The Dickinson press., 1909-10-02

the RUSSELL CASE
MANY WITNESSES CALLED
The Dan Russell estate suit case is
still dragging along, over 30 witnesses
having been examined by the plaintiff
with prospects of al many on the other
side.
A Boston dispatch Of Sept. 70 said:
Since the trial started in tie East
Cambridge probate court, several de-
msnds have been made for. the appear
ance Of William. His counsel have
admitted that they know nothing of
his whereabouts Daniel. armed with
a subpoena, started out to find him. and
serve him with q summons to appear"
Last Saturday the Fargo News pub
lished q Bismarck detective story to the
effect that Dan Russell is q fraud. of
French Canadian parentage. by the
name of Russeau. The Forum also
printed the same story. This is not
in keeping with the theory advanced
by Dams arch enemies out in this
country, who have told repeatedly that
he belonged to a Russell family of
Malone, N. Y.
It does not matter how bad the man
DUE people know as Dan Russell. has
been if he is the rlghtful heir to: the
Russell estate in Melrose, Mass. he will
in all probability get it. On the other
hand, if there be any mistake in Dams
identity, the defense must certainly
be able to find it out. However. the
detective story published in the Fargo
papers looks like a fake to those who
have known Dan for any length of time.
Following the testimony given in the
PRESS last week this is what the
Boston papers have given: -
:Lawrece Lowell of Malone, N. Y.
formerly deputy sheriff of St. Lawrence
county. N. Y. testified to knowing the
| petitioner, whom he identified as Dan
Blake.
MRS. Adelaide Coombs, wife of
George E. COMBS of the Metropolitan
park police at Waltham, testified that
her maiden name was Frentz. and that
her early life was spent in Melrose.
where she was acquainted with the
late Daniel Russell, his wife. Mary,
and the two sons William c. and
Daniel D.
When she heard of his return a few
monts ago she called him up by tele-
phone. She asked him various .ques-
tions, which he answered correctly.
including the names of the carpenters
who had worked on his fathers house in
his boyhood. The next day she called
on him and knew it was him before he
spoke a word"
Walter B. Thayer of Winthrop testi-
fed that he lived in Melrose once, very
near the Russell home .-'and was q class
mate Of Daniel, whom he recognized
in court. In consequence of news
paper articles he sought an interview
with the petitioner at lawyer Sheldon
Office, and at once recognized him as
his old schoolmate.
William A. Storey. who had lived in
Melrose about Al years ago and been q
letter carrier II, testified that he first
knew the late Daniel Russell and his
family since 1871. He afterwards
entered the employ of the deceased
and lived there three years, from 1876
I 1879. He said he '.saw and talked
with Daniel B. every. day during that
time The boy was then about IA to
/ s years old The man standing is the
identical gentleman"
'On cross-examination witness said
that soon after he returned 10 Melrose
about April 1 of this wear, I met him
On the street; he had some gentleman
with him. When I met him first in
front of the engine house. he was
asked if he recognized me and he said
4 think l do, but I cant call his name :
you worked for my father and belonged
to the fire department; l think your
name is Finney. THAT ended the con-
versation.
Afterwards in the engine house,
he picked out several pictures of old
members. but not mine. made up
my mind as soon as I put my eye on
him that he was Daniel B. Russell, be-
cause of his resemblance to his father,
the color of his eyes. his features and
his manners.
Boyd L. Coburn of Melrose, a travel
ing salsman for the last Is years, tes-
tilted I knew Daniel Russell and his
two sons we'll in the sos. I went to
the Grammar school in the same build
ing with William c. and Daniel B. but
not in the same class Saw them in
<hn onhno1 >,o~I So <hn .<~oo< n~l -