The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1914-12-25

ture as it appeared on the will and |
those he admitted as genuine. Finally
he confessed that he might have sign
Ell the will. but had no recollection Of
doing so.
The second witness Jared ever
worse, and under Barstow's rapid
questioning he lost all confidence in
himself and volunteered the sugges-
ton that he might have signed the
will with a lot of other papers, but If
he had the matter had passed from his
mind.
Not in the least disconnected by the
collapse of his chief witness, the prose-
cutor promptly called the paying teller
of Mr.. Shaw's bank and after showing
his familiarity with the signature of
the deceased asked him it in his Opin-
ion the name Gregory Shaw subscrib-
ell to the will had Deer written by the
murdered man. The answer was a
positive and unqualified assertion that
the signature was forged.
\. deathlike silence prevailed in the
courtroom as Barstow rose to cross
examine. If the questions and an
swers had been whispered every word
would have been heard in the farthest
orner of the room.
You say you have paid out thou
sands upon thousands of dollars on
! Mr.. Shaw's signature in the past three
years:'
Had the bank official witnessed the
discontinue OF his predecessors he
might have taken warning from Bar
slows quiet manner, but he met the
cross examiners scrutiny with a look
OF equal determination as he answered.:
"A great many thousands-yes, sir"
Barstow paused, and his eyes sought
the floor as he framed the next ques-
ton.
"Mr. Shaw's signature is one which
could be easily initiated, is it not" he
inquired.
mo. sir. 1t would be exceedingly
difficult to initiate"
Again the cross examiner paused.
with downcast eyes as though discon-
certed by the answer.
$50 that you think you could detect
any imitation NJ matter how clever
the forger might be?'
"Yes, sir"
Barstow suddenly looked up.
Did you ever refuse to honor any
check of Mr.. Shaw's in his lifetime be-
cause you doubted the signature:" he
demanded.
The witness hesitated.
III you will permit me to explain
he began.
But Barstow was at him like a tiger.
Answer the question: he thunder
ed. did you ever refuse to pay any
check of Mr.. Shaw's because you
doubted the signature? Answer yes
or no."
The bank teller glanced appealingly
Mt the judge, but received no consola-
ton from his honor's impassive stare.
YES" he answered in a low tone.
did you refuse to honor more than
one such check?"
The question flew at the witness be.
fore he could add another word.
ut happened several times; l don't
remember how often"
Nov, sir" he demanded, "were any
of those signatures which you doubted
, subsequently acknowledged by Shaw
: as %correct!"
} The witness colored angrily.
MIR. Shaw assumed responsibility
for those checks" he answered.
{ "All Of them
: "All Of Them
"And yet you are ready to swear his
I will is a forgery! That is all, sir
That is all!'
There was an excited rustic and sti
in the audience as the cross examine
+, took his seat, and some overwrough
= individual shouted bravo, Barstow.'
Instantly applause burst from al
sides Of the room, and for some mo
ments the popular feeling carried al
before it.. The prosecutors case wa
clearly falling to pieces. and the syn
pathetic audience was beyond control
$ At last the judge, having hammere'
O his desk in vain, rose to his feet an,
threatened to clear the benches.
@ During the confusion Gilbert stoo
J. by his chair waiting for the audienc
to settle down, and then suddenl
j. stilled it to breathlessness with
question Of fearful import.
"Do you recall to whom those susp
y cious checks OF Mr.. Shaw's were mad
l. payable" he demanded.
a. Eyes. sir. Every one of them wa
al drawn to the order Of Alice Emory
III the prisoner at the bar"
Is The witness shot the words direct
~ at Barstow, and his voice had Il dt
'e fiant ring. Instantly the situation wa
, changed. In the moment Of its tr
=, umph the defense had received il
!" heaviest blow.
. The answer fairly staggered me. an
wen when the Judge adjourned coul
y, and dismissed us for the day | renal,
ed seated while my fellow jurors hu,
" ricd from the box. As | rose to folio,
h~v, n,n ,o