The San Francisco call., 1897-06-16
MAXWELL CALLS IT
JUST A FORGERY
That Is His Opinion of
the Jacob 2 Davis
Will.
At Least Part of the Signature
Falls Under His Con.
demnation.
Attorney Campbell Not abe to Obtain
an Expression Regarding the Re-
mainder of the Document.

Judge Coffey's court was flooded with
handwriting experts yesterday. In addi-
ton to Experts Gumpel and Horton, who
were present, it was intimated that Ames
and Carvalho of New YORK were to be in
troduced.
AS beginning in this line of testimony
Attorney George a. Knight, who repre-
sents the contestants of the will of the
late Jacob 2. Davis. introduced George r.
E. Maxwell, paying teller of the First Ma
tional Bank OF San Francisco.
Mr.. Maxwell said that he was well &C.
quainted with the handwriting of Jacob
q. Davis, who banked at his institution
Tor years. He was asked TO examine the
will, which lie proceeded 10 60 with q
powerful microscope by the courtroom
window. The examination lasted fifteen
minutes, but at the end of that time Max
well asked TO have until P. NJ. to render
his opinion.
When court reconvened Mr.. Maxwell
said he had made an examination under
the microscope and he thought that the
word Davis at the beginning of the will
was forgery, ss was also the same word
Davis" in the signature Jacob Il Davis"
He had not made critical examination OF
other parts OF the instrument for the rea-
son that his attention had been directed
blythe lawyers questions TO only the word
Davis"
Nothing could induce Mr.. Maxwell to
express an opinion touching the remain
der of the writing. He had often paid
cheeks signed by the firm name of Boyd
& Davis, the same having been written by
Mr.. Davis, but he had never seen Mr.
Davis sign anything as jacob u. Davis,
and not being fami. lar with that signature
ot h-f
the Jacob u" part of the signature. 1t
was not for him to argue on the question
of whether part of signature might be
bogus and the rest of it genuine.
Attorney Campbell, speaking for the
proponents of the will, mixed Mr.. Max
well up in regard to his theories, and sue
ceeded in getting an admission that i;
was impossible for the witness or any body
else to say positively whether the sigma
ture Jacob u. Davis" was written with a
gold pen or a steel pen, unless the usual
custom of the writer were known TO the
person making the examination.
Mr.. Maxwell seemed somewhat suspi-
cious, for even after being assured By the
court and all the attorneys on both sides
that exhibit No. 16, copy OF the so-called
wife viii, was In the handwriting of the
:estatOr. he said he would have to make
an examination OF II under a microscope
before he wonld answer questions about
it or use it a basis for forming a judg-
ment on other writings.
The examination of John G. Sender
ling, who came 5000 miles to tell all he
know about tn death OF Mr.. Davis and
who revealed the fact that his demise was
directly traceable to the excessive use of
castor oil, was concluded yesterday.
Attorney Campbell, on behalf of the
young ladies. Mrs. Curtis and Miss Muir
who are named as legaiees in the will
asked the witness whether he remem.
bered receiving a letter from Davis dated
October l, 1885, in which the millionaire
referred 10 his intended disposition of his
properly. Senderling answered.: "No,
sir; 1 do not. Davis never wrote me any
such letter."
You say that when Davis died you
took charge of the girls, as you call them.
and sdvised them what TO do?" pursued
Campbell. "Why did you do that?"
because they were 5000 miles away
from home and there was no one else 10
take care of them"
"You said yesterday that you would
not swear positively that this will was in
the handwriting of Jacob f. Davis.
Whv2"
Because / did not see Davis write II. -
Max Gumpel refused to testify until
assured that his fees would be paid
Further expert testimony will be heard
to-day.