|
120
[Here the letter, post-marked East Cambridge, and directed to
Marshal '.fukey was shown to witness.]
The word 'was, as a whole, looks like Dr. WebsteF's. So do the
words is, be, Boston, but.
There is a similarity between them. They have the same appear-
ance. The writing was not done with a pen. If I had the instru-
ment before me, I could tell, at sight, whether it would make such a
mark. My own opinion is positive that it was written by Dr. Web-
ster. I only say that, take it as a whole, and the peculiarities I have
noticed, it looks like Dr. Webster's. I cannot express an opinion
more than I have, from the specimens I have seen. I have an opinion
that the East Cambridge letter, and that of November 26th, were
done by the same person as those written with a pen. I should not
think any man could write a disguised hand twice alike. They
sometimes vary essentially, but always more or less. I have not
taken into consideration at all the other letters of Dr. Webster which
I think disguised, in forming my opinion. I have probably examined
a dozen times hand-writing not written with a pen.
GEORGE G. SMITH, sworn. -I have given attention to penmanship.
Have known Dr. Webster many years. I have known his hand-
writing by seeing incidentally the diplomas, and by notes I have
received from him. I have a general remembrance of his signature.
As an engraver, I have been obliged, in fac similes, to examine
minutely specimens of hand-writing, and have sometimes been called
into Court to testify in regard to hand-writing.
[The °° Civis" and the °° Dart" letters, together with the letter to
Miss Marianne Webster, and that sent to Mr. Ralph Smith, and the
memoranda found in Dr. Webster's possession, were here handed to
the witness.]
I have not seen the one to Miss Marianne Webster before, but the
others I have. I have seen the '° Civis" letter before. My opinion is,
that it is Dr. Webster's hand-writing. I am very sorry to say that I
feel quite confident of this. With regard to this °° Dart" letter, I find
certain peculiarities, but I do not feel prepared to express myself so
confidently as in regard to the other. I think it might be his; but I
am not-certain, though strongly confident. I have no doubt that the
envelope and the writing inside are the same. The erasures look to
me as though they were partly made by passing a finger over it, and
the rest by something else. Not a pen though, sir !
YThe East Cambridge letter was here shown to the witness.]
his looks like Dr. Webster's hand-writing, and like the other. I
think it like Dr. Webster's hand-writing, though I am not certain that
it is his. This letter was not written with a pen or a brush. We
find a very peculiar softening of the shade. If, then, it was done
with a pen, it must necessarily be full of ink, and there could not be
that softness of shade at the commencement. It was made with
some soft instrument. I do discover marks of fibres.
[The two notes were here shown to the witness.]
'hose erasures I do not think were made with a pen. I can dis-
cover traces of fibres in them. I have examined the checks before.
I have examined quite a number of specimens of Dr. Webster's hand-
writing.
Cross-examination. The erasures on the notes could not have been
|
