The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-01-07
EXPERT
EWELL
TESTIF|ES

Cambridge. Mass. Jan. THE seats In
the court room when the Tucker murder
trial began today were all filed but for
the first time since the trial opened few
women were present. II was raining hard
outside and the streets were filled with
slush and water.
Tucker, as usual came into the room
a few minutes before the time for the
morning session 10 commence.
When court opened the Jury examined
tho piece Of paper previously introduced
and Identified by the witnesses as the one
found or the floor OF Miss Pages room
after ne murder. and bearing the words:
~. L Morton, ChArlestown, Mass"
Marshall d. Bwell. the handwriting ex-
pert. then took the stand and resumed his
testimony begun yesterday afternoon. He
said that in the ll3 sales slips which he
had examined. and which are alleged by
the government TO have been made out
and signed by Tucker. the capital letter
-" occurred 81 times.
In all OF these the distinguishing feature
continuous stroke. He also pointed out
the character OF the loop OF the letter.
Witness said that he believed that an
Intellectual attempt had been made on the
slip OF paper 10 disguise the handwriting
by writing the letter "J'' in the so-called
backhand fashion.
To disguise II further witness said an
upper loop had been added TO the ~"
The ~" on the paper, witness said, bears
left tIe Ub
| pear in the standard OF the comparison OF
| the sales slips. After carefully analyzing
| the capital letters 'J' and 81" Mr..
| Ewell said that the probability that the
| authors OF the sales slips and OF the ad-
dress on the slip OF papers were the same
| person was in the ratio OF 40 TO ].
For an hour and 20 minutes the witness
described the characteristics OF all the let
ters that appear in the Norton address
| and compared them with the letters OF the
standards OF comparison. He analysed
them both individually and in combination
| with each other.
Witness then stated emphatically that
he was firmly convinced that the author
| OF the Morton address was the same per
son who wrote the words on the sales
slips
He then described details OF the hand
| writing brought out by microscopic exam
nation.
During the whole OF Mr. Ewell's tesu-
| mony Tucker paid little attention and ap-
peared bored by the technical details. He
Is beginning to show the effects OF the
long strain. and he appeared rather tired
today while there were dark circles under
| his eyes.
| Under examination by Mr.. Vahey.
expert Dwell became considerably con-
fused particularly with reference TO the
question whether the address contained
AOga 49, ~ lat 10 Act
mine whether II was written in back
hand" The witness held that there
were sufficient number.
Did you express a different opinion
| In another case" was asked.
The prosecution objected.
In course Of a sharp argument Mr..
Vahey stated that he wished TO read
evidence given by Mr.. Ewell at the sec
ond trial OF Roland Molineux. at which
he appeared as an expert and at which
with reference to the address written on
the alleged poison package" which con-
tanned many more letters than the one
presented here. he stated that there were
| not enough to determine the back hand
| question.
The court ruled In favor Of the de-
| fence and Attorney Vahey repeated the
| question whether there were enough let
ters In the address y. L. Morton. Charles
| town, Mass" to indicate that the writer
used back hand The witness replied
| that there were not enough.
An audible snicker was heard from the
bar enclosure. which was quickly sup
| pressed by Judge sherman. who uttered
o sharp reprimand.
Mr.. Ewell said that comparison OF dis
| puted handwriting with standards gener'
ally was more satisfactory when pen and
ink had been used than when letters had
been written with pencil.
I'm this case." asked Lawyer Vahey
would you have been better satisfied
with your conclusions II pen and ink had
been used In both7'
II am satisfied as II Is" replied the
witness. IF pen and ink had been used
IN this case, however. I might have beer
able 10 have explained more fully and
satisfactorily my reasons for my conclu-
| sions"
Witness said, In further cross-examina,
ton, that he never had investigated
| whether writing over manifold would In
| fiuence the characteristics OF mans
handwriting 1t was his impression. how
ever. that such a process would necessi-
tate extra pressure.
At ! o'clock adjournment was taken
until Monday.
l
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