The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-13

Positively Identifies Him.
The principal business in the Municipal
Court Saturday was the hearing in the
case of George W. Cole, the man accused
of passing forged check at the store of
Cox and Dyer, the Middle street shoe
dealers. Cole, an elderly man of good
appearance, sat in the dock Nearby
sat his wife and several relatives, who
fesGlhed In his behalf. County Attorney
LIBBY appeared for the State, and NJ
a Floyd, Esq, represented the respond
eht. Judge Robinson found probable
cause and held the respondent in $500
bail for the grand jury.
Before the Cole case was called several
minor matters were disposed of:
1t took the court just two minutes to
dispose of the case of Frank CLARK, who
was found by Officer Frank on Fore
street, intoxicated. Clark said he was
guilty and the court said So and costs.
Frank Kelley pleaded guilty in search
and seizure case, and paid a fine of %10O
and costs.
The Cole case was then called, and Mr..
w. S. Cox, who cashed the forged check
was called to the stand. He said he was
retail boot and shoe dealer on Middle
street, where he is associated in business
with Robert F. Dyer.
He testified that on the afternoon
of Dec. Z, tho respondent came to his
store. Mr.. Cox identified the forged
check. He said that when the respondent
came to his store he bought pair Of
ruhbers andsleggings, amounting in price
to $l.92. The check was rendered in pay
ment and the respondent was given in
change s26.oS. The respondent told Mr..
Cox that he WAS the George H. Wilson
mentioned in the check and that he was
employed by S. W. Thaxter & Co. Mr..
Cox discovered that the check was forged
within five minutes after the man had
left the store. Mr.. Cox telephoned to S.
W. Thaxter & Co. and they said that
they did not employ man named Geo.
ID. Wilson. The check was then given to
the police. On Thursday evening, Mr..
Cox met Cole on Munjoy Hill, and talked
with him to India strcet, where Cole en-
tered house Mr.. Cox knew Cole and
said that he accused him of passing the
check.
On Cross examination Mr.. Cox said
that the man who entered his store was
dressed in a dark overcoat and a can.
which was drawn down over his ears,
He was similarly dressed Thursday even
ing Mr.. Cox was willing to swear that
the respondent wore a cap Thursday
evening, and dark coat.
MIR. Arthur I. Estes brother-in law
of Mr.. Cox, in employed in the store of
Cox and Dyer, and saw the respondent
there on the afternoon of December T.
He'heard some parts of the conversation
between Cole and Mr.. Cox, and saw that
Mr.. Coz was cashing d check He saw
the money handed to Cole and saw Cole
leave the store.
On cross examination Mr.. Estes said
he had never seen Cole before He de-
scribed Coles dress as MIR. Cox had done
adding that Cole had muller about mis-
neck.
MIR. Libby then asked about the meet
ing with Cole Thursday night. Mr..
Estes was with Mr. Cox on thai evening
and corrohorated that gentleman's story
OF the occurrence.
Mr.. Mccarthy, clerk in the shoe
store, testified to seeing Cole in the store
on December Z. He had never seen the
prisoner before.
Willism Ii. Thaxter, of the firm of S.
w. Thaxter & Co. examined the check
and said the signature was not the genu-
inc signature Of the firm. No part Of the
CRACK was in Mr.. ThaxSer's writing,
form OF the check was not that used
by the firm. Several years ego the re-
sspondent was in the employ of the firm
for several months.
Mr.. 3. W. IhaZter testified that the
check and signature were not in his
handwriting. He did not know the re
spondent and could not say whether be
had ever been employed by the firm not
being very familiar with the faces of the
employees, who were under the charge Of
Nj, W. II. Thaxter.
Mrs. Cole, the wife Of the respondent
was the first witness for the defense
she said she was thoroughly Acquainted
with her husbands dress. On Tuesday
last she left her husband at the house ct
l.59 in the afternoon. She returned at
O'Clock. Her husband wears a black
suit, overcoat and all He never yyears =
cap and does not own one. He had no
such cap on Tuesday last. He never
wears muffier around his neck.
On cross examination Mrs. Cole said
that when she returned home at O'Clock
Tuesday afternoon her husband had gone
out, she did not know where. Until the
last Of Septemb Der, Cele was employed as
foreman on the work at Fort Preble.
Since then he has net. had steady employ
Inent. He has worked occasionally at
the Grand Trunk wilarves. The witness
did not know whether he had cap when
he worked at the wharves. His wife
thought she would have known had he
owned such cap.
Miss Nancy i. Griffin, Mrs. Coles
niece, corroborated the testimony of her
aunt.
Mrs. Susie Cole. the wife of the brother
of the respondent, was called 1t was to
her house On India street that Cole went
when he met Mr.. Cog, Thursday night.
Mrs. Cole testified that the respondent
was at her house on the previous Tuesday
and remained there until after p. m.
He was alleged to have passed the forged
check at little before Z, and this testi-
mony was In the nature of an abb.
Mr.. Edgar Cole corroborated the above
testimony of his wife.
George W. Cole, the accused. took the
stand He said he has been foreman nf 81