The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-17

rs this your handwriting" asked
the Justice.
1T looks like it, but I don't think
it is
What are your reasons for thinking
so? If your faculties were temporarily
eclipsed you would not be expected to
know much about it,"
II reason thus: II / did not know
my name at the date when that let
ter seems to have been written, then
have not signed it? AS 1 did not
know 1t, 1 think the letter must have
been written by some other person.
That letter to me, sir, is the best proof
that I never took the altered note to
! Simon Low, but that it was presented
by some other man who personated my
sef-the man who wrote that letter
and signed my name"
| A stir in the court room and a CLEAN
! in the eyes of Bruce indicated that
! the declaration had taken effect. 1t
| was certainly a strong point, but, as
some Immediately reflected, the state
ment that the cashier did not know
! his name rested solely, up to this time,
with himself
Mr.. Low was question at this point.
Did the person who presented the
note tell you his name was Hamilton"
mo, sir; think not. l am sure
! he did not speak the name at all; but
l recognized him myself"
Did you call him Mr.. Hamilton"
II think not. l think l said that l
did not know him at first. STILL at
this distance of time l could not swear
/ that the name was not spoken during
| the interview"
This point introduced by Mr.. Ham,
| ilton that he did not know his name,
| and therefore could not have signed
! it to the letter, would apply to the in
/ terView at the bank in the same way
| If Mr.. Hamilton did not know his
name, he could not give it to you.
If he did give his name as Hamilton,
then the inference would be that II
could not have been Mr.. Hamilton.
since he did not know it from any
| other"
well. Il do not think he gave the
name"
But you cannot be certain"
No, sir"
II am sorry you cannot recollect
distinctly. If he gave his name to
he wrote this letter, for it would
show that he used his name
for fraudulent purposes. and then
would there be a doubt cast upon Mr..
Hamiltons statement that he had for
gotten or lost for a time his sense of
personal identity, or it would show
that it was presented by another man
III purposes
II cannot recollect, but my impress
sion is that the name of the cashier
was not mentioned"
In the court room was the cashier
of the Cheshire Bank. when the four
hundred dolar-note altered to four
thousand was presented, and he was
examined at this point. He stated COIL
cisely that a man who closely ressm-
bled Mr.. Hamilton, as he appeared
now, gave him the altered note and
said that he was the cashier of the
Grovedale Bank.
81 knew the name of the cashier was
Hamilton. and 1 called him so. prob
ably, during the interview"
why do you say probably"
Because l usually speak a mans
rame after addressing him. For in
stance, if this were an ordinary occa-
sion, Mr.. Bailey, I should have spoken
your name several times. 1t is way
1 have, Mr.. Bailey"
Can any one present certify that
this is Mr.. Hull's usual mapner?" ask
ed the justice.
II can" said President Hartwell.
and I, also" said Simon Low. He
usually introduces the name of the per-
son addressed into every sentence"
A point like this was most puzzling
and of considera BILE consequence. Taken
in connection with the fact that he had
stated he was the cashier of Grovedale
Bank, the whole was tantamount to al
acknowledgment of his name as Hamil'
: ton. Now the question arose, could h
give the name or acknowledge it, un
Willingly, in connection with fraud
ulent deed contrary to his. usual OF
moral character, or was he personateC
by a professional bank-robber disguised
to resemble him, who had possessed
himself of the bank papers and Gre
dentials, and who, in pursuance of hi:
purposes and designs to represent the
cashier, wrote the letter to the presi-
dent? The last seemed more likely
and reasonable: and in this case the
man before them had been the dupe
not alone of circumstances. but of an
evil-minded person who should bear the
guilt and its weight of punishment.
Continued in next Sundays News.