New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-22
ABEEL IS FOUND GUILTY.
THIRD DEGREE FORGERY.
Jury Ont About Half an Hour in
u. Ogden Goelet" Trial.

James n. Abeel who passed as u. Ogden
| Goelet" was convicted yesterday Of forgery in
the third degree before Recorder GoT. He
signed the name of ]. B. Van Every. vce-presi
dent OF the Western Union. to letter intro.
ducing him to Miss Eleanor Anderson. Miss
Anderson faced Abeel the chief witness
| yesterday. and laughed in his face when the
verdict was pronounced. She has already OBJ
tanned a Judgment Of $4,000 against him in
civil suit for breach of promise to marry.
We have to prove first" Assistant District
Attorney Lord began in the opening address.
that the instrument was forged, and then that
the defendant uttered It. and that he uttered it
with felonious intent" Mr.. Lord went to tell
Of AbeeI's visit to the Grand Hotel where, it is
said he first met Miss Anderson. who was
telegraph operator there. and how. after sending
| a dispatch to ]. y. Abeel. signed y. Ogden
Goelet." Abeel opened a conversation with the
girl. He told her he Mr.. Goelet brother
Of the iancee OF the Duke of Roxburghe. de-
clared Mr. Lord. and that he would like to make
her acquaintance.
Mr.. Lord told OF Miss Anderson's early
pulses Of AbeeTs attentions OF her final recep-
tion Of those attentions. and OF AbeeTs visit 10
the Anderson home. The letter signed J. B.
Van Every said: ITO any and all employees OF
the Western Union Telegraph Company: Any
favors shown to the bearer Mr.. ]. Ogden Goelet.
company. will be appreciated by this company.
J. e. Van Every. second vice-president"
Miss Anderson yesterday pale, but self
possessed Answering questions. she said she
first met Abeel october 2S. She identified
the defendant with a single quick glance. Abeel
watched her every movement with intenss in
terest.
An original telegram sent by Abeel from the
Grand Hotel to :. y. Abeel and signed J. ogden
the University Club. produced. and Miss
Anderson identified #. The original of the re-
ply was also Identified
Objection was made TO Miss Andersons testi-
flying that 1t was in Abeel's handwriting. but
after she had told the Recorder she had
ceived many letters from the defendant he ruled
that she competent to that extent to pose
as an expert She said the writing was Abeers.
POSITIVE IT WAS HIS.
The Recorder ruled out the original as lncom-
petent the objection of the defence. When
Mr. Lord wanted to use the witness further as
an expert In handwriting Abeers counsel got
permission TO ask her how often she had seen
AbeeI write. She admitted that she had only
him write two three times. but added;
II swear positively that Is the handwriting Of
the defendant"
She also identified a letter on waldorf-As-
toria stationery asking permission 10 see her
home" and promising to Ket more formal in
PRODUCTION later. The letter was signed j.
ogden Goelet. jr.," and ended by asking that the
writer's presumption be pardoned, She said
Abeel called on her at the hotel next day and
presented to her the Van Every letter.
Miss Anderson said Abeel asked again on the
Saturday n he might call at her home. She
told him she would ask her mother. He sent
her basket Of flowers that night Abeel was
waiting outside the church the next day. and
she told him he might call at their homo that
evening He did call at o'clock. and she pre-
sented him as Mr.. Goelet to her mother and
sister.
Among the things Abeel told her. Miss Ander-
son said was that ne chum of Reginald
Vanderbilt. and that they had lost money to-
gether at Canfields. On the day following the
visit to her home Abeel persuaded her to get
substitute to do her work and to go driving with
him. She told of Abeels cOurtship and OF his
present to her Of an engagement ring on No
vember 4. She identified three diamond ring
and then told OF the 100000 check the suitor
gave her The check was on the Astor Bank
It was made payable to j. Ogden Goelet jr"
and was signed with the name OF George c. De
Witt as trustee of the Robert Goelet estate.
Asked about the Journey to Canada to Identity
Abeel when the police were looking for him.
she said al Welland. Ont, Abeel denied that he
Abeel. reiterated his statement that he
was Goelet and declared his readiness to marry
her
You very anxious this defendant should
be sent to State prison?" Mr.. Lynch's first
question on CrOss-examinatiOn.
And be punished. yes" replied the witness.
after some hesitation.
You want TO get even with him7 Get re-
venge?"
Miss Anderson was excused from replying
and counsel went or:
You have already obtained Judgment
against the defendant in the Supreme Court for
$4,000"
Yes sir
And you have been instructed by your coun-
sci that you have a better chance OF collecting
the judgment 81 the defendant is sent to Jail?"
Yes"
You have been advised by your counsel to
make your testimony as strong possible?"
Miss Anderson hesitatcd. and before she cOulG
answer a man said to be the lawyer who con-
Quoted the civil suit for her. left his in the
body OF the court and toward the gate
Continued Hftb page.