Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-16
MRS, CLEVELAND TESTIFIES
Her Evidence is Against Journalist
Accused Of Fraud.
SHE DENIES THE SIGNATURE
Declares Her Did Not sign
Article which t. Basis of Prose-
cutiOn of BrouEhton
berG-Other Evidence.

NEW YORK, June l5.-Mrs. Frances
Folsom Cleveland. widow Of the late ex-
President Grover Cleveland, today gave ev-
idence for the prosecution in the case of
.~Broughton Brandenburg, who is charged
with having sold TO the New York Times.
in the presidential campaign last year, a
fraudulent article, purporting to have oeen
written by MIR. Cleveland shortly prior to
his death. The specific charge against
BrandenburE is larceny. The article in
question professed to express Mr.. Cleve-
lands view relative to the respective quail
iflcations of Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Bryan for
the presidency.
A murder trial which was on the calen-
dar Of Justice Fitzgerald's court was inter-
rupted in order to meet the convenience
OF Mrs. Cleveland, VINO wishes to leave
the city tomorrow for her summer home In
New Hampshire. IL was agreed that the
Brandenburg trial should be adjourned as
soon as Mrs. Cleveland's testimony was
taken, and continued again after the MUIR
der trial was. completed.
Mrs. Cleveland was dressed In deep
mourning. Her testimony was expected to
be taken as soon as the selection of the
Jury was completed and one or two wit
nesses had been called to establish the
sale of the article by the defendant.
Brandenburg was in consultation with his
counsel, samuel Bell Thomas. while the
jury was being selected,
She R~epudIates signature.
Mrs. Cleveland was called as a witness
as the opening Of the afternoon session.
After she had identified MIR. Cleveland's
signature to several checks, Mr.. Mott
showed the witness a steel plate on which
was engraved the name of Grover Cleve-
land and asked her II it was her ~husband's
signature. Mrs. Cleveland said it was not.
and that 1t was a false signature.
The former president wrote with a very
unsteady hand during the later years of
his life, the witness said, whereas the name
signed to the Brandenburg article was
written in a comparatively bold, leglble
hand, more like Mr.. .Cleveland's hand dur
ing his younger days in the White house.
On cross-examination Mrs. Cleve-
land told about meeting John G..
Carlisle and F. S. Hastings, an
executor of her husbands estate, in this
city and discussing the article which APP
peared in the New York Times August 80,
1903, over Mr.. C%leveland's signature.
Did you hear Mr.. Hastings say that
the signature was genuine?" asked Mr..
Thomas.
No" answered Mrs. Cleveland, Il did
not hear him say one way or the Other
at hi time
Did you authorize him to say 1t was
genulne?' asked the lawyer.
mo. l did not" said the witness EN-
phatically.
Did you send a telegram to the New
York Times in regard to this article?'
asked Mr.. Thomas.
Questioned It's Authenticity.
The witness said she did and she pro,
duced the telegram. Mrs. Cleveland SAID
she authorized MIR. Hastings to write the
Times and say that they questioned thu
authenticity of the signature to the article
Mrs Cleveland said she had received q
letter, and only one, from Mr.. Branden'
burg in regard to the articles early II
August, 1908. She could not remember o.
ever talking with the defendant over tn,
telephone in regard to the matter.
Did you read the article itself wher
1t appeared in the Times" asked Mr.
Thomas.
"Oh, 1 read it very carefully" Mrs
Cleveland replied.
The defendants lawyer paused often II
his questions to consult with his client
and Justice Fitzgerald each time urgeC
him to continue, with the evident desir,
not to submit Mrs. Cleveland to any NOR,
anxiety than was necessary.
On redirect examination Mr.. Mott asked
the witness II she had ever authorized Mr.
Hastings to write the New York Times
and say that the signature on the disputed
article was genuine. she said she had not
Mrs. Cleveland was then excused.
Times Editor TestIfies.
c. Nj. Lincoln. sunday editor of the New
York Times, followed Mrs. Cleveland as {
witness. He testified that he had received
the Grover CLEVELAND article from Bran
denburg about a week before il was, pub
lished, August so, 1905. Brandenburg had
seen him and talked with him about tn
article a few days before that.
Brandenburg had showed him a copy o.
the article, the witness saIo, and told hin
1t was one Of three Mr.. Cleveland haC
promised to write early in the year, bear
ing upon the campaign, but that sickness
had prevented Mr.. Cleveland from writing
more than one.
Court adjourned until ThursdaS morning
at the conclusion OF Mr.. Lincoln's testi
mony.
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