Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-06-30

Witness refused to make such a prop
ositfon TO the Iabberfed boys.
Cross examined by afr. Dryden Be-
came familiar with Habberfed's sigma
tlre by seeing him write it frequent
iy. Denied saying that he would swear
on stack of Bibles that the signature
on the bill of sale was not John G..
Habberield's. He admitted that seeing
his own signature enabled him TO iden-
tify Habberfield's signature. He saw
this paper between the time OF the trial
and the time the motion for new trail
He might be mistaken regarding the
time, but not about the converse
ton He had also talked with Colts
about telling A K. Habberfeld that he
(Creighton) could tell where the last
note was.
Habherf1ed had told him that Cots
had borrowed 5000 from him and had
given a note for the amount He did
not know whether Cots borrowed the
money to buy the Amanda Holmes
house or not
Joseph Habberfield was next put on
the stand and said that he had known
Cots for some time Had a CONVEX
sation with Corts shortly aster his
fathers death. Cots said that his
father had his note for $500 and he
would like to pay it OF. Said that he
had claim against Habberfield for
small sum. He afserward saw him on
Chapline street, and Cots advised them
to advertise the note. He again saw
him at Dryden'S Office when they We're
asked to sign an indemnifying bond.
They would not sign the bond there but
took 1t up home for their other brother
TO see. The bond was returned 10 Dry
den and Colts unsigned.
He was familiar with his fathers
writing and did not think that the sig
nature on the note was genuine. He
had not seen the envelope that was
found in the bank vault until he saw
it in the court room. He identified the
notes found in it. Had seen them
when the envelope was opened. He also
identified the signature on the declar-
alton.
The witness was cross examined by
Col Arnebt. He and his brother had
gone down to Cots house and were
told that he was at Dryden's Office.
Had no conversation at Colts house.
At Dryden's Office they were shown
the bond. They did not know any
thing about it until they went to Dry
den's Office. They were not willing TO
sign it, because they Thought - was
an unfair bond. They took it TO w. p.
Robinsons Office after the suit had been
entered against Mr.. Colts. AT Dry
den's Office Mr. Colts produced a roll
of money and offered TO pay the differ
ence between the amount OF the note
oyo MOI u fcA 81 %
was due him from the deceased.
He was familiar with the signature
of his father, and thought chat the sig
nature on the note was not in his
fathers writing. He insisted that the
signature was false, but admitted that
it was a very good imitation OF his
fathers signature.
7. H. Hammond was then called. He
lives at Wellsburg and is treasurer of
the S. George Company Had been a
student of handwriting for fifteen
years. Had prepared himself 10 testi-
fly in cases of disputed handwriting.
He had examined the signatures in
question on the envelope. declaration
and note. Also the writing on the
letters addressed TO w. p. Robinson
and A. X. Habberfield. He had photo
graphs of different notes and papers.
Was asked to pick out the papers rep
resented on the photographs. which he
did. He looked at the face of the al
legged forged note and the back of same
and said that the same person did not
write the signature on the back OF the
note and on the declaration and the
envelope found in the vault of the City
Bank of Wheeling. He then explained
the different peculiarities in the for
nation of the letters.
Jos. p. Maxwell was examined as
to the character of the defendant.
Said it was good. Had known him
for % year.
Joseph Speidel had known Mr.. Colts
for SO years. His reputation in a bus
mess way was very good. He said on
cross examination that he had heard
Mr. Ellingham, Of Neill & Ellingham
attack Colts honesty. This was the
only one who had spoken of Mr.. Cots
dishonesty.
Henry Ball had known MIR. Cots for
a number OF years, and his honesty and
integrity was good so far as he knew.
James L. Hawley said that he had
known him for Is or 80 years. and
that his general reputation among the
business men of Wheeling was both
good and bad, that is, some consider
it good, others consider it bad.
r. s. Mcconnell, of Moundsville, had
known w. ]. Cots for rs or 80 years.
Never knew Colts reputation TO be
anything but good. he had talked
with Joseph Speidel, Mr.. Hawley and
others.
The court adjourned until seven
O'Clock last evening, when T. H. Ham
mond was again put on the stand.
Court was in session until $3.50
O'Clock, when it adjourned until to-
day.