The evening times., 1896-06-17
ANOTHER WILL EXPERT
He Studied the Writing and
Thinks It Is Genuine.
NoEVIDENCE CT FORGERY
1t Is Prof. Hagen's Opinion That the
Hand That Wrote the Holt Docu-
ment Also Penned the Letters-Ml-
nutely Questioned by Counsel-Pecu-
liarities of the Style.

A new expert was on the stand in the
Holt will trial this morning. He was
Prof. William L. Hagen of Tloy, N. y,
WHO for the last fifteen years has made
cnirography study and who has been
repeatedly called upon to testify in cases of
disputed handwriting. He made an ex-
animation or the will in January last.
The examination OF Z. b. Hay. Of this
city, which was begun yesterday, was sus-
pended while the new expert was Oh the
witness stand.
Prof. HagcB, like the other experts, lee
turcd at length on the peculiarites OF Judge
Hollis writing. He had examined the let
teIs on exhibition in the case, and showed
where the little characteristicsiD them crop
ped outiD the will.
From comparison of the writings what
Conclusions have you reached about the
will?" asked Mr.. Darlington.
1T is my opinion that the hand that
wrote the will is the same one that wrote
the letters"
The expert followed his answer with
specification OF the reason for his cOnclu-
sion. There was no evidence of imitation
to the mind of the witness. Simulated writ
ing would run slowly and hesitatingly and
the ink would run freely.
In the will there were evidences in the
WTlJill- WlleTe tHe lllk Tdu OuU. IL was dioo
evident that the writing had been done rap
idly.
do you think that the same penman that
wrote the will wrote the signatures of the
witnesses to it?'
II do not, sir. There is no similarity be-
tween the two writings"
THE sTROTHERs SIGN.
The photograph of Judge Holt's stable,
with Charles Strothers crude sign an
nouncing that he had coal, wood, and ice
for sale, was again produced, and the
witness thought he recognized similarity
between the characters on the outside or
the envelope in which the will reached the
office OF tue register of wills and those on
the side of the barn. Strothers wrote
the latter.
Comparisons were also made of the ad-
dress on the envelope with the writing OF
Holt dictated to him.
Has this Will, in your opinion, been ar
tificially aged?''
There are no indications of it,"
''Do you find any indications OF iron
| ing?'
Il do not"
Prof. Hagen started to explain that the
paper appeared to have been folded and
dropped into a fire. Mr.. Wellington OBJ
| jected. on the ground that expert testimony
could not explain how the burning oc.
| cured and the question was not pushed.
| The witness testified that he was ac
| quaiBtcd with arcbil as chemical element
| 1t is not used now in inks. The expert
| remembered that he had analyZed an Eng
| listl ink in 1913 that contained archiI.
Muriate or chloride of tin. VIXEN applied
| TO Ink Containing archil, would black 1t.
Archil had not been used in inks in the last
twenty-five years. 1t was not u permanent
color, aud aDiline dyes are much chea PER
| Would chloride Of tin detect the presence
| OF archil in ink?" =. .s,s' IN
1t IS impossible to tell by tie use OF that
4 chemical" r
As Mr. WoTthinGton began his cross-ex.
animation he showed the expert the large
| photograph of the will and asked him II
| there was not u quaver indicated in the.
writing by that. Mr.. Hagen replied that he
| placed no confidence in the photograph.
The passing OF a wagon ut the time the
| picture was taken" said he. might Jar the
building and make the difference In the
| picture.''
| At the close OF a recess taken at 80
| O'Clock ar. worthingtnn again produced
/ the big photograph OF the Will and cioscl,
| questioned Prof. Hagen as to many of tn,
| features that appeared IN the handwriting
The initial t's in the will were all loop
| letters the expert admitted, while the
| characteristic was rare in the writing in
the letters.
The cross-eSamination required the great.
| er part OF the afternoon.