown
placed the receipt In the hands Of an official
OF the court with instructions to have 1t pho
tographed- The attorneys for the defense OBJ
jected to- this procedure. They contended
that as the Union Trust Company had used
further into the investigation as TO the gen.
ulneness or the receipt. Judge Brown held the
matter in abeyance for week. and then or
dered the receipt taken to a photographer.
The work was done last week by Marceau
1t is understood that the PLAINTIFFS attor-
ney will come into court this morning,
claiming to show up most daring forgery.
Mr.. Sherwood, when asked about the case
last night. fatly declined to discuss Ii, but
1t Is said that the photographers skill
brought out evidence of forgery. When the
receipt was first exhibited in court II was
not disputed that the words. Received from
Mark G.. Davis $96 interest" were genuine,
but there was a bold intimation that the
words "And 81, 600 principal had been added
to the receipt The attorneys for the plainfiff.
IL is said, will undertake to support this
charge by expert testimony. There is also
report to the effect that a certain chemical
experiment has shown two different colors
OF ink on the face Of the receipt
During the original examination of the case
there was some surprise expressed that Da-
Wis should have felt it necessary to take
receipt when he had in his possession the
note and mortgage. He said that he paid the
money at a time when Lehman had the note
and mortgage locked in safe. and was un-
able to get at them. The receipt was given
and the other documents turned over the
next day. After Lehmans death Mr.. Davis
found some papers relating to his estate in
the dead mans overcoat pocket. He prompt
ly turned the papers over to the Union Trust
Company. IT has been shown by evidence
that Lehman had implicit confidence in Da-
Wis and had often intrusted him with his
private business affairs