Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-03-09

held the other. | know that the room was clear
ed. ., ,..., Ia
Robt. Waters sworn.-Mr. Smith 0aiorl told
me that Dr. Gardner coming over, wnen l
went to prepare cell on the lower floor; when
had done cleaning the room, came in; he had
fniuted he was quite black in the face with froth'
| sent for DIR. Semmes and then sent boy iof
Dr. Henry and DIR. Cameron; deceased OF MS
brother said it is of no use 10 send Tor doctor,
he could not do him any good John Charles
said that he had one fit in Mexico,in mining Pill
and they had brought him TO with camphor wo
then got him some camphor, when he revived
was not in when the room was cleared
Cha-. Bell sworn--I was present when Dr. u.
died. and during the last three spasms, he called
for water it was quarter past three O'Clock oy
my watch when he died his brother asked me to
darken the room.
Saturday, March A. Inquest met again at ~
O'Clock, a. NJ.
DIR. james c. Hail. sworn,-I was called, in
the absence of Dr. Semmes. physician OF the
Jail, at twenty minutes past one to see Dr. Geo
A Gardiner; the messenger said he had convui-
sions: | went over into the room and found him
in commissions; some one who had seen him sug-
eested that he had taken poison; ice was put to
his feet; asked his brother to ask him if he had
taken poison; he asked him in Spanish he said
no, emphatically; | said that it was all important
that we should know the exact truth; without
waiting for any question, the deceased said he
was aware of that. He again was taken with con-
vulson There were persons on each!side OF him
whom he seemed unwilling to let go. Mr. Birch
took off his boots; his limbs were stiff, but his
toes were not SO, there little difference, how
ever. | bent his knees to put his feet in
water; the deceased suggested that ice be put to
his head. In a few minutes the commissions ceas-
ed, and he was quiet; then violent CONFUSION
came on; | said to Mr. Birch that he was gone;
his pulse had ceased and he frothed at the mouth,
having all the appearance of man in dying
condition. He gradually came out of this state
when he desired to be let alone, and to sleep,
saying that he would do well. All present ex-
cept Mr.. Birch and myself left the room; gradu-
ally another CONFUSION came on, but not vo-
lent; that went off, when he was composed. He
asked for water, touched his lips with it; the
shock giving him violent commissions. At twen-
ty minutes of three, left him it'll Drs. Steiner
and Miller. With regard to commissions, have
never seen man in commissions from strych-
nine; have seen dog; he had all the appearance
of having been poisoned with strychnne, and
examined to day some evidence of poison, which
was not however infallible my opinion when with
him guided by his appearance, and the re-
mark of his brother, that he had seen him in such
commissions in Mexico thought that it might
have proceeded from natural causes; the stom-
ach has been preserved TO be examined.
DIR. Steiner DR.. HELEN and DIR. Semmes, and
ever, not differing from that of DIR. Hall and DIR.
Miller, whose testimony here follows:
DIR. Miller sworn-I did not Gardiner until
after his death; the body was very rigid. This
morning, with DR.. Stone and DIR. Semmes, we had
a post -morem examination The membrane of
the BRAN was very much congested; the brain it
self was healthy; in the spinal column there
large quantity of blood. 1t is stated that a
bout quart of dark vscid blood escaped from the
spinal cavity and base of Uranium, and that the
large intestine was contracted, The heart was
healthy; the lungs were healthy; the stomach and
contents the intestines and liver were healthy,
and preserved for examination; all his organs
were healthy and natural; | never saw case
that was more so. lie seems to have taken very
little food for the intestinal canal was very much
contracted. | have never seen or made exami-
nation of a case of death from strychnine, there
fore all can say as to the cause of his death is
from my knowledge of the looks and the symp-
toms given. If were to have examined this
case without having heard oft before, | should
say the death was from strychnne some such
cause. In the absence of strychnine being found
in the stomach, | should be unable to account for
the rhonomena exhibited in such cases, would
not be willing to swear whether it from
strychnine or mental agitation, though believe
1T was from strychnine.
Another Corroboratiyc circumstance is the re-
markahe rigidty OF the patient and the sensitive
f.
back, as testified by witness is "a strong symp-
tom; if he had died from excessive agitation, the
brain itself would be congeste 1;stry chime affects
the membranes of the BRAIN in cases of strycll-
nine the patient between commissions is most gen
orally sensible, and almost conscious of the CON
vulsions and would throw himself backwards: if
had seen the first symptoms or had performed
the autopsy with knowledge of the symptomsI
should say strychnine was the cause of his death
my strong impression and belief is that he died
from strychnine as far symptoms and the au-
topsy can show; shall be very much surprised
If strychnine be not found in the stomach. Be-
ing subsequently recalled DR.. Miller further
testified as follows: Mr.. Bradley took u paper of
white powder, in my presence, from GARDENERS
pocket after his death, which no handed to me
and handed TO DIR. Semmes to be analyzed.
DIR. Semmos testified that the powder, which
he received from DIR. Miller, as having been
handed to him by Mr.. Bradley, he has submitted
to DIR. Breed, of the Patent Office. and Dr. Stein
er, of Baltimore, to be analysed, the result of
which will be given to the jury on Friday next,to
which time the jury have adjourned.
The above opinion to the apparent cause of
: his death, was eorroborated by Doctors HELEN
Steiner, Sommes, Berry, Tyler, Stone, Riley,
johnson and Duhalnel, who likewise gave their
evidence
The post-morem examination was performed
F., by Drs. Miller, Stone and Semmes, in presence
OF Drs. Hall, Tyler, Riley, johnson, Steiner and
/ Berry.
The deceased was in church on last Thursday
evening" in company with young lady, to whom
he was engaged to be married, and appeared in
high health and spirits.
The body, immediately after tho invast;o,t;o,