Page:Looters of the Public Domain.djvu/168

 Counsel for the defense subjected Shearman to a g-ruelhng cross-examination, (hiring- which he became greatly confused, and at times experienced considerable difficulty in extricating" himself from perilous positions. Had we so desired, it could have been proven that the two handwriting experts of the Government were entirely incompetent, so far as their general deductions were concerned, but of course, we were in no position to discredit them at that time without exposing our own weakness. Now that the case is over, however, and there is no longer any necessity for concealing the identity of the real signers of the different fraudulent papers. I have no objections to making them public.

The signatures of Joseph Wilson and Thomas Wilkins were made by Thomas R. Wilson. who had made proof on two separate claims. Both the Government handwriting experts had attributed these signatures to Horace G. McKinley.

The name of George A. Graham was signed by Henry A. Young, a clerk under Secretary of State Kincaid, of Salem. Oregon. Young had filed on two claims under his own name and that of Graham.

George L. Pettis was signed by Walter Palmer, and not by McKinley, the experts to the contrary notwithstanding". Palmer was a logger.

The name of Zenas K. Watson was signed by Basil H. Wagner, a well-known resident of Salem.

George A. Howe's signature was made by Guy Huff, a bartender of Eugene. Oregon. Huff' was afterwards indicted for his connection with land frauds.

The signature of Maud Witt was by herself, and not by Tarpley, as contended by the experts for the Government. She was a resident of Portland at that time.

The name of Mattie S. Lowell was signed by Maud Coffin, a well-known young lady of Portland, who had no idea as to the purpose for which it was being used. Marie W'are had nothing whatever to do with the writing of this name.

The only signature, in fact, upon which these so-called experts rendered a correct opinion, was that of Emma Porter, which had been written by Emma L. Watson, who had made no attempt to disguise her handwriting.

Properly speaking, these handwriting experts were imposters of the rankest kind, and in their employment to pass judgment upon signatures, the Government was buncoed out of every cent paid them.

After Marshall and Shearman had given their testimony, the prosecution resumed the introduction of other evidence, and placed J. A. Wilson, manager of the Dennison News Company, on the stand to prove the identity of Thomas R. Wilson, who had been a newsboy in the employ of the witness at the time he filed the fraudulent claims.

John M. Keith, proprietor of a restaurant in Portland, was called to prove Walgamot's continuous residence in Portland during the period it was alleged he was living on his homestead claim in 11-7. He testified that Walgamot had been employed as a waiter in his establishment at one time.

L. Jacobs, of Springfield, Oregon, but formerly of Detroit. Oregon—better known as "Accommodating Jakey," because of his readiness to "accommodate a friend," as he used to put it, through the signing of any old paper that might be presented to him—was the next witness called to the stand.

He testified that he had been in the general merchandise business at Detroit for several years, and that he had been imposed upon by both Special Agent Loomis and Forest Superintendent Ormsby when they induced him to attach his signature to the false affidavits embodied in their respective reports.

During the cross-examination of "Accommodating Jakey," the Hon. A. C. Woodcock, of Eugene. Oregon—who had been paid $1,500 to assist in the defense of Miss Ware and Tarpley, and who, by the way, was regarded in the community where he resides as the greatest legal light since Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, Demosthenes, or the rest of the bunch—aroused himself from his customary siesta, Page 162