The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-03-23
BY SPECIAL EXPRESS
TRIAL OF DIR. v. p. COOLIDGE.
For the Murder of
EDWARD MATHEWS.
REPORTED EXCLUSIVELY FOR
<sTHE NORTHERN TRIBUNE"
SEVENTH DAY-Concluded.

distinguished chemist prof. Cieaveland) cal
lac in this case, who could testify from what
he knew, and not from what he does not
know
The morbid appearances are relied on !; the
congested, gorged appearance of the viscera,
But after spending long time in describing
these appearances, the physicians, Drs. Hub
bard and Hill, say these appearances are not
10 be relied on They cannot say what would
be the appearances in case of death from the
effect of ardent spirits, or other causes OF sud
den death. There is no proof here, no GER
tanty; no one could say what appearances
after death are peculiar to this species of poi
son. Nor is it pretended that the morbid ap
pearances of animals are a safe guide in decid-
ing upon the causes of the death of human
beings. Mr.. E. repeated that the chemical
tests were applied by persons who had no ex-
perience. They rely upon their after expert
ments upon dogs and other animals. But no
one says that the same appearances would be
produced upon the stomachs of animals as up
on those of human beings by the administra-
ton of the same medicine; on the contrary,
they say this is unsettled. 1t is testified that
the poison of certain substances will ,produce
certain results. But will they say that moth
ing else will produce the same results They
talk as if they had arrived at the utmost height
of human knowledge. 1t is true some sciences
have reached their height. 1t is so of math
,ematics, of geometry. No one can ever make
out that five times ten will make more or less
than ffty-or that the three angles Of a TRAN
gle will square more or less that two right an
giles. But who shall say that other sciences
have arrived at perfection. What was known
in chemistry few years sinces What could
these gentlemen have testified half century
ago on this very matter: And will they say
there is nothing more to be known? How
different from the great philosopher, who with
true humility represented himself to be child
picking up pebbles on the shores of the great
unexplored ocean of knowledge. Yet he had
made greater discoveries than any man OF his
rtime-his true humility indicated true know
edge. Before the jury can decide that this
substance cannot be generated in the decaying
body,t hey should have the testimony of men
of large experience that such is not the case.
Is it improbable that the decay of matter
should produce this substances The constit-
uent parts of prussic acid are the constituent
parts of the very food we eat. Death produ-
sces dissolution of the matter in the system
e liberation of the gases which in life are unit
ed with the solid parts and are not palpahlc.
This is Just in accordance with the expert
ments made. When the body is opened, no
pr,lssic acid is found. On Saturday there are
indications, but there is no peach coiored flame
produced. On Monday, after 48 hours longer
decay of this matter, the flame is produced by
"a fresh dstiliation. Why is it, that this most
volatile of all poison, which escapes on expo
sure, is found to grow stronger and stronger
IN this case, instead of weaker and weaker.
1t is not only so of the chemical tests, but of
the odor. One gentleman finds it in the brain
another, in the thorax, and no where else.
A very small quantity of acid is found on
Saturday, very large quantity on Monday.
Why is this, if this acid was introduced into
the system before death, and not generated af-
ter death But if satisfied that these tests are
sufficient, then there is that great want of
proof of the identity of the matter. If salts
fed of that, then you must be satisfied that
science has reached its limit. and that acid S!
not generated by decomposition after death.
The inquiry then arises, if this is all admit
ted was the death caused by the poison
There is no direct proof of ,his-no human
eye saw it. 1t is said there was train of pre-
.iminary preparations. He had been talking
of subiect-as though he intended to get by
this crime subec: we'll known to all his stu
dents. He is said to have procured acid-the
strongest that could be had. All the physi-
clans keep it-he had always kept it. In the
very order in which he sent to Boston for this
sacid, he sent to have any new medicines sent
him which were worthy of trial, showing that
he kept up with the times-that he wished to
try new medicines. This acid is volatile, easy
to lose its strenght-exposure to the light. or
standing long, destroys its strength. What is
there strange, then. in the fact that he wished
to have an acid always to be relied on? He
did not need the strongest to effect death-the
weakest was sufficient for that. But he sent
to Hallowell for some about the same time, a
few days before. But who testiies that he re-
ceived it. In the uncertainty which may
have existed, as to receiving that from Hal
lowell, he took advantage of an opportunity
to send to Boston for this with other medi-
cines. It is testified that the physicians about