The Dickinson press., 1909-12-18
SUMMARY
OF CASE

Senator Simpson Continues to Scors
in Great Russell Trial. What
Boston Papers Say Regarding
the Famous Will Case.
Under double column caption lines,
the Boston Post of December 7, had the
following to say of the famous Russell
will suit:
Senator Simpson said last night (:
1.-Two or three days ago found a white
powder in the bottom of my drinking
glass in my room at the Commonwealth
hotel on Bowdoin street. No watel was
in the glass at the time. and became
suspicious and tasted the powder It. had
sweet, sickly taste. l threw the pow
der out and washed the glass, not think
ing anthing about the matter at the time.
/ do not know whet Yer it was a poison
or not.
Il recall however, that saw similar
powder in my glass on previous occa-
sion, but treated the matter in the
same way at the time. 'Idon't kow how
that powder came to be in the glass in
my room. 1t was not brought in by me
and l Lam mystified over the whole busi-
ness.
Il have decided to have an investi-
eaton made into the matter and hereafter
I shall be very careful of myself.
At the Russell will case hearing ycster-
day, Attorney Proctor. for the defence
in his cross examination of Dr.. Albert
S. Hamilton, brought out the fact that
Exhibit IS. which is one of the alleged
forged Rousseau letters. was mailed in
Sand Creek. N. D.. on October 16, 1906,
at9 p. m. and was received in Medora,
N. D.. on October 16, at 9 p. m.
AS the distance between the two points
is 80 miles, Dr.. Hamilton said it was an
utter impossibility for such letter 10 60
through the mails and have the cancella-
tion stamp bear the same hour as that
of the receipt stamp.
Yesterday was the 38th day of the
!ssell case hearing. Daniel Blake
Russell, the petitioner. was in court.
- The only witness during the entire day
al for that matter for the last seven
days was Dr.. Hamilton. who was cross
exa mined by Mr.. Proctor.
Mr.. Proctor went over the whole range
of the reasons. calling attention to in
dividual exhibits and even different
letters of the alphabet at the basis of
questions as to whether the writer of the
disputed instruments did or did not, in
the various instances. make a ''slavish
copy" in his attempt to initiate
whether it was not fact that the writ
ings of the same person. made at diff
ferent times. would not appear widely
divergent in general appearance and
even in detail.
To such questions the witness replied
by calling attention to the freehand
sweep and light shading of the disputed
writings, and the heavy pressure of the
pen and the abrupt ending in heavy
strokes as revealing the unconscious
habit of both the claimant and of the
simulator.
Dr.. Hamilton was asked if, leaving
all other facts out Of consideration. the
dotting of the letter ''i' would lead him
TO a decison, as he did regarding other
single instances of popularity. One of
these was the use of the word lever
Frequently used before the signatures
to letters in the phrase, ''Your ever
friend''). which use he had never seen
before.
Mr.. Proctor asked for an examination
of the letter "a" in Medora, and that
witness should say whether he found
that the paper was feathered.
Witness-Yes. but not in the sense Of
the feathering on exhibit Al. 1t was not
made at the time of the writing, but by
the crumpling of the paper afterwards.
MI. Proctor-'I object to this answer
az not being responsive. I move to
strike out all after the word yes, which
is complete answer to any question. "
The court permitted the witness to
make his full answer in explanation,
which was that the featharing was moi
made by the action of the pen and ink.
but by the disturbance. of the fiber by
the folding Of the exhibit
Presently the witness was again
stopped in his attempt TO add his ex-
PLANTATION to the direct answer, when Mr..
Proctor stopped him.
Hamilton-Then you don't want the
truth, and the whole truth?
Proctor-I do want it. but don't get
it from you.
Hamilton-You do get it, whenever
you ask for it and allow me time te
state it.
SUMMARY OF CASE