The herald., 1897-11-21
EVIDENCE is IN
Argument in the Bird Trial
Begins Monday
LENG DICK TOY DEP0RTED
WILDE HELD FOR. TRIAL ON A
FORGERY CHARGE
Bassett's Bad Record-Supervisors
Transact Routine Business-New
Suits-Court Notes

The Bird forgery case continues 10
occupy the attention Of the court in De-
partment one. The first witness called
yesterday morning was @. J. Griffith, on
re-cross examination.
Some thirty odd checks were submit
ted to Mr.. Griffith for the identification
Of his signature. All were admitted to
be genuine, with the possible exception
Of one, which he considered doubtful.
The checks and stub books in the ONCE
were always accessible, but the witness
did not attend to details.
He knew Joseph Mesmer, who had
applied to him for the loan OF sum OF
money, which was refused, but he
denied having expressed a dislike to the
officers of the First National bank to
said Mesmer because they. or some one.
We're giving out information concerning
his business affairs.
S. Il. Dewey, formerly a paying teller
in the State Loan and Trust company,
was called for the defense. Mr.. Dewey
has made n study of signatures. and has
been called as an expert in cases. He
is familiar with Mr.. Griffith's signature.
and after brief examination Of the dis
puted checks, admitted having seen
them before. and. comparing them with
those on the paper. thought they had
all been written by the same person.
The cross examination brought out the
further information that while he had
compared Mr.. Griffths signature foc
business purposes he had made. no crit
ical examination for the purpose of de-
tecting fraud. He had examined some
checks. presumably genuine, and upon
comparing them with those In dispute
had expressed the opinion that they
were all signed by one hand. Mr. Dewey
denied having conversed with Mr.. Grif-
fifth about the case. or Of recommending
himself as an expert.
w. T.. S. Hammond, paying teller o:
the First National bank. was put
through practically the same examina-
ton concerning checks. check books,
and the genuineness of the signatures.
The most important testimony ELECTED
was the fact of Mr. Hammonds having
gone to Mr.. Griffith's office in response
to that gentleman's desire and having
examined checks admittedly genuine
and those alleged to he fraudulent. He
Scfcttcu CtcCh WIltteu WIFI lISuteT
pen for $50, payable to the Times Mirror
company 80
''Is this your SIGNATURE" he said to Mr..
Griffith.
"Yes. it is" Mr.. Griffith replied.
Well" said Mr.. Hammond, "if you
acknowledge that signature, you can
rot repudiate these other checks
Mr. Griffith replied Mr.. Hammond.
you have made $1,000 for me-" and wrote
Il cross in the corner so he would know it.
Mr.. Hammond admitted having an hon
est doubt about the genuineness of the
one signed on August 17th: the others
he thought. We're signed by Mr.. Griffith.
The cross examination brought out
nothing further. except that Mr.. Grif-
fifth had said that Bird could write his
name better than he could do it himself
This closed the examination, and the
attorneys for the defense asked for an
adjournment until Monday morning. in
order to consult some attorneys from
Oakland. at which time they would be-
ready to submit the case for argument
The request was granted by the court.