opportunity to show his
knowledge and his skill, and he delighted in it.

"What is your name, witness?" inquired Mr. Balfour.

"Albert Timms, at your service."

"What is your calling, sir?"

"I have at present the charge of a department in the School of Mines. My
specialties are chemistry and microscopy."

"You are specially acquainted with these branches of natural science,
then."

"I am, sir."

"Have you been regarded as an expert in the detection of forgery?"

"I have been called as such in many cases of the kind, sir."

"Then you have had a good deal of experience in such things, and in the
various tests by which such matters are determined?"

"I have, sir."

"Have you examined the assignment and the autograph letters which have
been in your hands during the recess of the Court?"

"I have, sir."

"Do you know either the plaintiff or the defendant in this case?"

"I do not, sir. I never saw either of them until to-day."

"Has any one told you about the nature of these papers, so as to
prejudice your mind in regard to any of them?"

"No, sir. I have not exchanged a word with any one in regard to them."

"What is your opinion of the two letters?"

"That they are veritable autographs."

"How do you judge this?"

"From the harmony of the signatures with the text of the body of the
letters, by the free and natural shaping and interflowing of the lines,
and by a general impression of truthfulness which it is very difficult
to communicate in words."

"What do you think of the signatures to the assignment?"

"I think they are all counterfeits but one."

"Prof. Timms, this is a serious matter. You should be very sure of the
truth of a statement like this. You say you think they are counterfeits:
why?"

"If the papers can be handed to me," said the witness, "I will show what
leads me to think so."

The papers were handed to him, and, placing the letters on the bar on
which he had been leaning, he drew from his pocket a little rule, and
laid it lengthwise along the signature of Nicholas Johnson. Having
recorded the measurement, he next took the corresponding name on the
assignment.

"I find the name of Nicholas Johnson of exactly the same length on the
assignment that it occupies on the letter," said he.

"Is that a suspicious circumstance?"

"It is, and, moreover," (going on with his measurements) "there is not
the slightest variation between the two signatures in the length of a
letter. I