Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 4, Number 52, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 27 June 1874 — Page 6
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Joy* BMC' imentt
Oyt Bctu wh^n to 1
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Ptal Thoof Y«t,asj.
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Ever in the f*f' »'f
wgt°*:rrnascssauI..^W
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this person,
.•* .^i: uri
Aitt? -.SiMHo,
•^SbSsSL
n^helgw®'
«x.
Kver Mwrfl'i ng just trie mmfl ttwswtt *g* And the aoal with al»*u lw iuwvu^* rtirrfh*
mt««ndrc*t &o«l<dUlq '-*W Silent(''•'
!l
tor
No r." mm* 4lv And «ksU tboc the^mf. Inasongof. ,»nHe®\ There theaoul Memory of good alone appwrs,*^
if
All the evil era*d. rove there finds an anawer trui~ Love a* faltt^td ,«a ', -.j* And the h« tlw»n entered
Inthteks ajtwhaaylijif Joy I* meant to beabldii ,. And tether®aconstanl
•ki 'ttttgjling
Not!! .feSclMI- Ml-- •••!.
Xo'im^s dboWn tui.i N«#i0»g«ou»bt
tJc
U-* »pt OUK
KATIIIK.
fegii HAtrrr, ^nndny, 3m»* 7th, ISJL
A Life in tha Balance.
BY CHARLKS MORTUS,
Antbor of the "Diamond »leeve Button. CHAPTER XXVtf ill
Clara RovnoMso^piel thfe^nfeal jij deep Htucly of mu »1 jurisprudence, and ot the action of the vanqua poisons upon the animal Xramo^ S^" M«lr«ulv triven an attention to 1 subject unusual with the iher studies having co|5:a JL tjefore the time when
driVl
:^ter^U*Jhe
JSibSTui.- •.•!„•
wtcer.
•Vrt*i^ Hi i» 1*"' i'1 IX !'•1''" &ttX
peonliaritiea of aro jdifffsp which /e fj' ^r muivsWiMil.N She no: I. I.y during this mrM-
*Thai^r. Wilmer was thehusbandof the she
h«ri.'^»SSrWoirf1
sorted wife, and had anhan "S^T t'onrivenfcss i^.inst r-elf, she firmly beuevwd. 1^- evideucfJ* to this opinion were ot strength while on the oth^r side not ono t»rtiele of eebutting been flrodowd—not even In the |ru» where It was st* impln^*gwjnjr^ this charge. ,Tlte%e^| «i that^^ "were not aware 'triat f® hrc-'-ht," seemed to her equivalent to ST nisslon of Its tmtb. shot npon her Ufe the"
saof
and doomed her to WM ier outside the walls of paradise, one of grwt army of ttee miserableT^ Her «u
SSI2SSt.%
plti'-s should be the defence of i^r Cilse
an instinctive
rising
of Her vile nature
in behalf of the man whom sheiiad oiuse loved, to whom her soul turned warmly
moving cause of ber e^"ts .ln However guilty had l«en toward herself, she felt that be was innocent of this crime was on the fhlse array, iM^linte rti
*B
of attaining, she bm-
lur WW time being, all personal
considerations from her mind, and te» voted all the energies of her nature, all
and saving dety from the perpetra-
Even sr wi^eve tao grant'-ii, a n-trfL~"U!"
w--«anr
:::i
vormb!" pe&tu ui not ree.n. H- h*r-rtf to thengh: ofti^rnw Wfilm• dor oi yteWlng WWIt to Iter mimontothfi hands «l ^1!« ^Bhmedical wi^ .r^ -i could b©
the action of j« u-. ue human ftn-?. She iiw: »»-h rttnmm f«adytot •••.i*y,awi m. eenra -iv retire!: -say- cw \\iih the i.-ii:.!.', rv R»rt powihle wrnU bo »ade in
Is twas ly reached in theory, but not to pr 8. Odnot jff-s* the ¥u of cotiiiiiwUiig her
i1 to stranaw*. nrr*".:W "T
tii Ol ».-k
8ot)-
,-k. fn-nn tit« V"P'a« eAm rK)« A*)' :1» W
J'
VS.
Wt «•. T8a
if
UK .1
n».»n
v.. •!.- (M'«i -«f liJ'*. tV^i. At d.
|ferr.ed i-lft ber task, 1 woul
i»r»
rin
.. of triiimp 4*. w(tkk« #481i-
L^ivi «Jrilently W«1 jNf hfo ... r- it --vt»d he «, •**».*«* \m u.«.^.i-.i tfc* WthlMi
situMHRi*
fr' and as This I flOOl
MM
sggpwmpwsn
«A|»SJ
1 1 1 111 111
no iboogbt nta«N ttself
I
[Written for Tin- .ototfK the atem lUMKM* iuA her. 1.. I Mr. Iwrilwr
Ulet
h. Hi! that «a*i iUMU OOST' ti CMti^uhig ^***6 toy beail sh. hmk lived thia long life. Ml Interval -,f'• er )«d ft ^iS'^fllTtbo tr
uad. AJDM Mtmw hearMhroba, nOt by aara. Ami in into »oabort
vttue, her w-»«tVI-b® admir h.wcj fc i.i bwil vent. Be-
afiiSii
lievins tr. WHmer id»* r«a«l^ the murderer of his aunt, he eouid «caroe har ad«d dWtereutly. But th«pe had come to bar knowledge many point* «re«Uy to hia disci edit. All 0o fed- aireatly mentioned, which had become comnwn matter of gomip In Salem, had been retailed to her by b*r friend Laura, annotated with thia young lady personal
Opli^oif Vhi^r 1^1*'fyj"
naiiia had formerly entertained of him was tat diaappearing, under the influence of these new fiwfci,» «seli»g ojf »ntempt and dteliko taking itapteoft. betnn to aeo the animus of Wa former attentlons to her, and Particularly
threaten to do. You may I can enter into no siienee. and would rather have it spread tethewhoJe world thanfor ^moment a hidden understanding with yoo. Wow, idr, you will iMBrmit u»U
the
moving Impulse to that dreadful accusation against her lover which iiad been the remote cause of all that had happened sine*. While glad to have boensav ed from the gulf to which she had been SSSJOTS SLTWiKStt
pereefve that Josephs',truo motive waa the ifpioble one of r«rengeUl instead of the lofty ground on which n§
a ring at the door-b^l was followed t^y the entrance uf Mr. Jowpk». who alked into her office with all the smiling asauaanoe of anae*nQ»-l«UgHl friend. "I presume yon %ere l*«innlng to 3d^y'^=''.
so* fttgidly polito the dullest could not have mistaken their meaning. I have been intending to mil on vou." he answered, with undisturbed ^heerfulnesa, "but have Mt» the citv since my la-^t visit. Slow over, I MKH» I have now retrieved my sin of lesion, and am van* glad indeed to —. 1 AAVinff OA Wall
ivaST sony to
f»|Mi that y®»had^«ft before I was able
you
cotrting So far to stfc me.
iuh«^*«ity
Interest the ease had not abated since the previous trial. The tborouf" ventilation of the whole subject in the newspapers had made every one ao» quaintea with the cirewnstaneee, and with the various strictures upon the evidetiee tnd the doilw now ww whether the professional testimony would be sustained or not.
It waa science, not Robert ilm®r, that was on trial, in the B®nerm^ Waa the evidence of medical experts worthless in a trial for poisoning, or would it beprovetl
he
rcpllod, uttferty iKTibrfng her manner. "It was necessity brought me here—the necessity of taking up our former con versati|fa ajMhe point
^npC^^h~
liOTtir if nr nnJai^^
by any deep reeling. llatlier believe Ikp actuated %h% deepest and Alien#hi#^inan is capable, and von will give my motive that coMij-i-l am quite satisfied on that point. One of
of Dr. WTmer^ I cap unffleBtfind how
SSSSMM^^sWajS on a felse charge. But the assurance that brings you into my presence after thus revealing yourself is, must con-
^*ow ihe nr^ftsfNte,** he *i— *«r am sony that you have ,6 te*sf UOfAVOrably imrd roe." I am sore ir you
fend mvselr with any but voun»elf. I «rfll onlv sav^iow Chat I brought no fcXv *o/blWron flr. Wilmer's investJh^ aml ftSt I li«t as heavHv by the failure of that enternrise as he gd.^ As for the desertion of his wife, its truth, and the unfortunate position in which inee would have placed you, is the -\rr*ni t$mKL-"WNP*
I b«iel» 1p%C of my
Ntm»%mAr(le^arf^^thJ to Her memory to give my testimony against her murderer. But those representations can have no importance to you. ^ou must have ee«»' a to think of man wlio kMontv kntm ii you to seek to injuro *S IhApeyou will allow nosuchexImneons maiten» J( hinder
^H^ell, then, sir, tf you *?®Jf answer where wool silence repfy I will bvorably cotartd'T wistt you wish to say ana desire li»t tin* subject may netW be fertMMfhed Moreover, as we «re d{amOrioifly rywed in opinion on a» tlH) points to whici nave just referred, it app«»rai rm» ui^ ftirtiivr intercourse between "Ami to«nd«T8*ar^l tluityon are reJeetlf me in favor of a faithless busand mndsmned murdcreH^ he .^ked, mr# nngrllrtnm
Understand wha* yoojn®^, «Sjr, wi»e replied, eonfrot f' blin, ou know well my faith w. Witaiert inn.HV.HV. u,d part fh* ikf tfl 1 ^initwr Mia TT-lere. nder w. ^mstanefs I 1 snit vi«lt iW» 1 w.-u:.l 1:'irawelw ,iar '.^hutyou tr -i!-» -k- ii'»! i"I'r. WllnrTH 1 1 in
TTfpT?^ TT ATTTE SATURDAY -EVENING MAIk-r
understanding
Now, air, you will permit
WWiKJ5Sk^^«*P*o
E
which Mapro-
oot of the door, without ^WOfd
XXVII.
TUB COCBT or ICKKB,
It waa the day of the aeoond trialo Robert Witoer for the «pu^dnu«^e of Klisabeth Gordon. A clear, warm February morning, one of those pl«*£ antdawnhijra signffieant of tl»eappro«h of airing, uShemi in the important dwr, Htxlull of interest to more than one in that little inland tolro. 8aiem held an un won toil population. It, waa market day, awl the country people crowded in a mm* to town, each with an indefinite anxiety to hew some details of the great trial, and, if powible, learn the result before leaving for home.
8"ffident.
The court-room was crowded to suflfo cation, the space outside tho circular enclosure sacred to1 amass human bevond power of or of the accused was the subject oi gen eral attention and of numberless whi%aered remarks. IIo sat, slightly pah?, jut firm, viewing with a quiet interest every feature of the scene, and particularly every evolution of judges or counsel. It was plain that he was in a very different mood than ou Uio last trial,and that no legitimate effort for success would be omitted.^eople^ gamed ajr Efog
SUM ,J»e omiiwu.
There was "some difficulty in empanolinjr a jury, so many parties had formed an opinion as to the merits ottho rase, or were conscientious against capital
BESS? "ridl"pl^ ^d to ocmoeal all of their tenderness of conscience.
A considerable period was thus occupied in obtaining a Jury mentally obtuse enough to have formed no opinion, after all the public airing this case had been Sven! and perfectly willing to see any dnst whom circumstances o,lVv.,x. heavily. It even became necessary to take some persons possessed of an opinion, but who agreed that this shouldnot influence their verdict and so a sprinkling of mentality _crept Into tho tale of twelve goodfndtrue men though the legal restricOons had done their (best to Danish intellect from
thl^ercase
Uttofr-nS'-m-*.* ... J&v-iwered,
M|
for inor.- wor.K"
TWt V.•** »ViVi» i""«y,
*^^.^mhZrS Iltd that if JOU atiisuo
-li ^oif mm
IU
f«atB»
•com, I ofkmtia tur
i^wiSTcMvei mm If bad ,w-
11
nn
1 no oi toll," is death as he spoke,
ii '4 f'.!' mn www —t m&t* .&* was rising |a het WrfTlaur iwt »Kforo «r|)«itfld
^"iPcpr iunt learned tint ret by the mom metes, I preaume, as you have em-
pre
attended
not markecP
was duly opened by the
Hoeech of the Junior attorney for th« prosecution, placing the ftu'ta they hoped to prove before the court in much the same
useil in the P«vioy* tip. l£m Krg* unfortunate story nad to do duty as bofoi& ud the sejpottt got Ills previous io«ai btSriborlitg. j^timony as to tho trill wss first tak the bariSwrfttng bilng sho*n to be identl^il with that of ths accused. On croacHcxamination, however, it was rod that the name of the l®ff*toewas
Um in quite ft uuleireht hto'I from «nal
111
the body of the document, and several mentions of s^na oj m«i»y
Crawford elldted ftvta tto ^oiBWS, to
The witnewes to tho will examined, but they only knew that they l. Ml
.tvixeltheirafler
tofrf SSTirTM" hS3?°St?b» |d«r yoyiM, unomMk
g5£S^^^Su)M«, «a
fcMto teSi. wtaT fid
*"'1V?1?"
worthy? This was the problem to be decided. If shown to be worthlcM^vbat became of the confidence wbjch smslety had placed in these boasted teato for poison, and by what name call previous convictions and executions in ijoison cases? fhe interest of the community in this matter waa not without abundant warrant, for It was a problem that mlgj»t at some time involve any one of themselves. A charge of deaih by poisoning was easilv and often lightly made, ir It could be siytatncjl on UioevWenc«of a Mrwwrti, in direct opposiWoil totlio great world of science, wnat became of the boasted iustice ofthe courtH, and the concentrated wisdom of juries? 1ft"® former verdict should b® would show that Robert dmer had narrowly escaped murder bv the hands ofth^hrs-,or else that metucalscience was a fraud, capable of P"yjng everytliinc under certain conditions, vtt really incapable of satisfactorily proving ^e^^cowrtdered the matter from another imjwHant point of view. ^yet had uQttov) much stress been laid on the evidence of professors in whom the people here hail every confidence, but ho really had no name beyond the boarders of tlieir own district, and no exact or SDceial acquaintance with the action of Sons? Was it right to condemn sdanee in *A «ase in wlilch the voice of science could not bo justly claimed to havo spoken Persons of acknowledged ability, and known to have made a special study of such subjects, should have been produced upon tho witn^sstand.ait.l the evidence thoroughly sifted. instev.! of allowing a man to be condemned, tjtd an undeserved sentence to be paSte. on the seeurityof scientific tests, btv use two men had made some hasty ami unquestioned conclusions. The' e\ v.its of to-day were likely to tf^nk* light upon the matter^venif they should fail to solve the ^problem* and piSQve the sufficiency, or thereverse, or tne much mooted tests for poi
1
tp««d
Interval, but, step by step.it was brought SKltSidS! He had blamed her for her oollwh le-
Waa this language sn her part very me™
violent? Yes. Fnusually so for her Yea. How did he account for such unusual violence? Through. bar infatuation for tho prisoner, flight it not have resulted from a greateryie 4ihK to temhimsolf than usual? Tie could
Tho examination was
found
accing
Mas ,ordon «»ke and {W Mr
[to
«. :in
Wttrfit* sufficient to ehow that it «brue Tbeforo tftl«&fi^'^|h^fb« it wS have IhstriiHftf ^Jness himself of it after I»iF6»inlse.
offer mm mado to present the tcsUmosy taken on the fomertsMUt retetkm to his previous martlagn. was objected to by Mr. (awford,«id ruledCMutia Inadmissible.
The servant* were next heard, And are their testimony to wveringthe Ulnassof tbeirttOstrww,to the califng In the Doctor, to his actions, wad apparent tampering with the medietas, as related on the previous trial.
i** It
«, Also elicited from more imporUat, the judgea and eeveral
^^Z^ulrh «m cro^uralM-1 of the jurom seemed to share in thia ijr S3?
«ni!W wWdj mtefat bo e»pw*^q -f
asssflwsss^r^ Yfi frimiftriliM ««i nAvt TB^EsSSSS ISBSTCO Were SuTBSgtu^nOl I&Hu !tH«frWI h2r^thfawitnew, Udeun to almost break down the ta^SwJSw J? th» disclosure lust wlK^e caiie far the proeeeutioa in the to S^B^Uken minda of many present. thnh^inn imaaedialeiv aftw I A number of uniraportont witmMMM arch's tr'JTxBif »-J been taken from.lt during tho inf«rv«j uJUffirb^n occupied in preceding tho fa-wnU. Aftor lhl. tod i, ihS S her papers. Feuna no eriuenwi tk. m. their navlngbeen dtaturbed. Found the will In his flivor among her private pa pen. In hia belief, the prisoner .was possession of the other will previous to ^S^n'^ho^-si'isr^-1 ^kTha-isif wtoij
Cro^xamin^, he waa ^n
aewea, that iho ease of the deftmce ins laid over till the next day, tho hour of *^?»eeventa ^the^Sy^had produced a marked change in public sentiment.
{n
IIrtnf*w^t^»i^Us^ W*m, tet%e waa shaken in their convictions others who ^TSfLimit «St heSd seen iir im- had been In a state of doubtwere ver^ uTSjTlI-i S»!—i
H?»»no«u™i"i?itton of tlSsjOi- ly ^'vancedtOT.-ard thq\vlu''--tuiil. thn nnnfinnmeo of the eyes. That Sho was closely veiled, .^°- rfo«wilw roiembied tho result of poison- reached this portion, her veil torn fna ?:hl? we«i flxed. glistenii^g, tbe thrown back, revealing an earnest, lmnlls dilated Hfe ha(i experienced in beautiful, though somewhat sad lace, 8w action of poisons. Had experiment- slightly pale, as with nervousness, ed with birds some .years before. Had I though sheaw aitc noticed tiie peculiar appearance of the ure the questions—
Had lSd cases ofsudden death, The prisoner himself w«a more than
with comaandother symptoms Interested. He rose to his imnmni^hinirXhose here displayed. Had I outstretched hands and stannj, ej es. as
tho appearance of the eyes this unexpected vision broke ujponliim rntSSs HaPcfnoticed in the cLe He had l^nntterly una^m of the in "i Sf^cSon Plain indications of par- tention to takeher^testimony, and a feel uiirsis of one side Did not knew that I ling which no words could l»a expressth^was unprecedented in tho action of ed filled his whole nature atJherisudden vSSEZ 1JM lost pdtlcnts through the appeararico. To see thus reveal^ benomiuir of Dr. Wilmer. Did notlkuow fore him, in thb boor of no«i. her for »n* unfriondlluess between them. I whom liis aoui thiirstod witlia l^e wJ avoided Sin! him: which had grown^to bO an absorbing
continued
to
n^^dAd to cross-examine the witness. had an unaouotea ngnj.»« «««vlfy before •SSfSltt S^ibSau^e as Mm courte ^Justtce ^T. He had not examined any of the main aessed of oroans under the microscope. Waa not sliould it not be as oltective crom a™ tl!i a dlseased heart might appear as from the male professors? honlthv to the uuasslstcd eye. Hao rail- Tlie jury shared tho feeling of their ed to examine the kidneys or spinal brothers outside, and roused to curious conl. Knew that they were fre^ue*tly attention, while the judgwi upon the theseatof »uses of sudden deaths HaS examined the brain, but did not notice how much blood had run out on opening it, and could not tell whether there had been any congestion.
Had not precisely found prussic wld in the stomach, but had applied tests which plainly Indicated Its presence* Had mixed a solution of potaBh, sulphate Of iron, hnd muriatic add with juices distilled from the stomach of the deceased. These solutions when mixed with anything containing pn»»io add always gave a blue color. He bad obtained this color, and
waa
thereforo saU
isfled ofthe presence of prussic wad. He had confirmed this by the vapor test, «hidb had given, him ft red color, anothl^XKBofc: HadLnot tAed the nitrate of silver test. Was not aware that it was the best of all tests for that XiV lIad obtaiiu'd only traco of wior In both cum. Could not say posIflvelv that extraneous materials might not have entered the liquids used, out did not think so. It was barely pos^ ble. Did sot think that the colors could have been produced in tbat way. Was not quite sure on this point. In short, his admissions so qualified his former positive statement, attd tbrew sucha j$S5ow of uncertainty on the whMe evidence. *s to clusioos formerly derived JVpm it. He stood convicted l» the L^Sl?5f oreaent ol ignorance and Iscompetenoe,
guilt were now much
"iBSSrtv Ml «d ,*»
ta iw. «*.
»\~^S^*'Z8£Z•
wprds fmssed be— g,X)d Wopeningargumentforthe defer to impress on the waa made by the junior counsel, who
H^horitance had severely spoke of the direct testimony giveh as SSKnfftort»JS^-J? g-g-j I5i-y%
V»® SlenU cJtoment—her ftujo greatly flushed. A ^wriiMd^wrv subterthge to avoid short time afterwards the alarm of her nlSn ^me^of the trufh, but it was sudden attack of illness wosglven. OthCn. S from him th»t angry en testified that Dr. Wilmer had not words hatTpassed on both sides that Ws been in the houwe previously that day. aunt had iJeeomo highly excited that to their knowledge, and that the stall£f
thot ho retired from the art found that she would no ^'1U I ww'^ruwnlheWerlnainiwints of
ti?J nrtmi«slons seemed rather slgnifi-1 the case for the prosecution. The inedic.lit,?totary luSjd&V caltertmony to M» HM. .! w! nviilnJ and whispers passed be- minor questions being ftrst examined at SS.SS'"hen!were considerable length. Despite, a rigid struck bv his reticence^ and the fact of cross-examination, the
the illness immediately succeeding this tho defensive testhnqny, -VJ fiir, as in
quarrel. lim^i^v w^lie^clfrect examination was I somewhat flagging interest of thoper Nimilar to that already giveh.
His tcs-
hi tfao pr}muer
was now taken, A servant was called who had overheard the quarrel between Mr. Josephs and his Mint, and who testified to a very violent altercation, in
rmr in himself than usual 7 lie couiu which he had distinctly heard threatenanv noHtivelv But such might have ing language used bv the nejihew. Had WM not audi the seen the lady after the departure of her S? lKd l^n a^Tbut was not relative. She was in a state of high ex-
il('raJ.
result °f
tho prisoner's favor. The next witness called aroused the
Cress-1son.s
present to a pi: .i of unwontecfe.
iv j» v* y-
admitted that symptoms' won
examined he admitted that symptoms cltement. Every lacaexpie^cd not jrreatly diffcrent from those otwerv- and attention, every oyo .grew of from aoopleSV. frOm I eagerness, as tbo name of 'Clara Roy-
passion,
was as
if
considerable "enrtb, and elicited an- anangel to his aid. One«. before ^e swont toudina to show that this witness had broken upon his visionin the bitter lien affected by it sentiment
of
heaven
ri'^L^iucKdoml it poMlbl. that for bin. fn her h.0^, W'j. A. i^ln hisomnien might have been influenced oome as a messenger of hvnrofessional jealousy. This examln- looked to him like safetj itself—the sentinel irreatly weakened tho influence of curlty of his life and happiness, as she one ofthe main witnesses for the prose- stood there so firm, composed and boau
iSS^SSSSiLSS^ & "S-«^'» fewProfessor Woldon was the next wit- room was deepened to an at^r^ug ness. He testified as before, to having pitch when Mr. Crawfbni nmdea careful post-mortem examlna- that be dewirod tion of the body of the deceased. Had I oolds on tbo medk^i features of the
tho brain, heart, liver, and atom- case that the ladv before them was a ach to be healthy. Had found prussic practising physician, who «Mf1nr(^.nt in the stomach. special and cloeo study of the actlon rif 'Oils positive Htatemont made a do- poisons, and was yoj»foj*JJetbodi^ cided sensation in tho court. The jury-1 puted points in the evidence already
had
I tST murmur
SenSlveS tot marked Interest in the cam* so loud as to dtW tfie voice of proceeding^ A stir went, like a puis*- the speaker, "jo Hon through tho elbsely massed body I red in the ftece itt hte efForts to bring the of spectators, attended with a murmur, spectators to a pro^r sense of the auwhich^ tho crier had to silence. The gust presences In which nriBoner himself was one of the four who wss not altogether diwpprobation tha^. noDeared unaifoied by this testimony, affected them, though this had its share. iFesat without a change of expression, Surprise and wonder at what she could looking earn»tly at «ie witness, who know about it, and she—music teacher
sent down
extremity of his life, beanng a reprieve
iMMMRIiMI
jret ladies
HtVvil*'viif ~w#,v bench looked as If they had been stung by some Insect of anew species. Neither judge nor jury had ever heard of a ftemale being examined upon srreh questions before This was to be a pioneer oase, and Intense curiosity to hear her testimony possessed the whole court.
Tho preliminary questions being asked, she was examined as to her knowledged of the action of prussic aoW upon the human frame. Were the symptoms observed commUble with tho this poison? No I ThU beld ft"d Jpo»itive answer created a decided stlrrffooling in tha court. In what fespeot did they differ ww it to their ^«Jc^ acter? Not entirely. that the action of this poison migbt proSra^^^ofStoSS^B&tSS were iwwral J5»sesyielding very similar indications, and without sstisfacto rv nroof tMt none of these disease* bad teen present, there wa« no res«atpas-
one very Imjiortant particular. This potem waa noted for its extreme rapidity of action. Dwdh usually occurml in one or two minutes after Its administration. In no esse on record was the fatal result delayed as in this instance. Eithera very few minutes produced death, or, if the dose was an extremely light one, there might be a gradual recovery after an hour or so 0* *n cases where prussic add had beon administered, a decided odor, resembling
iii§i
*v,V
of hitter almonds, was usually preset*. No ni*h odor had heap our •ftrwdUnithJioai*, Mn he^pfeidhthi general f&u&mm Applied n^^eel} seftoning of the brain than to polsonsoaing, while the faot of the neat ^elay in the death eeemed to nogawvo ttoto* tkw of this poisoiu In oaaes where th*» indications varied from those of any disease possible under the circumstances, ltd appeomi ideutioal with thoee ot' tlMsi the action of poison might be aw^»eeted but it was anaaftt»«do so isn» as doubtftil aa thia,
What dUl fli» think of the occurrence oCpaittal pwalwis? That it waa an entiw disecoedf of the diarge of tuurvaslmpoasii
der. It waslmpoesible that any eould so aiMl the nervous svstem. of one side of tho body without intluenqing 'the other. Sueh a circumstance pointed
Indubitably to some cocsUtutiouaLdoM, some parttal action of disease by which one hemisphere only of the bmm,
... B»PWUWV v»MJ v.
eriuaUy. or any weakness rendering one side specially liable to be affected would be a diseased condition, capaM® ia itaelf of produeiag death, with all the symptoms hare observed.
Did she not think it probable that Miss Gordon's death had iwulted frem disease of the kidneys, and irdeettoaiof urfit acid into the blood Possibly though site thought it more likely to have been aanguinous apoplexy, or softening of the brain. Could excitement ftrwtn her quarrel with her nephew have hastened apoplexy It miglit have done so.
In her opinion, was not a misrosoopie examination of the organs essential? Yes, imperatively so. Granular degeneration might be present In tho heart, and yet be nidden from tke naked eye. Was not the failure to examine the kidney* and spinal cord a serious error Yes ono that invalidated all the testimony of tho examiners, as some of the most common causes of sodden desth lay in these organs. Did she think that there were indications of congestion of tho brain? It was impossible to tell, as the examiners had not noticed the condition of the blood in this organ. Could not the brain be seriously diseased without any marked symptoms, appeariug, and the person be stricken suddenly with stupor and unconsciousness, as in thiscaser Undoubtedly. Almost any disease of the brain substance could bo so hidden, and would reveal itself with some such symptoms. Would the fact of the diseased condition appear plalnly on a post-mortem examination? Not probably, after so much time had Intervened. Change in the brain subsUmoe, or In the small vessels, could be only shown with oertainty by the use ,of tho microscope. Tho most fatal diseases might nul to leave indications visible to £e unassisted eye, and their traces would mest probably be hidden after such an interval, unless the most rigid
*UWhafdUl she^nSder Oi6 duty ol tbo chemist. In making a postmortern examination in such a case To make it as thorough and exhaustive possible, and leave no known test untried. Had this been done in tho present Instance? Very far from it, in her opinion. What was considered the best test for prussic acid? Tho nitrate of silver test. What indication did it give? With prussic add It left a dense, white precipitate of cyanide of silver, which subsided in
heavy dots, leaving tho liquid nearly clear. Were the results of tno tests applied satisfactory, in her estimation? So. Why not? Because there remained a possfbility that the coloring material might have been introduced by careless manipulation. Besides, there was a possibility of prussic acid being actually manufactured "by the processes employed. In what manner? In the distillation of the stomach with sulphuric add, there would almost certainly be some saliva present. Tills contains ferrocyanide of potash, out of which sulphuric acid will generate prussic acid. Were the prosecuting witnesses properly Informed as to the action of poisons upon the human system? Apparently not. Prussic acid leaves the body livid the nails blue the fingers ewnehed the aws firmiv dosed the face sometimes floated and swollen—often pallid the eyes wide open, very prominent, and »ning, the nervftus system gorged with dark-colored blood. None of these symptoms had been testified to, and the most important of them were probably "'vv^Sivo given but a few of the most 'examination that important points of ant was carried to a great length. It was followed by a severe cross-examination, which failed to confuse the witness, to
but rendered more apparent her thorough acqualttttuuxTwith the subject. fee testimony of Miss Reynolds was strengthened by that of several other medical witnesses of the highest standing in the profession. They confirmed her statements In every partkailar, showing, clearly, that the examination had been oenducted with Inexcusable haste and in0fBci6n7f and tbitdoith undoubtedly resulted from congestion of the brain, or some cognate disease, thswr bMngnoHhe slightest evidence of the action of poison.
But tho testimony of Miss Reynolds had excited such
close
present,
attention ft-om all
that comparatively little heed
was paid to the remaining witnesses. Her manner had been so calm and confident, her statements
so clearly rendered,
her exhibition of knowledge on a subject usually utterly mysterious to women, so full and precise, her authorities so satisfactory, that every peraon present seemed fully convinced of the innocence or the accused. As she dropped her veil and retired, modestly, to her seat, aloud murmur of congratulation resounded through the whole room, which the crier, for the moment, forgot to stifle,
The prisoner had eagerly listened to her every word, and now leaned bade in his seat,Tils face marked with an air of hopeful ioy evidence to ths spectators of ms expectation of acquittal, but in reality flowing from afar deeper, and less selfish, emotion of the soul. His whole nature vibrated With gladnesa to And himself defended with such earnestness of purpose and fullnees of information by the woman he loved, and he mentally thanked her a second time for his life MS he watched the eflfect of her words on the faces of judges and jury. She surely had learned the truth regn Ing Mm. She could not have strive** *o earnestly tbr him, have ttused in him so faitlrtaiy, while believing him capable of a crma only 1MSdangerous to the wellbeing of society than that of which he stood accused. The experience of the Insufficiency of circumstantial evidence in tho present esse must havo Uught ber that she had condemned Mm too readily before. All the welghtof Ms prison-ilfo,
Ste glad concluslen, and hU heart bad all iS boyish llghtness he hewd the music of her voice stirring In his bo^r. Cr*wford1» speech was long and eloquent. It contained a moat searching m«{ew of the evidence, and logical force that irresistibly drew the hearers into his way of thinking. "I had been stated," he said, 'that science is tee on Its trial, wad has been found (COtmXVBB O* SBVJWTH rAOK.)
