The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-08
THE GARDNER CASE.
The Inquest Concluded--Testinaony OF the
Physicians-EIistory OF the Case.
nrrp nm suIxnrnN CnRREsP0NDENaK.

ORR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, March 4, 1854
| 4 most norton examination of the body of George A.
}ardner was made this forenoon by Doctor Miller and
bme twelve or fifteen medical gentlemen Of this city
hose names viii afterwards appear in the testimony
sited before the Coroners jury. The inquest re-
nmed about II u A. NJ, in the cell of the
la in which II was commenced yesterday. The like diff
cultywhich alluded to in my last Of procuring seats
y the jury and the legal and medical gentlemen pre-
mt was observable. The jaors did all they could to DO
commodating bringing in their portmanteaus to
seats. would suggest that the House Commit
q on the District Of Columbia, If they have control in
ie premises should make appropriation Of twenty
airty dollars to furnish in the vanous looking
.bric designated pententiary with deal table, and
pine of stools, for occasions like the present.
Dough second thoughts such appropriation might
really extravaganza in view Of the dlapdated con-
tion of that "donjon keep"
The first witness examined this morning was
James O. Hall NJ D. He stated:-I called on yester
~, in the absence Of DR. Semmes physician 70 the JAZZ
bout twenty-five minutes past O'clock 70 attend III
ardner the messenger telling me that ne nad convu
ons; came over immediately and hurried into the
pom where he was found the deceased in convusions
me one had previously suggested to me that he had
hen poison and from the character of the commissions
nd the svmptoms which noticed it suspected to be
rychnine; Ice applied to his head immediately and
hot water TO be nrSuga. Tor inc purpose 81 I'M
hrn{her 70 AK him question whether he had taken
bison; he asked him in Spanish lest he might feel any
ieceased) very emphaticaly said sNo, no told his
other to say to him that it was all important should
the exact truth ne overheard m me- and msaon'
i'd in English he was fully aware Of that the conyul
ons, when first entered, seemed to affect him most
,e arms and person was either side of him clasp
! his hand firmly as the hot water was pro-
red to immerse bis feet Mr. Bradley Zone Of his coun
took of his boots which act produced very violent ,
I'D appeared in great agony; rolling up his trousers
found that his limbs extended, and the muscles
rfecy extended position and very stf except the feet
i'd toes, which seemed to be timber. We had to take
ID draw him to the foot Of the bed, and with little
ssel we got his feet into the hot water He himself
Id requested ice; he said, .'cod, cold to the head"
fter his feet some FIVE six minutes in the water
lere seemed to be q relaxation of the spasms. They
ased, and he was for time quiet and assumed much
ore natural appearance But after little while the
Try violently, 30 much 80 that said to Mr. Bradley
he is gone" thought 50; his pulse ceased entirely
face was vid he frothed at the mouth, and he had
the appearance of o man in dying CONFUSION !
ought he dying; gradually he came out Of this last
asm which seemed to threaten his lfe and he was
rentIy much better and expressed desire to be left
odA to have sleep, and that he would do we'll Most
the persons in the then left by the desire of Mr.
adley and myself; and he remained quiet for some
inutes. But gradually these convulsve movements
me on again, and he had another general CONFUSION,
and then he remained partially composed; his limbs
came almost entirely relaxed and he expressed de-
GO for drink Of cold water which gave to him as
eli as could Sometimes the mere touching OF his lip
it'll the spoon would the convusions although 1T
as done very cautiously always giving him notice when
touched it. He then seemed to be more quiet, and
,out twenty minutes past three O'Clock went away,
ayipr DR. Stanley and DR.. Johnson remaining with him.
Q died in some Ave minutes afterwards !.
with respect to these COMMISSIONS all that have to
H. that have never seen fatal Of poison by
rschnne in human subject, though have seen dogs
OF it, but that SO far judge from reading the
oocod md all q
ken strychnine.
Mr.. Key-You were present Doctor OF the post NOR
m examination this morningS
Wituess-I was; and far as the examination goes,
e result conforms what should expect. believe
bthinr in the examination that is infallible positive
Miller and the gentlemen who made the examina
pn, win report what they have seen confess that
nv positive declaration of the deceased that ne had mol
Ken poison and also by what his brother had told me
at he had seen him have precisely the same convul
TO Mr.. Bradley then thought that such commissions
ght proceed from natural causes. There has as yet
ust he done by o very careful and tedious process
Doctor Steiner was next examined he stated sup
20 Il was near one O'Clock yesterday when me
nDsuied him to - jail to see Dr. Gardiner
II his s.d brG 81 sf mine told Rim what
SEA him With reference to cold applications which b
uuesced in he had occasional spasms in his arms Dr.
elem attempted to Int up the pupil ms eye, wh an
r ssif die die nnocent' told him that he was not
ing to die and how necessary 1t was for him to exer
die innocent;" ordered mustard poultice on hi
in which seemed to relieve him little, and then, somt
ne after be died. with reference to the Of his
ath was Influenced in my opinion by what his broth
told me- that he had had like attack in Mexico, IN
40; since then, however, and taking other circum
Hrst idea; sti would not give opinion as to thu
use Of his DEATH in other words, am not prepared pc
lively to state b ,ne wss Sas
en- nothing Of the post norton examination
I;r. johnson Helen was next examined.-He detailet
ove; the pulse was full and rather frequent be
90 and 90; but 1t was rather SOFT heard his bro
sqner ssd he eS i. died Innocent d
ct first know what TO make Of the case; he was per
city conscious and RATIONAL and answered all questions
Rich immediately produced spasm; had not bee!
ere long when these strong movements Of his extremi
ss e. nay
nails were blue, and he looked like a man that wa
docated to death; left some twenty minutes befor
died; I saw the body this morning, but am not pre-
red to state the cause Of DEATH but is my impress
from the symptoms have seen that he had takel
FIR alexander Simmes physician Of the jail was mex
amined. He stated;I got to the jail about thre,
clock and found deceased in commissions his nails
was applied 10 his head and some leeches ais
Piled was in great deal Of doubt as to the cause
death, as had read oil cases OF death from extrem
and grief but taking all the circumstances into
eration entertain the idea that his death has beel
casioned by strychnine.
Or. w. G. Choate next examined. He stated h
ls called about two O'Clock to see DR. Gardner; h
lying in rigid condition, but appeared to have hi
Ynses: DIR. Stanley told him they going to appl
ches or cups to his head he gnncd that he preferred
ches and six applied to each side Of his head tn
ling Of the lceches and the touching Of the head threw
M into spasms; witness went away; came back AM
md him dying; he went OF gradually that none o
doctors observed him dying.
Dr. Stanley corroboraed the above; deceased said h
eferred lecchcs and being asked whether they hur
M he said no.
Doctor Miller was the next witness examined. (Thi
ntleman was OF Doctor Gardncr's sureties.) HI
ed that he did not see deceased until after his death
body was then completely rigid; he had made tn
It mcrtem examination, and thus described the ap
brsnce Of the body-The membrane Of the brain wa
~ much congested; the brain itself was healthy AM
Rural; the spinal column had quantity of blood in
infused blood the heart healthy; the lungs wer
blthy the stomach and portion Of the intestine
hnected with It were taken out, together with tn
Nr for examination by the chemist; all the deceased