The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-15
Attorney Rsyne Delivers the Opening
Statement for The Defense.
Drafts and Checks Signed by Will
lam Murdoch, Dating From
1872 to the Time Of His Death,
introduced in Evidence to Prove
the Signature to the Note a
Forgery.

WILLOWS, April 14.-Evidence for
the plaintiff was heard in the MURDOCH
case most of to-day, the opening state
ment for the defense being made late
in the afternoon.
A Mrs Glover of San Francisco testi-
fled this morning that she took care OIL
Mrs Murdock's children at Allen
Springs in September, 1877, when Mrs.
Murdoch was called home by mes
sage from her husbands father, Sam
uel. Mrs. Murdoch left the springs
during the first days of September, and
remained away about one week. She
remembered the date, because at that
time the husband of the witness told
her that Bill Murdoch was making
trouble between Gavin and his faith
er. Mrs. Murdoch left the morning
after receiving the message.
In cross-examination General Barnes
questioned the witness searchingly as to
her relations with Mrs. Murdoch, the
plaintiff; also as to the meeting of l..
S. Megginson, to whom the note was in
dorsed, with Mrs. Murdoch at San
Francisco.
Witness said that she met Meggin-
son and William Murdoch together in
Mrs. Murdock's rooms. She also met
Megginson at other times, but ne did
not talk to her a year ago as o testify
ing in this case.
w. A. sehorn, well-k1iown dentist
here, testified that he was the cores
pondent of a San Francisco paper in
1854 After William Murdock's death,
and when this note was heard OF, he
had a conversation with b. H. Burton,
the executor of William Murdock's es-
tate, and defendant in the present
suit. Witness said Mr.. Burton told
him there was such note, and that
had William lived another week the
claim would have been settled.
The defense cross-eXamined Sehorn,
putting questions suggesting a different
construction to words of Burton, re-
ferring to the word settled" as mean
ing that a suit would have been brought
to annul the note as a forgery, and thus
settle" it, No other important testi-
mony was elected
The first proceeding this afternoon
was the reading of answers to interro-
gatories. The deposition of William Fl.
Megginson taken at Grand Rapids. o.,
recited that the 100000 note had been
held by Megginson as collateral secur-
ity for loans of money advanced The
deposition was lengthy, and contained
answers denying that Megginson ever
said that he believed there was an in
timacy between William Murdoch and
Mrs. Mary Helen Murdoch
d. E. Alexander, a San Francisco at
torney, testified that the 100000 rote
was shown him in September, 1887, by
E. l. Robinson, an attorney. The wit
ness identified the note He said he
had not the slightest doubt that tie
note he then saw was the one in court.
After REORGANIZATION, in which the
witness was closely questioned as to
how he could identify the note after
so many years, and answers that the
unusual amount time and a popularity
of signature was the reason. Grove l..
johnson announced that plaintiff rested.
General Barnes called Mrs. Murdoch
to the stand and again questioned her
as to the trip from Allen Springs to her
home, at the time the note was written.
Attorney Richard Bayne then deliv-
cred the opening statement for the de-
Tense. He spoke but a few moments.
saying that the defense would prove the
signature to the note a forgery. and
that it would be proven physical i'm
possibility for the note to have been
made at the time and place alleged He
asked the jury to give equal weight to
the testimony of experts who had made
such matters life study as to that of
other witnesses
The first move of the defense was to
introduce in evidence drafts and checks
signed by Mr.. Murdoch. 1t is said that
there will be about a thousand of these
introduced. dating from 1872 to the time
of his death in 1891 All day to-mor-
row will be consumed in reading these
exhibits and placing them on record