The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-15

CRIMINAL CouRT.--The case of tho United States
cs. VIM. b Sasscer. indicted for the murder OF
hmeline johnson, by the administration of poison
was continued yesterday.
Or. " D. Began resumed his testimony from
MONDAY In relation to the physical condition OF
the deceased at the time he summoned, pro
| lessiohahy, 10 her aid. In addition to what he
heretofore stated, ne said there was sensitiveness
OF the skim 30 that the slightest touch would throw
| her into commissions. That sensitivcness WIS ow.
ing to the peculiar condition of the nervous sys
tenn, emanating from the spine. 1t might occur
from some particular spinal disease. TO lesser ex
tent than he noticed in that case He was led to
the conclusion that but one medicine would pro.
duce that effect. He had seen various kinds OF
tetanus, but never before any commissions like
these. de made an examination to see whether
che was in labor, but found no action This was
Immediately after she asked to be bled. The de-
ceased died on Wedn esday night, and on the
ensuing Friday morning be, in the presence of
Drs. borrows and Howard, and MIR. McIntire,
made post morton examination. There was a pecu
liar appearance along the course of the velns-- dark
green-while on the whole surface of the body was
lighter, greenish appearance. The surface had a
pulpy appearance, which might have been owing
| to decomposition or spasms A large quantity of
offensive gas escaped; the email intestines had
natural appearance, and the stomach was much
congested externally. After describing techni-
cally the appearance of other parts examined, he
stated that the stomach contained small guam
tity of fluid, not more than two or three table
spoonius, and at least pint of solid matter
| bread and meat not dgested She was from two
| and a halt to three months advanced in pregnan-
| cy' mere had been some action of the womb, as
was indicated by the post m0rtem examination, and
had tai MIA l,ol
| examination of the patient while living, which
were probably produced by the convulsive throes
| of death s''-s4-i '---iif-
Mr.. Fendall inquired whether he could account
| from the post norton examination for the cauae of
| her death!
DIR. Began answered negatively; but that from
the particular symptoms exhibited from the first,
no other drug but srychnine could have produced
such effects on the animal economy He had never
seen CAGE Of poisoning by strychnine before, and
| never desired to see another. He might mistake
IN bis opinion, as he had never experimental with
strychnine except in two or three instances.
Mr.. Kendall asked whether, from his 1.-THE doc
tor'5) sources of information, he referred tn
symptoms which he saw to what strychnine would
| produce?
DR.. Began answered affirmatvely; yet many
| doubts presented themselves in giving an opinion
Mr. Fendall inquired whether he discovered any
| thing in the room2
DR.. Began replied that he noticed paper, fold
ed, on the floor, the evening he came in.
up the paper before or after the deceased asked
| him to bleed her?
Mr.. Bradley (for the defence) objected to the
| question, saying 1t was wholly immateral when
the paper was found, unless it was connected with
some particular transaction of the night.
Mr.. Fendal replied. He had proved that the
paper wac picked up, and certainly he had right
to show at what time il was picked up. This was
not material fact IN itself; the only Importance
was TO show its connexion with other facts
Mr.. Carlisle responded, remarking he was bound
| to infer, and did infer, and therefore was bound
to state that the object of the question was by in
| direction, to produce evidence before the jury
which had been declared by the Court to be mad
| missioe- namely, the dying declaration of the
deceased, TO which witness testified, to be fol-
lowed by other facts to chow that the deceased
| came to her death by poison and thus connect the
traverser with the event.
The Court decided that the question might be
asked; he did not see how he could prevent it.
Mr., Fendnll, Did you the paper before or
| after the deceased asked you to bleed her?
DIR. Began. After; it was folded in powder shape,
| and was dirty and crumpled; he threw it on the
floor, and had not seen it since.
| The doctor was cross-examined by Mr.. Carlisle.
He graduated at the National Medical College last
| March two years; had always entertained an
opinion that her death was produced by strych-
nine; as to the paper spoken of, he put his tongue
on 1t; there was sharp, biting, tngling taste,
not percepuble at fret. Strychnine has bitter
| taste, but the bitter Quassa more bitter The
first effect Of strychnine is the spinal apparatus
MIR. Benner, clerk in the drug store of w. G..
| Evans, on the corner of Seventh and H streets,
stated that Sasscer came into the store Monday
| or tuesday afternoon, near the fifteenth of Sep.
| TENDER last and asked him how much strycbnine
1t would take to kill dog, and whether six grains
would The dog, he sad greatly annoyed him.
The witness told him that two grains would be
sufficient for the purpose, and Sasscer bought that
quantity 1t was wrapped in two papers, white
| the outer one having written upon it "strych-
nine, poison with the skull and cross-bones. He
also purchased, at the same time, half dozen quiz
nine pills He (tbe witness) heard of the death of
Mrs. Johnson either that night or the night after
| Dr. Borrows called. He was present at the post
| morton examination, but took no part in it. The
body was extremely offensive He saw nothing
| from the examination of the body itself by which
| to form an opinion of the cause of death. He,
however, formed an opinion on the statement OF
the attending physician, DR.. Began.
J: II. Goddard, having had letter shown to him
by Mr. Fendall, said he had it before. 1t was
brought to him by Mrs. German on the day set
for the examination of Sasscer. 1.-THE contents OF
the letter were not read.l This, he thought, was
about the sixteenth seventeenth of September
last. sasscer came to bis house early in the morn
ing, before the warrant for his arrest was issued
and stated that he was ready to meet the charge,
and could be found at any time, regretting that
reports about him were in circulation. He said
that he had very foolishy been in the company Of
the deceased on the evening of her DEATH and that
on one occasion he had purchased strychnine for
the purpose OF killing neighbours dog, which was
Mrs German, the mother of the deceased, was
recalled, and identified package of letters which
were found in the trunk of the deceased week or
sooner after the death of her daughter. She gave
them to her husband, who delivered them to Mr.
Fendall.
MIR. Vincent German corroborated this fact and
| then testified to various circumstances attendin
| the death of his daughter.
The court adjourned until this morning.
The CORPORATION ORDINANCEs. -We some
time since noticed the fact that the Corporation o
| Washington had in contemplation a digest of its
ordinances; but this idea having been abandoned
we now have the pleasure to state that instead the
existing laws have been revised corrected, and
put in more efficient form, and their provisions
made consistent and harmonious. This has been
done by the prepar alton of new laws, and having
them enacted by the Councils. In this way, incon
gruous and obsolete legislation has, learn, been
thrown aside, and repealed, and new. vigorous
and systematic Legislation adopted in its place.
Where there various laws relating to one
subject, they have been grouped into one act, and
the whole properly arranged under appropriate
heads. The preparation of this work entrusted
to our felow-citizen, James w. Sheahan, esq.