The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-03-20
BY SPECIAL EXPRESS
TRIAL OF DIR. Y. p. COOLIDGE.
For the Murder of
EDWARD MATHEWS.
REPORTED EXCLUSIVELY FOR
@sTHE NORTHERN TRIBUNE"
THIRD DAY-CoNcLUDED

John Richards was in the office. After getting
some medicine, Mr.. Richards said to the Doc
tor, what a dreadful thing this murder is /?
DR.. c. said he had lost mother, brothers and
sisters, but never had anything affect him like
this murder. Witness asked DR.. G.. it he had
heard anything new. He said no. The DR..
asked him if he had, and he gave the same
reply. Asked nae to step into the entry; said
he supposed he had got to prove where he got
800 bill he let Edward Mathews have, and
had forgotten from whom he had it. Asked
witness if he CDR. c. said he had it of wit.
ness, if witness would say it was so; witness
told him he would not. The DR.. appeared
excited paced the floor with his arms folded,
after Richards mentioned the murder, and be-
Gore they went INTO the entry. Richards was
still in tie office when they were in the entry.
Witness went into the office to see how pris-
~oner appeared
VIM. W. Goodutn-identifes the order from
Or. Coolidge as one he had seen; it was pre-
scented to MIR. Burnett, for whom witness does
business as an apothecary, in Boston, not long
before the 2lst September. The order was
executed, in part, by witness. The order was
then probably left carelessly on the counter;
was found afterwards in the cellar with waste
paper.
The order was read to the jury. 1t was
addressed to JOS Burnett, ESQ.,, and signed by
V.P. Coolidge. Amongst other things or
,dered, was zone ounce of hydrocianlc acid,
strong as it can be-" Witness put up the
acid himself. Identifies the bottle found in
.Coolidces Office as the same bottle the label
is in witness handwriting, and the bottle blue,
to protect the acid from the light, which in
lures it. 1t is the strongest acid, according to
the order, concentrated acid. The medicinal
acid is 2 per cent of this strength. The pro-
cess of preparing the two kinds is different
This kind of acid is never prepared or sold Tor
medicine. 1t was imported from London.-
Mr.. Burnett imported only four ounces. The
demand is very small indeed. 1t was origi-
nlaly imported for the Eye end Ear lnhrmary,
Boston, to be used in vapor. He had an APP
plcation for some, had none, and imported it,
Does not know how the vapor is used III the
Infirmary. The bottle is now about two thirds
full about an ounce now is IN 1t; nearly the
quantity sent. Does not remember but one
application for this acid previously to this enc,
since it was imported. Does not know who
made the application. physician made 1t,
whether for experiments he could not say.
Has no means of knowing the strength OF the
acid, except that it was purchased OF Lon
don chemist for the strongest, and the odor.
Witness poured the acid from the vial in which
produce giddness; the vapor was very un-
pleasant.
Cross examined. Is not a chemist. Knows
the difference in the vapor of the common
acid, and that of this. Knows this to be
stronger, but cannot tell the precise strength.
Is not particular in handling the common
acid most physicians use it more or less.
Cannot say that it is more used than hereto
fore. Has been in the business about II years.
The medicinal acid is given in doses from to
s drops. The article usually sold is made in
Philadelphia by chemists, and is marked, min
:um dose drop. The other bottle (taken from
Coolidges office did not come from witness
shop. Judges from the writing and style OF
putting up. Does not know that the Eye ard
Ear lntirmary ever had any of the acid which
was imported for Them The bottle is marked
Asforte," meaning the strength; this is not put
on the medicinal acid Identifies several la
bells of medicinal acid as his; not marked as
above. The band of the bottle of strong acid
looks as if it had been loosened, but cannot
tell.
Ben;amin Wales, sworn. Identifies the or
der from DR.. Coolidge Received it about the
18th Sept. last; that is the date of the charge
on witness book.
Sept. II, and is signed by V. Z. Coolidge, and
orders one ounce of hydrocianic acid, "as
strong as it can be made; if not the strong
est, the strongest he had.
Witness thinks neither Of these bottles was
the one thinks it was an eight-sided bottle.
The only label was, "hydrocianic acid y; those
are the only words he recollects. Did not put
on the label bought it on the bottle. The
strength was not marked. Presume it was
the medicinal acid, which is 2 per cent, ac-
cording to the U. s. PharmacopGia. Cannot
swear to the shape of the bottle. Always
keeps it; presumes all apothecaries do. 1t is
frequently called for by physicians. Has not
often furnished DR.. c. with medicine. This
$ the first order he ever sent. DR.. c. has