Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-11-19

drew It up. snd one Of his clerks. All
this is admitted by the defendant's
counsel. who cannot do otherwise. since
| the proof is forthcoming and clear
OF course, this second testament
would completely set aside the former
were all it's conditions fulfilled. But
they are not, contests the defender, the
| added clause being the point on which
he rests his defence, by denying that
he who now presents himself as claim
ant to the estate is Henry Harding,
and, therefore, by implication. setting
| him forth as an Empostor.
There is no denial of General Hard
ing having had second son, by name
| Henry, but the defenders allege that
he left his home about a year before
his fathers death, never again return
ing to it. They contend that he, also,
is dead; their contention highly prob
able from the fact of his not having
turned UP at an earlier period. To
strengthen it they bring forward the
whole story of the quarrel with his
father, his hurriedly leaving home, and
afterwards going out of Italy; putting
in two letters from him, one being that
written at The Fox and Pheasant, the
other upon the Pratone.
A still later one, signed "Capo Cor
vino," they say nothing about, for they
knew nothing of it; neither is it in
their possession.
That General Harding's younger son
had been a captive to Italian brigands
is clear to the court, the jury included.
Nor does the claimants counsel deny
this On the contrary, he is but too
glad to have it admitted, since in the
brief furnished him it is set forth as
one of the most important points Of
confirmation on the side of his client.
So far, therefore, from attempting
to rebut it, he adds other evidence of
the fact, bringing forward five wit
nesses, not only to attest to Henry
Harding's captivity, but-which falls
like bombshell among the defendants
friends-to prove his escape.
Of these witnesses three are men and
two women-the last of such rare
beauty as to create quite sensation
in court.
Their tale is told. yet, despite its
substantially, discredited. They are
all foreigners, and in the eyes Of Brit
ish alry little worthy of credit. The
twelve good men and true"-many OF
them from behind counters where the
scales are anything but true-think it
case of clap-trap, "cock-and-bull
story"-just as did the owner of the
disputed properly, now dead, his death
due, or, at all events, fastened, by his
erroneous belief. On their honest
hearts beauty makes no impression;
the sweet face of Lucetta Torreanl, with
her truthful words, and the holder
speech of the equally beautiful Camilla
Buonofanti, plead in vain. Such testi-
mony might be at any time cheaply
and easily procured-from the neigh
borhood of Leicester square.
True. other testimony is adduced to
prove the identity of the claimant, sew
eral other witnesses called by his coun-
>sel-not foreigners, but his own coun-
trymen, friends, servants, and former
associates-who swear to it, some posi-
lively. others only to "the best of their
belief" yet all are, or appear to be,
disbelieved.
Money can make black seem white
in the eyes Of those who will not see,
and on this trial it is lavishly expend-
ed: the ablest counsel in London be-
ing employed, not to obtain, but de-
feat, justice-these on the defendant S
side.
Possession has been we'll defined as
nine points of the law since it gave
the power to control it. But in this
case the defendants counsel have 9TH
err strong points in their favor, en-
abling them to fence with some show OF
being on the right side, and fair
prospect Of proving it. What British
Jury could believe that gentleman,
presumptive heir to one hundred thous-
and pounds, son of General, coun-
try squire, grand landowner. would
run away from home and voluntarily
stay away for seven long years, with
such pretty prospects to allure him
home? And where is the London shop
keeper who does not think his great
Times goes -penetrates to
all corners Of the earth and is read by
everybody?
1t is preposterious to suppose that a
missing man, for whom one thousand
pounds reward has been offered, would
not only hear Of, but come quickly back
to find out what it was for.
Far more likely that advertisement
has caught the eye Of cunning fell
low, who now claims to be Henry
Harding. Time has been allowed TO