The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-05

UoSve1 In oW0Dan C0se-faa1 10
Get OCT 81 It--Defenss Has Experts
- battle was fairly opeeed In the S.
- wright-E,air note SUIT In fudge ia
80 court yesterday. and the forgery
paase Of the case assumed oefiHiie pro-
pmstous
n morning was devoted to the exam
mafjen Of three bankers. who as experts
a Signatures sesfified for the plaintiff.
tkat they were FIRMLY convinced from
eouperisons made by them that Capt.
Gamuel Blair signed the big note and con-
sE1cf. In the afternoon young Wright
A1mseis went on the stand and told his
sfeey and was pat through q fierce Cross
1xsa,ination. under which No sweat end
IooiEed badly ratified for while. then
heaced up and answered some rather
embarrassing questions resarding his pri-
vatc affairs with much nonchaiance.
only two other witnesses testified, oua
Ssfnx +. A. Gamble. who corroborated
waght. who aid Gamble dictated the
contract
An Increased interest in the trial was
manifested yesterday. II h thought that
the dsfenss viii open its case today One
Of the defendants witnssses will be Prof.
Daniel 7. Ames. OF New York. editor Of
the Penman's Art Journal. Of that city.
and one Of The most noted experts en- chi.
Biography and disputed signatures In the
world. Other witnesses who will testify
that they believe the signatures OF Can't.
B:Atr 10 the note and contract are not
genuine. II IL said. are William blair and
biz sister. Miss Jennie Blair, the con and
slaughter OF Capt. Blair and cousins Of
yousS Wright. who were among those
inside the rail OF the court room yester-
eAy The young woman In dressed In
een from the audience.
Capt. Biair's Signatures.
The first move OF the PLAINTIFFS attorneys
npen the opening OF court was to Introduce
N evidence two leases made by Cant. Hair
70 which the signatures were admittedly
genuine. r. v. Ankeny. of the Puget
eosad National hank. was called and asked
= examine the signatures 10 the leases and
Ms alleged forged note and contract. He
MstInod that he had had = long experience
g banking. acting as paying teller for
neny years, and now had daily occasion
= ASS upon the authenticity OF sigma
tussa 10 commercial paper. In his opinion
We SIGNATURES 20 the nots and contract
we signed by the same person signing the
Wo leases. lie wouid have paid wishou,
Aeetiation check signed So had Blair had
- account With his bank and the check
yReeented.
-. Ankeny was eross-examined with
gNt thoroughness after Mr.. Piles turned
over TO the defense. Mr.. Hughes con-
eeeQng THE cfoss-examinat.on. The drift
- ". Hughes questions was to elicit the
eem1meon from tie witness that 1t was pos
eible Tor .forger.es to be so skiIlfui!y com
mitted as 20 defy detection. Mr. Ankeny
admitted that there were forgerx so skill
ful but he had never had personal expert
shSe With such forgery.
nen Mr.. Hughes produced a large num-
etr of checks purporting 90 have been
signed by Capt. Biair. some OF which were
and some Of which were not genuine. IL In
aid. and asked the witness to pick out
from the lot the genuine signatures.
Attorney Howe for the plaintiff at once
eh1tcssd 10 tho proposed cross-examiua-
Ton On the ground that the alleged sigma
eures were not proved 10 be either genuine
o. spurious. and that the checks until such
proof vas made. were rot admissible In
syidenees The Objects raised lively dis
eusstan among the opposing lawyers. so
warm did the discussion grow that the
court was compelled Ia demonstrate. and
announced that he would thereafter en-
fierce strictly the rule that the lawyers
must address all remarks 10 the court.
Then the lawyers quit wrangiing, smiled
sNsetly. and peace relsned. As one af the
terms OF the treaty. Mr.. Hughes withdrew
his bunch OF checks and his question 10
The witness
E. Brown. . hotel clerk. was called.
He vas clerk At the Arlington hotel In 1929.
SAen Capt, Blair was guest. At that
tine he sae the captain sign the register.
Here tho witness was handed dog-earea
book covered with thousand ard ore sears
and stains. That Was the register. he said.
end turning its pages te Indicated B'air's
Name where the latter had signed IL. The
eoek sas offered In evidence. Witness had
ssen Blair write several times after that.
He was then asked what he thought ahou,
the Signature 50 the contract and note.
NJ. Hughes interposed an objection. The
witness must be 50 familiar with the sig
nature At Is have II photographed on MS
mind. said Mr.. Hughes. before he could
sessity That he was familiar with II ana
psss an opinion on a. The witness could
net possibly have such knowledge or
tAa signature OF Capt. Blair. The court
sustained Mr., Hughes and Mr.. Brewa
&nd his register wefe allowed Ia depart.
William ThaanGu, OF the Washington
Nanossi bark. and Il. II. Denny. OF Dex-
Nef hasscn & Co. were called and tests-
hee saang the Same llae ~ had Mr.. Ankle
ny The signatures to the note and GEN.
vast were apparently genuine On cross
Namsnation eosa admitted that mistakes
ssa'd aappen ard tae NEST careful banks
eaaShi On forged paper
s@' before the recess WAS taken. Mr..
TssS called Upon iahn n Wright to take
.-s witness stand explaining that he did
ses want the defense to say that ,ha plain
uH oAa nos dare take the stand.