The Dickinson press., 1909-12-04
LETTERS
DlSPUT En s.,
Latest in Russell Will Case is Legal
Discussion Concerning Evidence
on Disputed Writing Sen
ator Simpson Alert.

Dr.. Albert H. Hamilton, United States
government expert on hand writing and
inks, caused sensation in court when
he announced that he was willing to
hold demonstration with chlor0form to
show that certain hand writing on letters
in the case Overlapped the cancellation
stamp and proving that the cancellation
stamp was put on the envelope and the
address afterwards.
Dr.. Hamilton testified last week that
many of the letters referred to were for
geries. The letters were introduced in
the case by lawyers for William C.
Russell, who have striven to prove that
Daniel Blake Russell of North Dakota
was really James Rousseau and therefore
an imposter in his claim to half of the
$500.000 Daniel Russell estate as the
lon& lost son.
Members of the Rousseau family on the
witness stand said that the letters were
in the handwriting of James Rousseau.
Experts employed by William C. Russell
declared that the handwriting was
identical with that Of Daniel Blake Rus
sell. '''-'f'.-=..
Dr.. Hamilton made his declaration
when shown an envelope addressed to
Joseph Rousseau, delena. N. Y. 1t was
written with a blue pencil. Certain
letters overlap the cancellation mark,
said Dr.. Hamilton. by the applica-
ton of chloroform the crease will be
dissolved and portions of the blue. This
would restore the cancellation ink to it's
original color. y
A Boston dispatch of the End says:
Il assum e the proposition is to show
who did write these disput ed writings
in answer to the allegation that the
claimant wrote them said Judge
Lawton at the opening of the Russell
will case in which there is claimant
who says he is Daniel Blake Russell Of
Dickinson, North Dakota: SON of tie
late Daniel Russell of Melrose and who
the respondents say is an impostor. . j.
D. Rousseau of New York.
State Senator Simpson of North Da-
kota. the claimants lawyer, answered
the judge.
I'VE claim it is strict evidence to
show who wrote the letters in answer
to the bare staten ent that the claim
ant wrote them.
A long legal discussion rose concern
ing taking evidence on the disputed
writings These writings are letters
sent to the home of Josepll Rousseau of
New York and alleged by the respond
ents to have been written by the claim-
ant. The claimant. through his experts,
maintains they are foreeries. Hand
writing expert Albert n. Hamilton, in
answer to question, said he had
made comparisons of the disputed writ
ines and the two petitions for the ap-
pointment of a receiver of the Russell
estate and that he had compared pages
one and two of the will with the dis
pute writings Attorney Simpson asked
what it was he, Hamilton, told the
court and counsel in a low tone that he
believed that the same hand which
had written most of the disputed writ
ings had transcribed also several of the
registry documents in evidence.
Attorney Simpson asked Mr.. Hamilton
have you made a comparison of the
disputed writings. the writing of the
petition for probate of the will of
Daniel Russell and the writing of the
petition for the appointment of re-
ceiver for the estate of Daniel Blake
Russell, absentee!''
Yes replied the witness.
Mr.. Hamilton said in answer to further
questioning that he formed an opinion
on the various writings and told what
that opinion was.