Larkin

The claim in this ease is founded on the alleged grant to Castañeda, Arenas and Dias, the merits of which were considered in the case of Redman v. U. S. [Case No. 11,631], The testimony in the two cases is nearly identical, exept that in this the depositions of John Forster and José Matías Moreno have been taken. John Forster swears to the genuineness of Pio Pico’s and Moreno’s signatures. I do not understand it to be disputed that the documents were actually signed by them. The allegation on the part *1151 ■of the United States is, that the signatures were affixed after the conquest of the country. Forster testifies in addition that the grant is in the handwriting of Francisco Lopez, now deceased. The deposition of this witness was the first taken in the cause. He was not probably aware that the document would be proved to be in the handwriting of Castañeda — a fact admitted by Moreno himself, whose testimony was taken since the claim was rejected by the board. Moreno testifies that the signatures of himself and Pico are genuine, and affixed at the times the documents bear date, and that Pico signed them in his presence. He also swears that the documents are in the handwriting of…