The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-10-07

We found the blood coagulated between the two
membranes of the brain. The internal sur.
face Of the durG mater was covered with
cOagutU1n OF blood directly under the contu-
sion and extending itself throughout the left
side. There were slight marks of infiamma-
ton on the membranes, but the substance of
the brain was not inhamed at ALL There were
marks of congestion. There was no effusion
IN the substance of the brain, and there was no
disease on the right lobe of the brain
questions By the Solicitor General Was
me compression of the brain from the effusion
OF blood, as you have described, an adequate
cause Oh death and was the death of Knowl-
.cn' IN your opinion, caused by the wound given
him by Newton .4nsacer. The situation of
the brain, as we found it, was sufficient con.e
to produce death. l know no other cause or.
cept the effects arising from the wound. The
wound, itself, might not have caused death
out subsequent causes might operate with
1t to produce death. | know of no subso.
quent cause except his incorporate habits.
did not think that the wound, in the first
place, was any thing fatal, though it might
cause, distinct from the blow, which would have
occasioned his death fms. | know of no
other cause, which would, Of itself, produce
death. Quest. Was the wound, cooperating
win other circumstances, adequate cause of
death' fms. 1t is my opinion that the wound,
cooperating with other causes, occasoned his
DEATH
CrosS-e1amined. The tumor was what is
called ctrcumscrtbed tumOr When | first
saw him, was not apprehensive of any dan
ger from 1t. He was about his work, as usual
he second time, the tumor had subsidized, and
l thought ne was getting well. l knew of his
being travelling about from place to Mace
when paralysis is occasioned by blow, il us,-
ally takes place on the opposite side, but not
always Etusion is usually caused by rup.
ture OF the blood vessels, but sometimes by in
iiamma'lon-h is generally very sudden In
this case 1t IS my opinion that the blood had
been some time in collecting. Knowlton was
not so temperate as some, nor was he cerv in
temperate. have seen him when he had
drank considerably, but never saw him intox-
! icated so that he could not walk straight. Run.
lures of blood vessels may be accustomed bv
apoplexy or violent anger. They may be pro.
duced by internal or external causes; and
sometimes take place in a state of apparent
heaiih. II is impossible to tell certainly wheth-
er the eftuslon in this case arose from the blow
or from that and other causes acting with IL:
as it might have had its origin in subsequent
causes. ! should think the natural effect Of the
dow might be an etfuson such as was found.
ne same effect might have been produced by
Dlow gwen on prior or subsequent day, or
by falling hard on floor. There was nothing
BY which we traced these appearances to any
injury sustained on the 18th, except the knowi-
| edge that ne then received blow; and / did
not know that he had received any other iniu-
! ny: Knowlton was middle aged man, about
feet high, and would weigh nearly 200 lbs
lie was not a plethoric man. The appearances,
when saw him at Capt. Harrinptons. were
not such as would result from fit of apoplexy.
Or. .4dotPhas Brigham, sDorn. was call
ed to Knowlton on the night of Nov. %, and
saw HIM at ii o'clock. He was in a state of
insensblllty, his left side paralytic and his
right tontcauy spasmodic or convulsed-coun.
tenance Hushed-pulse full, and rather slow.
Or, Brigham's further account of the case,
ana OF the appearances Or the examination, cor.
respond so nearly with those already given,
that we omit it, 1t was my opinion that the
wound was sufficient cause for his death, and
! oeheVed 1t to be the primary or procuring
cause influenced, probably, by other circum-
stances. The effusion of blood was sufficient
cause OF death. | should think the blood must
have been there some DAYS. illusions are
sometimes gradual. Blood sometimes remains
on the brain long time before it causes death,
ana sometimes 1t is absorbed and does not prove
iatal Such an effusion might as well be caus-
ed by violent fall as by blow.
| Ott0er Chtckering, called The prisoners
counsel objected to his being examined as a
witness, because, as they believed, he had been
| convicted OF an infamous crime. The record
OF the conviction being called for, il was re.
piled that it could not be produced, because the
magistrate, before whom he was convicted, was
oead, ana his papers were lost. Authorities
were then cited to shew that the fact might be
| shewn by an examination of the witness him.
sell; but the court decided that he could be-
excluded from being sworn only by the record,
and II, when sworn the conviction could be
shewn from his testimony it only affected his
credlollIty, and not his competency. He was
then sworn.
On the 18th of November, Newton was at
work for me with his oxen drawing stones.
Toward night Knowlton came there and agreed
TO come and work for me the next day. New
ton said "lf you hire Knowlton, shall not
work for you" l thought him in Jest, and
agreed with Knowlton TO meet me earlv in the
morning at Capt. Harrington's. Newton said,
- tell you again, if Knowlton works for you,
l shall not" | laughed at him and told him
ii he would not work with Knowlton, he might
Work with the boys and would work with him.
Newton said he would not work with me if
knowton was in the lot. He then drove off
the team Knowlton followed after and asked
IT he had ever misused him. Newton answer
ed will shew YOU" or words to that effect,
and turned and struck him with the whip han.
die on the left side of his head Knowton sal
lied away and eased himself down on the
ground near a rod from where he stood, and
then called for me to lift him up. asked New.
ton what ne did that for, and he answered, " be.
cause he stole from me, when he was in tho
County House l laughed at Knowlton for
being so long in falling, and told him, that a
man who was knocked down should fall where
he stood, and not pick his ground for it,"
said this supposng he intended to get a war
rant for Newton and make It as bad as he could
knowlton went directly away, and understood
that evening got warrant The blow broke
off the butt end of the whipstock, which be-
lieve was walnut Newton held the stick by
the small end with both hands when he gave
the blow. The butt end Of the stick should
think, Mas nm inch thrnnnh Nnminn UNA nn.