The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-03
CHARACTER !.
OF " Colts
IN5QU|E::S;'Tl|'L|ON.
Witnesses in the Forgery Trial at
Moundsville Have Varying,
Views in the Matter. &
DEFENDANT TELLS HIS STORY
OF the Two Notes Given the Late
Squire Haberfeld, and Declares
h He is Not Guilty,

The trial of w. j., Colts. Of Wheeling,
on the charge OF forgery. now on in the
circuit court at Moundsvllc. will not
likely conclude before the Fourth. per-
| haps not till later. Yesterday Mr..
Colts was on the stand and told the
story of the transaction with, the late
Squire Haberiield that brought about
the forgery charge Before he was put
on the stand Colts was cautioned by
Judge Melvin to restrain his temper
this being occasioned by certain threats
Cots uttered against Prosecuting At
torney Meyer. At the night session OF
the court number OF Wheeling bus
mess men testified that Cots reputa-
ton for honesty. integrity. truth and
veraclty was not good--this in rebuttal
of the testimony of certain Wheeling
business men given earlier In the trial.
The first witness called was Mrs.
Amanda Holmes, who knew John q.
Haberiield's signature. Had seen him
write his signature frequently. Was
shown the signature on the note and
said It was Mr.. John G. Habertield's. A.
X. Haberneld was at her house after the
civil trial in Wheeling, and In speaking
Of the note and signature said that the
signature didn't look like his fathers
signature, but that 1t was his signature.
This conversation took place 4 short
time after the trial and after Colts had
been arrested. Mr.. Habertleld said
I Cots would go to the prnitentiary and
that that was where he ought to go.
On cross examination by Mr.. Boycc
the witness was shown the signature
on declaration and said 1t was John
Haberiiald's; was shown the envelope
which was found in the City Bank and
said the signature was John Haber-
| fields: was not familiar with the writ
ing Of w. ]. Colts; was shown Mr..
Colts writing and asked TO compare 1t
with Mr.. Haberheld's writing: witness
could not say that there was any differ
eucc, for she said she was not an ex-
pert in handwriting. Stated that Mr..
Colts had been at her house once on
| business since his arrest, but had not
spoken to her about what she should
testify to on the present trial. nor had
| Mr.. Dryden or Colonel Arnett said any
thing to her us TO what she should tes-
tify. fa.,'
John w. Williams knew w. j. Colts
and A. X. Eabertield. Had known Mr..
Colts nine or ten years. Was present
at trial between a. Il. Habertield and
W. j. Colts. Was In W. p. Robinson's
office that same day. Was summoned
to appear in Haberlleld's behalf. De-
falling a conversation between Lawyer
Robinson and W. X. Haberileld. witness
alleged the former said: you must
have no hesitancy In stating that the
signature Is your fathers signature,
whether 1t Is or not" Had seen Mr..
Haberiield on the street. who asked wit
ness If he had heard Of the trouble
Colts had got into. Said that another
note had turned up. and said. I'VE have
got him." and finally said: He tCntts)
Is nothing but ID Old rogue, and
ought TO be In the penitentiary." Hab-
erfeld said that he would have testi-
! fled that the signature was his father
even II he hadn't been told to do SO by
Robinson. Had seen W P. Robinson.
and he said I'VE have the dead wood
on Colts now. If we watch our p's and
as and keep our heads. he will get a
trip TO the penItentiary"
Mrs. Williams Story.
Mrs. Clara Williams. wife of John
Williams. was acquainted with W. J.
Cots. the Habcrileld boys and their
father, John G. Haberfielu A. X. Hab-
erbeld had been at her house. and had
spoken of the signature and said 1t
didn't look like his fathers signature
| but 1t was. and that Mr.. Cots would
30 TO the penitant!ary, where he ought
to be, 4-
Mrs Mary Radclifr, a daughter OF w.
j, Cots, is housckcep2r for her father.
knew OF the civil suit OF A. X. Habcr-
field VS.. w. ]. Colts. Witness was ut
the civil trial, and saW.A. X. Haberheld
when he was being examined by Dry
den. Had heard him say til" sigma
tuir shown him by Dryden was his
fathers signature. Witness had learn
ed what the paper was In the back room
and recognized the alleged forged note
as being the one shown a. X. Haber-
field. j
| On cross examination by Mr.. Meyer.
the witness said her father had agreed
10 pay the note II the Haberlleld boy
give him some security or assuranc
that he wouldn't have to pay II twlca
Her father had spoken OF giving Mr.
Haberlieln two notes, one of which was
made out so as TO call for interest, which
was not right, Us the interest hud been
p, paid in advance. and another ncte pro-
| perly made out had been given Mr..
Haberiirld, who was to destroy the first
! note.
a squnbble here arose rs to sOmr
| questions asked by Mr.. Meyer as to the
witness character, all OF which weIe
| ruled out by the court. Mr.. Meyer hur.
arose and asked the protection Of the
court, rs Mr.. Colts had been calling him
vile names. Thu court stated that Il
the defendant said anything further he
would imnrison him and suspend tho
trial TIL defendant had been sufficiently
I punished. ., -.
G. r.. e. Glchrist was put on the
stand. but aS he hadn't known Habcr-
field and didn't know that he had sem
any, OF his writing. his evidence was of
no Importance. gIE5 ~
Al this juncturc. a recess was taken
for dinner tit lis.
Afternoon Session.
Miss Edith Cots. daughter of w, j.
| Cotts,a mtffInGr Mt Reed Bros, at Cleve-
land. o.. wns the first witness ct the af-
ttrnoon session. Was at home during
ihn cirll trial OF a. X. Habcrhpla vs.,
w. j. Colts Saw Mr.. Dryden show the
| nnper 10 A. x Nnhnrnnld md hn IA