Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-04-25
OFFER EXPERT TESTIMONY
interest in the NoIl--Wilson Case
is Increased.
COL. EDWIN HAY ON THE STAND
Several 0iher Witnesses Examined and Coun'
sci For Plaintiff Rest Their Case
Defense Begins.
Defense Begins.

Mrs. Bette G. Wilson ct al, on an
peal from the court, which was called
at B O'Clock Thursday afternoon, at
tracted d large and interested crowd
az spectators. The jury was completed
as follows G.. T. Underwood. George
Il. Miller. Stuart Strong, A. Z. MYERS,
a r Abort. i. b. Couchma an, Harry
Smith. Ernest Mcdonald, James W
Duyall. James Dillon. O. W. Pine, y
w. Emmerson. !.
After the preliminary statement OIL
the counsel for the plaintiff, winch
covered the ground fully outlined IN
The Evening World-ef YESTERDAY, the
-resentatiy of the defense said
they would seek to establish that the
paper offered as a codicil TO the viii OF
the late James Wilson was not wholly
in the handwriting of the deceased.
as claimed by plaintiff, the hypothe-
sis being that certain words were add
ed to it by some person other than ehe
one who penned the body OF the doeu-
ment. thus altering very materially It's
legal importance. The court then pro-
ceeded with the evidence and a num-
her Of witnesses were called and OK.
amined.
The chief witness, and the one
around whose evidence the interest
centered. was Mrs. Anna Noll, the
plaiutiff. She testified that the paper
came into her possession at the home
of her father in December. 1900; that
she had filed it away with some other
papers, and said nothing about it at
tne time the will of her father was
read. a short time after his death. she
showed the paper to her husband ana
a girl living with her at the time she
secured possession of it, but did not
consult an attorney until the follow
inc summer. several months after her
fathers death. She said no changes
had been made in it after it came to
her hands.
Several other witnesses were exam
ined, their testimony tending to cor
.roberate that of Mrs. Noll. Court adj
iourned at 4 80, and the examination
of witnesses was resumed at 9;3h
O'Clock this morning,
The hrst witness summoned was
County Commissioner Stuckey, VINO
recognized the writing as that OF the
late James Wilson, Mr.. Stuckey being
familiar with his signature. He
thought that the date ON the paper was
written by the same person
The testimony of the next witness
Edwin 8. Hay, of Washington. ID. y.
was listened to with a great deal OF
interest. Mr.. Hay has a wide reputa-
ton as an expert in handwriting, hav-
ing been a witness in a couple OF Ia
mons trials during the past few
months. While Mr.. Hay is probably
hetter qualified to speak on handwTit-
ing than some of the experts VINO
have testified, he was rather conser-
yative in his opinion. He thought the
writing was all in the same hand, but
stated as his belief that the date on
the pape had been written at a later
period than either the body of the pa
DER or the signature.
Thomas Fl. Avey next gave his opln-
ion as to the writing, also Frank T..
Wilson. of the Peoples Trust Co.
Their testimony tended to sustain the
declaration of the plaintiff as to the
of the DISPUTED document.
At this point the counsel for the
p"laintiff rested the case. and the de-
Tense will take up its side OF the sto-
nv Thursday afternoon a number OF
witnesses have been summoned for
the defense and it is thought the case
would not go to the jury for several
DAYS vet. The line of defense is being
watched with a great deal of interest.
TESTIMONY RULED OUT.
Interest in the case of Mrs. Anna
Noll VS.. Mrs. Bette @. Wilson ct. al.
NOM DelnR llcdIh II thS OAANNAN 49,
has not abated. FRIDAY afternoon,
when the counsel for the plaintiff rest
ed their case and counsel for the de-
Tense began to offer evidence. the
crowd in the court room was as large
as usual. In addition to the large
number of witness from the country,
and the usual attendance from town,
the proceedings have been followed by
many from different parts of the coun-
ty.
The line of the defense by this time
was pretty well understood. 1t is very
generally admitted that the body of
the document in DISPUTE was writ
ten by the late James NJ. Wilson,
but it is now seen that the point Of OBJ
lection rests on the date, June 6,