Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-13


had done the writing it would only
prove expert testimony to be worth
less.
Here paused in my cogitadons, for
l was struck with an idea. l might
produce Miss Wentworth's confession
in court. 1t would probably be regard
ed ruse to save her lover. But sup
pose | could get experts to testify that
her handwriting had in it the charac-
teristiCs of the forged signature.
could at least save my client. The
same evening 1 acted on this thought,
and, though l had difficulty in finding
even one expert who had not been
called in the case. he had as good re-
pute for skill in his profession as any
of the others. To my surprise. he told
me there was no doubt that Miss
Wentworth was the guilty party.
That settled my course for the fu-
ture. The next day when the court
opened l produced the second confess
sion and the affidavit of the expert in
chirOgraphy that in his opinion the
confessors had forged the signature TO
the will in question
in what followed in court. The legal
aspect Of the case had entirely chang
ed. Two different persons had CON
fessed to have written Il signature that
could only have been written by one.
After consultation with their client the
plaintiffs lawyers took the ground that
the second will was invalid because
there was a confession on the part OF
the beneficiary under it that he had
forged 1t. Therefore. the property go
ing to Anna Blake under the former
will, she had no interest in further
criminal prosecution. They asked for
an adjournment of the court and pro-
posed to me that IL my client would
sign away all claim to his uncle's prop
erty they would drop the prosecution
against him and so far as they were
concerned would not prosecute Miss
Wentworth.
1 declined the proposition on the
ground that 1t was impossible to prove
either Of the lovers guilty. But they,
feeling confident that the chancery
court would give their client the prop
erty under the earlier will, dropped the
matter, and jefferson went forth a free
man.
My own solution of the problem in
volved in the two confessions was
that Jefferson, being disappointed in
inhertting the property, signlfied that
the marriage could not take place.
This threw in the way of Miss Went
worth q temptation that she could not
resist. She cOnCocted a later will, but
her lover in order to save her from the
consequences of her crime when crimi-
nal proceedings were commenced con-
fessed himself guilty. Nevertheless 1
was not certain as to this or anything
concerning the parties or the affair in
which they We're concerned. That Ell
Their one or the other or both were
guilty did not doubt. but this opinion
was rather based on the evidence than
on the bearing or appearance Of either
of them. | could not throw off an i'm
preston that jefferson was a fine fell
low and Miss Wentworth was a lovely
girl. And had not each attempted to
relieve the other Of the burden by a
confession?
The matter Of the inheritance was
still in the chancery court when one
day l received letter from man In
Australia | had that day received an
invitation to the wedding of Arnold
jefferson and Dora Wentworth. 1 put
the letter IN my pocket and said moth
ing about it till | attended the we'd
ding, which took place in a little
church with no attendants except my
self. Indeed. it had not been expected
that even 1 would accept When the
clergyman who performed the cere-
mony came to the words with all my
worldly goods | thee endow" and the
groom had repeated them | called n
/ halt and produced the letter l had re-
ceived from Australia 1t read as fol-
lows:
Have seen in an American newspaper
reference to the case against Arnold JEFF
fersou. | was an intimate friend of the
late William jefferson and was one of tho
witnesses to VIII ne made a few weeks
before his death. / return 10 America
soon on business and will call upon you
not long after you receive this.
SILAS ORAiSBY.
Never shall 1 forget the look that
passed between the bride and groom.
Each had believed the other guilty of
the forgery, but each had forgiven the
other on account Of the sacrifice In
volved in the act. 4 few rapidly spo-
ken words passed between them. there
was a quick embrace, and the ssre-
mony. proceeded. But they were both
too much affected to make the re-
spOnscs intclligeutly.
The same day | stopped all pro-
ccedings IN the chancery court as to
the Jefferson Will pending the arrival
OF the Australian. In due time the
confessed forger inherited the prop
erty, enjoying 1t with his confessed
forger wife.
II before handling this case I had
qualms OF conscience in defending a
criminal who had every reason 10 be-
lleve to be guilty ! certainly never had
afterward. Our system Of jurispru-
dence IS based on hundreds Of years
experience and should he followed I'M
fInchiugly.