The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-12
THE WILL WAS GENUINE
Verdict Given Last Evening in
the Whitcraft Case.
YESTERDAYS EVIDENCE
Henry L. Talmon, the Handwriting Ex-
pert of Chicago, Said That the Will
Was in His Opinion
Forgery.

The contested will case of Hugh
Whitcraft was concluded last evening,
and at 10 o'clock the jury brought in
will,
The evidence was concluded yesterday
afternoon.
Ed Whitcraft, brother of tie de-
ceased, Hugh Whitcraft. testified that
he had corresponded with his brother
just before his death and Lad often
seen him write. Witness said that TOR
many years he had received letters
from his brother twice a month, ana
for some years had only received the n
twice year. He said he was we'll ac-
quainted with his brothers handWrlt-
ing. and he admitted as genuine sew efal
letters which We're shown to him. When
he was shown the alleged will witness
stated that in his opinion 1t hFd not
been written or signed by his br1ther.
M j. Fitzpatrick WIS the next Wit
ness. He said that he had considered e
business transactions with the deceased
within the last five years and up to
and Immediately preceding the death.
Witness stated that he had seen the de-
ceased write several times and was ac-
quainted with his writing, and that in
his opinion Hugh Whitcraft had not
written or signed the alleged will
Henry l.. Toman of Chicago, one or
the most noted handwriting experts of
the United States, was next put on the
stand He testified that he had been
a witness in the Davis, Gordon ana
Airport will cases. He said he had beefl
a witness in more than 700 cases of TINS
nature and had made it profession
for the past 20 years. Witness testl-
fled that he had thoroughly examined
,n 81 1att hot bal hEpO intro
duced in this case, and he had also
examined the alleged will of Hugh
Whitcraft, deceased. Witness stated
that in his own opinion the writing ana
signature of the alleged Will was not
genuine. but that it was clearly for
gerry. He said that none OF the char
acteristcs of the deceased as appeared
in the numerous letters and writing in
troduced as genuine in the case are to
be found in the alleged will.
Mr.. Tolman then illustrated to the
jury the differences in the character OF
the writing of the letters admitted as
genuine and the alleged will on the
black board, pointing out the differ
ences and showing to the jury in this
way his reasons for stating that tbs
| will is a forgery.
| Israel Gibbs and NJ. w. Barber, who
We're Whitcraft's neighbors, were the
| next two witnesses. They stated thai
they were acquainted with the hand
writing of Hugh Whitcraft deceased
| and that they were of the opinion tina
the will was not genuine.
After this testimony, the contestant:
! rested their case.
j. P. Dunn was the first witness il
| rebuttal on the part of the proponents
| During his testimony Attorney Wins
ton asked witness if he had had con
| versation With the deceased on the da.
the will was. made out This was OBJ
jected to by the contestants, and tn
court was adjourned until 2 o'clock
Judge Napton saying that he woult
rule on the question when the cour
would convene in the afternoon. Whel
| the session was again resumed. tn
counsel argued and the question wa
| allowed.
Dunn then testified that the CONVEX
sation between him and Hugh Whit