TORR, Niles - $100 forgery - many think not - Putnam

In justice to Niles Torr, whom we have always regarded as a highly honorable young man, we give place in this week’s paper to a brief statement of his recent trial before James W. Seller, Esq on a charge of forgery. We do this with no disposition to enter into the spirit of the difficulty between him and Wm. Torr, the plaintiff in the case, but simply as an act of justice. With William Torr, the plaintiff, our acquaintance is quite limited yet so far as it extends we have regarded him, too as sustaining a very fair character. The statement we allude to was furnished us by one of the Attorneys in the case.

Greencastle Banner 21 September 1859 p2 c4

The case of Niles Torr who was arrested on the affidavit of William Torr who charged defendant with forging a receipt for $100 on Robert Turner and attempting to pass the same to Wm. Torr as genuine and as a just claim against Wm. Torr for that sum paid to Turner for his use, was investigated before Justice James W. Seller at Putnamville last Saturday and resulted in the honorable acquittal of Mr. Niles Torr. This case has created an intense interest in this community – the parties being highly respectable – and Mr. Niles Torr’s character beyond suspicion.  At the time of the arrest both parties supposed the receipt was lost and Mr. Turner had a bad recollection as to its existence – but at the trial the receipt was produced and proved by witnesses to be the hand writing of Turner and Turner freely admitted it to be written and signed by himself. It was further proved, that the receipt was found in the pocket of a summer vest which had been washed and put away – the receipt somewhat obliterated and torn, but still legible as to amount, date and the names of the parties – and fully admitted by Turner to be his hand writing.  It was still further proved by Mr. S. Arbuckle and others that Wm. Torr told them at the time of the arrest that the suit was brought for the purpose of breaking down Niles Torr’s testimony in a land suit now pending in the court of Common Please in which James Torr, the father of Will Torr is defendant and the Widow Torr, mother of Niles is plaintiff.  Thus by an almost miraculous discovery of the receipt after it was supposed to be lost, an innocent man was vindicated and justified and a malicious prosecution exposed and defeated, MA Moore for the State, Matson & Scott for defendant.