The Washington herald., 1907-11-25
WILL CASE UP AGAIN
Forgery ChargetO Be Pressed
Against Aged Citizen.
TAMPERING WITH THE JURY
In Previous Case officials Were Held
Responsible for the Disagreement.
ing Under weight of Criminal
ChargcS-Diversity Of Opinion.

Someryille, y. j., Nov. Civilian H.
Skillman, aged seventy-four years. a
former president of the New Jersey H0rti-
cultural Society. who has been promi-
nent in the political and social affairs Of
Somerset County for half a century. Will
be placed on trial a second time in the
Somerset court tomorrow for forging the
will of his friend ana neighbor, the late
William Lanehart, a retired business
man, of New York City, who died on his
farm, near Blawenburg, in March. I9O5
The Skillman will case in one or the
strangest and most sensational in the
history OF the Somerset courts. By the
terms of the will, executed and filed in
the Somerset surrogate's Office by Skill
man. purporunE TO be that Of the late
William Lanehart. Skillman is bequeathed
.one-haf Of Lanehart's estate. which is
valued at $19-cO0 At the time Of his
death. Lanehart had deposited in vault
in the HoDewell National Bank will.
which bequeathed his entire estate 10 his
next Of kin, who were disinherited by the
terms Of the viii filed by SkiIlman.
CaII VIII a Forgery.
Laneharts relatives declared the Skill
man Will a forgery, and pointed out the
fact that the alleged signature of Lane
hart affixed to the viii filed by Skillnan
had been first written with a lead pencil
and then traced over with pen and ink.
The viii was contested in the Somerset
Orphans Court and tass case lasted for
several weeks. Judge Schenck declared
the signature 60 the viii was a forgery.
Sldllman applied from this decision to
the higher courts. and the community
became divided as to the guilt or in
nocence OF the aged horticulJurist.
While the civil case was still pending
in the higher court, Skiuman was indicted
on a criminal charge of forgery and
placed on trial in the Somerset court last
May Skillman had aged considerably
under the serious charge. and tottered
INTO court physical wreck. The trial
lasted week, and during its progress
u was rumored that strong Influences
We're Al work 10 save Skillman, and Judge
Booream. who presided at the trial. re-
peatedly warned the Jury against this
influence. After a long deliberatioh the
Jury disagreed, and IL was reported at
re time that it stood 3 for conviction
and for acQuittaL
Jurors Are Approached.
After the jury was discharged. two of
The jurors went before court and svrore
That they had been approached in behalf
Of Skillman during the progress Of the
LriaL and the foreman of the jury swore
that deputy sheriff had visited the Jury
room and called one of the Jurors out
during the deliberation.
As the result of the revelations. Judge
Booream imposed a heavy fine on the
TWO constables and sentenced the den
uty sheriff 10 pay a fne and TO spend
ninety days in the county Jail for con-
tempt OF court. The deputy sheriff an
pealed from the sentence. and was re-
leased on bail, and his case is now pend
ms before the supreme court. Since the
disagreement Of the jury in the criminal
ease, Chancellor McGie has rendered q,
decision iu the civil case affirming the
verdict OF the lower court that the viii
hied by SkiIlman is d forgery.