The Trial of Charles Random de Berenger, Sir Thomas Cochrane Part 103

_Lord Ellenborough._ Why did you compare the two then?

_A._ I wished to be circ.u.mspect; but if my life rested upon it, I should say, this is not his hand-writing, according to my belief and judgment.

_Mr. Park._ What has been, for the number of years you have known this person, his general character?

_A._ I have always considered him a man of strict honour and integrity.

_Q._ We have heard he has been in difficulties?

_A._ He has been.

_Q._ And he is a debtor of yours?

_A._ Yes, he is a very large one.

_Q._ To what amount have you trusted him?

_A._ To the extent, I believe, of about .4,000, and upwards, besides my professional claim.

_Lord Ellenborough._ In money.

_A._ Yes, in money.

_Mr. Gurney._ I only want to ask Mr. Wood as to this road book. I believe it has been identified before.

_Lord Ellenborough._ That was put in yesterday.

_Mr. Jones._ I had it yesterday in my hands; it was put in by Mr. Wood.

_Mr. Gurney._ I wish to shew Mr. Tahourdin the hand-writing in that book.

_Lord Ellenborough._ The hand-writing in that road book certainly was as extremely like the Dover letter as ever I saw any thing in my life.

[_The road book was handed to Mr. Tahourdin._]

_Cross-examined by Mr. Gurney._

_A._ Have the goodness to look at that pencil-writing in that road book; do you believe it to be Mr. De Berenger's hand-writing.

_Lord Ellenborough._ Now be upon your guard.

_Mr. Gurney._ Look at both pages.

[_The witness examined it._]

_A._ Some of it appears to be more like his hand-writing than the other part.

_Q._ Do not you believe it all to be his hand-writing?

_A._ No, I do not indeed.

_Q._ How much of it do you believe to be his hand-writing.

_Lord Ellenborough._ State the parts where you think the likeness ends, and where you think somebody else has taken up the pencil and written a part of it.

_A._ That looks more like his hand-writing [_pointing it out_] but it is not the general writing of Mr. De Berenger.

_Mr. Gurney._ How much of it do you believe to be his writing?

_A._ Some part of it looks more like his writing than other part.

_Q._ Is there any part which you believe is not?

_A._ The writing part is not at all like his writing.

_Q._ I ask you as to nothing but the writing part?

_A._ Some are figures.

_Q._ Looking at those two pages, you say it is not all his hand-writing?

_A._ No, I do not think I did.

_Q._ That was your first answer?

_Lord Ellenborough._ You said "There is some more like his hand-writing, but I do not believe it all is."

_Mr. Gurney._ How much is there of it that you do not believe to be his writing.

_A._ Some of the letters look like his hand-writing.

_Q._ How much or how little of it do you think to be his hand-writing?

_A._ The smaller parts look like his hand-writing.

_Q._ Now I ask you upon your oath, have you any doubt of the whole of those two pages having been written by the same hand?

_A._ Upon my word it is difficult to say.

_Q._ Not at all so; I have looked at it attentively, and I know it is not difficult to say; do not you believe it all written by the same hand?

[_The witness examined it again._]

_Lord Ellenborough._ You can say whether you believe it to be De Berenger's hand-writing?

_A._ Upon my word, I really do not know what to say.