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The War of the Affidavits

The War of the Affidavits
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The War of the Affidavits

“The twenty dollar charge against ex-Superintendent Coffrin of the Infirmary has assumed ponderous proportions in the way of affidavits. Two men sear the late Jacob Bard gave Coffrin twenty dollars in trust for his (Bard’s) sister. These are met by Coffrin with five affidavits as follows:”

“Reuben Cameute1 swears ten cents is the highest sum he ever knew Bard to have.”

Victor Hacquard swears he never knew Bard to have to exceed 20 cents.”

“George Morgan swears he helped prepare Bard’s body for burial and that he ‘had nothing on at the time of his death but shirt and drawers.'”

S.S. Mattucks swears that he never knew Bard to have out $1.50 at one time and 50 cents at another, both of which sums were shown him at different times by deceased.”

Dr. Vaughters swars that at least three days before Bard’s death he had him take off his pants and that he had not heard until Smith’s affidavit that Bard had $20 and that he is ‘satisfied he had no money.'”

“We do not intend to express an opinion, but here are five affidavits, no two in exact harmony, and not one of which breaks the force of Smith and Stockham‘s direct and positive affidavits that Bard gave to Coffrin, before his death, $20 in trust.”

“Cameute, Hacquard and Mattuks all differ as to amounts. they could know what Bard had only by Bard’s voluntary exhibit of his money or by their ‘going through his pockets.’ Morgan’s affidavit amounts to nothing, for he does not touch the case at all. Dr. Vaughter’ is the only positive witness and he swears that he ‘is satisfied Bard had no money,’ presumably at the time of his death, which is just what Smith, Stockham and Bard’s sister concede, for they claim Coffrin had it in his possession. The two paupers swear to the different denominations of the bills, as handed over by Bard to Coffrin. Mr. Coffrin is an old citizen here, and we would like him to show by clearer evidence, than the affidavits above mentioned and a more gentlemanly manner than the vicious assault he made on the old and feeble paupers last week, that the charge against him is conceived in a spirit of malignant hatred by his enemies a number of which he made while Superintendent of the Infirmary. We will gladly write him down innocent when he confronts the testimony against him clearly and conclusively.”2

  1. Likely a misspelling of Reuben Curnutte, of Union Township, Scioto County, Ohio.
  2. The war of the affidavits. (1877, February 10). Portsmouth Times, p. 3.
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